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Same thing happened to me! Was so stressed when I got the denial letter. Turns out I had filed too early - you have to wait until your last day of work plus any severance period ends. Also if you're getting any kind of pension or retirement payments that can disqualify you even if you're young. Really recommend reading through the whole denial letter carefully, sometimes the reason is buried in legal language at the bottom.
I went through the same thing with NYS DOL last year. The most important thing is to request your "Notice of Determination" if you haven't already - it should have more specific details than just "not meeting eligibility requirements." Also check if you filed during the right base period. Since you worked 8 months but some was part-time, you might need to look at wages from 15-18 months ago, not your recent employment. The timing of when you file matters a lot for which quarters they count. Don't give up - many denials are overturned on appeal if you have the right documentation.
UGH the NYS Department of Labor processing times are ridiculous!! They expect us to survive on nothing while they take their sweet time reviewing obvious cases. Meanwhile they're quick to send overpayment notices if you make the slightest mistake later on.
I'm going through the same thing right now - filed 12 days ago and still showing "under review." What I've learned from calling different offices is that 10 days is still within the normal range, especially if you filed correctly with all your documents. The system automatically flags certain claims for additional review even when there's nothing wrong. Try not to panic yet, but definitely keep checking your online account daily for any requests for additional info. If you hit the 3-week mark with no updates, that's when I'd start making more aggressive attempts to contact them directly.
Thanks Sofia, this is really helpful to know I'm not alone in this! The "automatic flagging" part makes sense - I was wondering why my straightforward case would need so much review time. I've been checking my account obsessively but haven't seen any requests for additional info yet. Definitely will keep the 3-week timeline in mind as my next checkpoint for escalating. Appreciate you sharing your research from calling around!
I think MWA might also relate to some workforce development programs but honestly the NYS Department of Labor website is so confusing with all these acronyms. UI, MWA, RESEA... it's like they want to make it as complicated as possible for regular people to understand.
I had the same confusion when I first filed! MWA is definitely not something most regular unemployment claimants need to worry about. I've been collecting UI benefits for a few months now and that field has stayed blank the entire time without any issues. The key thing is just making sure you're doing your required work search activities and certifying your weekly claims on time. Don't stress about the empty MWA field - it won't hold up your benefits.
I went through something similar last year when my employer cut everyone's hours due to "restructuring." The key thing that helped me was documenting everything - I kept all my old schedules showing full-time hours, new schedules showing the drastic cut, and even calculated how the reduced income was below my basic living expenses (rent, utilities, food). NYS DOL approved my claim because I could prove the hour reduction was substantial and made continuing employment economically unfeasible. Make sure you emphasize that you didn't have a choice - the employer's decision to cut your hours forced you into an impossible financial situation. It's not considered "voluntary" quitting when the working conditions become untenable through the employer's actions.
Max Reyes
just stop filing ur weekly claims and apply for disability thats what i did no problems
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Ella Cofer
•This is not good advice. Not properly notifying NYS Department of Labor about status changes can lead to overpayment demands later. Always follow proper procedures.
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Taylor Chen
I work for a disability advocacy organization and see cases like this frequently. Since your injury is work-related, you should definitely pursue Workers' Compensation benefits through the NYS Workers' Compensation Board, not regular state disability. The key steps are: 1) Contact NYS Department of Labor immediately to report that you can no longer work and request your UI claim be suspended/closed, 2) File a Workers' Comp claim with your employer and the Board as soon as possible, and 3) Get all medical documentation from your doctor supporting that you cannot work. Don't delay on any of these steps - Workers' Comp has strict reporting deadlines and continuing to collect UI while unable to work can create serious overpayment issues. The Workers' Comp Board website has all the forms you need to get started.
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Esteban Tate
•This is incredibly helpful information - thank you for breaking down the exact steps! I had no idea there were strict reporting deadlines for Workers' Comp. Do you happen to know how long I have to file the Workers' Comp claim after the injury occurred? My back injury happened about 3 months ago but it's gotten progressively worse. I'm worried I might have missed some deadline.
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