Another thing to consider - if your hours get cut instead of being laid off completely, you might still qualify for partial unemployment benefits. The NYS Department of Labor allows you to work part-time and still collect some benefits as long as you earn less than your weekly benefit rate. So if you end up getting that estimated $250/week benefit, you could work and earn up to $249 and still get some unemployment money. Just make sure to report any earnings when you certify each week. This could be helpful if your retail job cuts your hours instead of letting you go entirely.

Just wanted to add that you should also be aware of the maximum duration for benefits in New York. You can collect unemployment for up to 26 weeks in a benefit year, but the exact number of weeks depends on how much you earned during your base period. Since you've only been working for 8 months, make sure you have enough earnings to qualify for the full 26 weeks if needed. The NYS Department of Labor will calculate this automatically when you file, but it's good to know upfront. Also, keep all your pay stubs and W-2s handy when you file - they may ask for wage verification, especially since you're a relatively new employee. Having that documentation ready can speed up the process.

I went through something very similar when my company was acquired in 2023. After 12 years there, they offered me a position with 25% less pay and called it "market realignment." I was terrified about whether I'd qualify for unemployment if I turned it down. What really helped me was documenting EVERYTHING from the moment we heard about the acquisition. I kept emails, meeting notes, even wrote down conversations with my supervisor about the changes coming. When I eventually had to apply for benefits after rejecting their offer, having all that documentation made a huge difference. The key thing I learned is that NY treats these buyout situations case-by-case, but if you can show the new offer was substantially worse than your previous position (not just salary but total compensation package), you have a good chance of getting approved. It took about 6 weeks for my claim to be fully processed, but I did get approved. Your relative should start gathering their current pay stubs, benefits information, and any communications about the buyout right now, even if it's still just rumors. Being prepared ahead of time will make things so much smoother if they do end up needing to file a claim.

Just wanted to add one more thing that might be helpful - if your relative does end up in this situation, they should also check if their company has any kind of retention bonus or severance package they might be entitled to. Sometimes during acquisitions, companies will offer these to long-term employees even if they're not legally required to. Also, I'd suggest they start networking and updating their resume now, just in case. With 25 years of experience, they're probably very valuable in their field, and having other options lined up can give them more confidence to reject a lowball offer if it comes to that. The unemployment benefits are definitely there as a safety net, but having multiple backup plans is always the best approach. Hopefully the new owners will recognize the value of experienced employees and not make drastic cuts!

I'm going through the exact same nightmare right now - filed 3 weeks ago and my claim has been stuck on "pending" with zero explanation. The phone system is absolutely useless, I've burned through entire days trying to get through just to be disconnected. What's really frustrating is that they expect us to keep filing weekly certifications when we have no idea if there's even a problem with our claim or if it's just sitting in some digital pile waiting to be processed. At this point I'm wondering if I should try that Claimyr service mentioned above or contact my assemblyperson like Dmitry suggested. This whole system feels designed to discourage people from actually getting the benefits they're entitled to.

I went through this exact same situation last year and it turned out my claim was flagged for identity verification. Even though I had submitted all the required documents when I first filed, the system somehow didn't process them correctly. What finally worked for me was sending a secure message through the my.ny.gov portal with copies of my ID, Social Security card, and proof of employment attached. Make sure to reference your confirmation number in the subject line. It took about 10 days after sending that message for my claim to get approved, and then I received all the back payments. Also, if you haven't already, double-check that your banking information is correct in your profile - sometimes payments get delayed because of incorrect routing numbers.

even if you can't get unemployment you should definitely apply for other assistance programs like food stamps or medicaid while you look for new work

I went through something similar when my long-term home care client passed away. Even though I was paid as a 1099, I filed for unemployment anyway because my work situation really looked more like an employee relationship - I had set hours, used their supplies, couldn't work for others during my shifts, etc. The NYS Department of Labor initially denied my claim, but I appealed and provided documentation showing how controlled my work environment was. It took about 6 weeks, but they eventually approved it after reviewing the employment relationship more closely. Don't assume you're automatically disqualified - if your work arrangement had employee-like characteristics, it's worth filing and letting them make the determination.

Don't forget about the additional assessments! There's also a 0.075% assessment for the disability benefits fund that gets added on top of your UI rate. So if you're at 4.1% for UI, you're actually paying 4.175% total on that wage base.

Thanks everyone for the helpful info! As someone who's been through this process, I'd recommend also checking if you qualify for any of the new employer incentives NYS offers. Sometimes they have programs that can reduce your initial rate or provide credits. Also, make sure you register with NYS Department of Labor as soon as you hire your first employee - there are penalties for late registration. The online system for quarterly reporting isn't too bad once you get used to it, but definitely keep detailed records of all wages and hours from day one.