ugh the whole system is so confusing! I got one of these letters too and freaked out thinking I did something wrong. Turns out it's just paperwork nonsense

Just to clarify - fact finding isn't just paperwork. It's a legitimate investigation where NYS Department of Labor interviews both you and potentially your former employer to determine if you qualify for benefits. The outcome can definitely affect whether you get approved or denied, so take it seriously and provide accurate information.

oh and don't forget you'll need to do the weekly claims every week once you're approved. job search requirements are still the same whether you were contract or permanent employee

Thanks everyone for the helpful info! I'm definitely going to apply since I did get W-2s from all my contract positions. One thing I'm wondering about - do I need to report that the company said they "might" have more work in a few months when I file? I don't want to mess anything up by not being completely transparent, but it's also pretty vague and uncertain. Also, has anyone had experience with how they handle gaps between contracts? I had about 3 weeks between my last two contracts where I was actively looking for work.

honestly the whole system is messed up... you're stuck between a rock and a hard place. if you don't apply for unemployment you have no income, but if you do apply you might get in trouble later when disability reviews your case. it's like they want people to suffer while they wait for help. i've seen people wait 2+ years for disability decisions and what are they supposed to live on in the meantime??

I went through this exact situation about 3 years ago and it was really stressful trying to figure out what to do. What I learned is that technically you can collect unemployment while waiting for disability, but you need to be very careful about how you handle it. The key thing is being honest - when you certify for unemployment benefits, you're saying you're able to work in some capacity, even if it's with limitations. I documented everything carefully and made sure my job search efforts were genuine (looking for positions I could actually do given my health issues). It's definitely a gray area and I was always worried about potential conflicts, but I needed the income while waiting. My disability case took 14 months to resolve, so the unemployment really helped me get by. Just make sure you keep detailed records of everything in case questions come up later.

Just to clarify something that's causing confusion: the registration with the Career Center is different from your weekly work search activities. Your job coach helps with the work search requirements (applying to jobs, improving resumes, etc.), but the one-time Career Center registration is a separate requirement that must be completed within the first 7 days of filing your claim.

Just wanted to add that if you're worried about duplicate services, you can actually mention your existing job coach program when you register with the Career Center. Sometimes they can coordinate or at least note it in your file so you're not getting conflicting advice. I did this when I had both a WIOA program counselor and had to register with DOL - the Career Center person was actually helpful and made sure we weren't duplicating efforts. But yeah, you definitely still need to register regardless!

hang in there! mine took 9 weeks but I won and got like $4800 in back pay. definitely worth fighting if you know you're right

I'm going through the same thing right now - filed my appeal 3 weeks ago after being wrongly denied. It's so stressful not knowing when you'll hear back or get any income. Has anyone had success getting updates on their appeal status through the online portal, or is calling really the only way? The waiting is the worst part when you have bills piling up.