File today!! Don't let your pride stop you - you paid into unemployment insurance for exactly this situation. Even if your employer contests it, you can appeal and often win. I got fired for 'attitude problems' and still got approved after they reviewed the case.

Hey Leila, I went through something similar last year and the key thing is don't overthink it - just file NOW. You can file your claim online at labor.ny.gov and it takes maybe 20-30 minutes. The system will ask you about why you were terminated, just answer honestly. "Poor performance" without any documented warnings or willful misconduct on your part usually won't disqualify you. I was worried my employer would fight it too but they didn't even respond to the DOL's inquiry. Even if they do contest it, you'll get a chance to tell your side of the story. The benefits really help while you're job searching, and you've earned them through all those payroll deductions. Don't leave money on the table!

Just remember you need to keep filing your weekly claims even while waiting for the initial determination. A lot of people don't realize this and then miss out on payments for those weeks. The weekly claim filing keeps your place in line basically.

I just went through this process recently and got approved after about 2.5 weeks. One thing that really helped was making sure I had all my employment documentation ready - like pay stubs and the separation notice from my employer. Since your store closed, that should actually work in your favor because it's clearly not a voluntary quit or termination for cause. Just keep checking your my.ny.gov account daily and respond immediately to any requests for additional info. Also, definitely start filing your weekly claims like others mentioned - I almost missed doing that at first!

I work as a substitute paraprofessional and just went through this process successfully last summer. One thing I'd add to all the great advice here is to make sure you understand the difference between "reasonable assurance" for different types of school positions. As substitutes, we're definitely in a better spot than regular teachers, but the language you use in your application matters a lot. When I filed, I specifically stated that while my district keeps a substitute list, being on that list doesn't guarantee any work hours or income - it just means they might call me if they need coverage. I also mentioned that substitute para positions are even more limited than teacher subs since there are fewer para absences overall. The key is being honest but strategic about how uncertain our summer income really is. I got approved after about 4 weeks, and it made a huge difference financially. Don't let the horror stories discourage you - many of us do qualify, we just need to present our cases clearly.

I'm a substitute custodian and have been reading through all these responses with great interest. It's really helpful to see so many different perspectives from various school employees. What strikes me about all the successful cases mentioned is the emphasis on documenting the unpredictable nature of our work. For custodial subs, we face the same challenges - while the district might keep us on their call list, there's absolutely no guarantee of work hours during summer when most maintenance is done by the regular full-time staff. I'm planning to apply this year and will definitely follow the advice about being very specific regarding the per-diem status and lack of guaranteed income. Has anyone here dealt with custodial or maintenance substitute positions specifically? I'm wondering if there are any unique considerations for our type of school support role when it comes to the "reasonable assurance" determination.

Based on your work history, you might actually qualify! With 8 months at $15/hour for 20-25 hours weekly, that's roughly $300-375 per week in gross wages. Over 8 months, you likely earned well over the $2,600 base period requirement. Your weekly benefit would be 50% of your average weekly wage during your highest quarter, so potentially around $150-180 per week rather than the $104 minimum. Definitely worth applying - you can do it online at my.ny.gov and it only takes about 30 minutes to complete the initial application.

Also keep in mind that you need to be unemployed through no fault of your own to qualify. If you were laid off or your hours were cut, that should work in your favor. But if you quit voluntarily, you might face additional hurdles. When you apply, they'll ask for your reason for separation from employment, so make sure you're honest about the circumstances. The good news is that even if your initial claim gets denied, you can appeal the decision if you think it was wrong.

One thing I'd add is to make sure you're still meeting the "actively seeking work" requirement during your move. NYS DOL expects you to be available for work, so if you're going to be unavailable for a few days while physically relocating, you might want to plan your move around your weekly certification schedule. Also, keep documentation of your job search activities in both cities during the transition - it shows you're still actively looking even while relocating.

Just to echo what others have said - you should be totally fine moving within New York state! I moved from Buffalo to NYC while on unemployment about 6 months ago and it was seamless. The most important thing is updating your address in the system right away. Also, don't forget to update your address with USPS for mail forwarding - sometimes they send important notices by mail and you don't want to miss anything. Good luck with your move to Syracuse!