THE UNEMPLOYMENT SYSTEM IS SO MESSED UP! They expect you to work but then when life happens and you literally CAN'T get to work they act like it's your fault. How are people supposed to maintain employment when one car repair can destroy everything?? This is exactly why so many people are struggling.

Have you considered reaching out to local community organizations or churches? Some areas have emergency transportation assistance programs or volunteer driver networks for people in situations like yours. Also, check if your county has any emergency financial assistance programs - sometimes they can help with critical car repairs that are needed to maintain employment. It's worth exhausting all these options before potentially losing your job, since as others mentioned, the unemployment qualification for transportation issues is really tough in NY.

Have you considered contacting legal aid organizations? Some provide free consultations for unemployment cases. Also check if there were any procedural errors during your hearing - like if you weren't given proper notice or if the hearing officer had conflicts of interest.

I went through something similar a few years ago - denied claim, lost all appeals, felt completely hopeless. While suing is technically possible, the reality is it's a long shot unless you have documented evidence of clear procedural violations or discrimination. What helped me was filing a complaint with the NYS Inspector General's office about the handling of my case. It didn't overturn my decision, but it did result in them reviewing the process. Also, some private attorneys specialize in administrative law and might give you a free consultation to evaluate if you have grounds for a lawsuit. Don't give up entirely, but definitely explore all administrative options first before spending money on legal fees.

6 months sounds about right. I got laid off from my restaurant job last year and got the full 26 weeks. definitely helped while I was looking for something new. just don't slack on the job search stuff because they do check sometimes

Just to clarify something that might help with your budgeting - the 26 weeks (6 months) is the maximum, but your actual benefit amount depends on your highest quarter earnings during your base period. Since you worked 8 years steadily, you should qualify for the full duration. The weekly benefit ranges from $104 to $504 depending on your previous wages. You can get a rough estimate of your weekly amount by dividing your highest quarter earnings by 26. Also, remember that unemployment benefits are taxable income, so you might want to have taxes withheld or set aside money for tax season.

So I was about to throw my phone after 3 hours on hold when I tried claimyr.com and actually got through to someone. The agent I talked to said this happens all the time and was able to switch me to the alternative base period. My weekly benefit went up by $123! Definitely worth checking out if you're stuck.

This is exactly what happened to me! I applied in September after being laid off from my marketing job, and they calculated my benefits using earnings from way back when I was making way less money. The difference was about $150/week which is huge when you're unemployed. I actually just got mine fixed last week using claimyr.com after seeing it mentioned here so much. I was super skeptical at first but honestly after 3 weeks of calling myself with no luck, I was desperate. They got me connected to an agent in like 2 hours and the whole thing was resolved in one call. The agent said this happens constantly because their system doesn't always pick up the most recent wage data properly. Just make sure you have all your paystubs and wage info ready when you talk to the agent - they'll need to see proof of your higher earnings to make the change. My backpay for the difference hit my account 5 days later. Hope this helps!

Anyone know if theres a limit to how far back they'll go? I lost my job in January but didnt realize I could file until now 😬

I just went through this process last month! Here's what worked for me: I called first thing in the morning (around 8:15am) and got through after about 45 minutes. The key is having your story straight - I explained that I had technical issues with the website when I first tried to file. They asked for screenshots of error messages (which I didn't have) but accepted my detailed explanation of what happened. They were able to backdate 3 weeks for me. Make sure you have your SSN, employment dates, and reason for delay ready before you call. Don't give up - it's totally doable!