I just went through this exact situation a few months ago - hours cut from full-time to barely part-time, then got hit with a "voluntary quit" determination. The appeal process was stressful but totally worth it. A few things that really helped my case: 1) I took photos of my work schedule/timesheet showing the dramatic hour reduction over time, 2) I saved any text messages or emails where my supervisor mentioned the cuts were permanent or business-related, and 3) I documented how the reduced income made it impossible to pay basic expenses like rent. The hearing was actually pretty straightforward - the judge asked direct questions about what happened and why I left. My employer didn't even show up to contest it, which happens more often than you'd think. The whole process from appeal to decision took about 6-8 weeks for me. Don't let them intimidate you - if your hours were genuinely cut to the point where you couldn't survive on them, you have every right to those benefits. The system is designed to help people in situations exactly like yours.

I went through a similar appeal last year after being wrongly classified as a voluntary quit when my employer cut my hours from 32 to about 6 per week. The whole process was intimidating at first but definitely worth fighting. A couple of additional tips that helped me: Make sure you file your appeal online through my.ny.gov rather than mailing it - the online system gives you a confirmation receipt and tracks your submission. Also, when you write your appeal statement, be very specific about the timeline - include exact dates when your hours were cut, how much they were reduced, and when you ultimately had to leave. I created a simple spreadsheet showing my weekly hours and pay for about 3 months before and after the cuts, which made the impact crystal clear to the judge. One thing I wish someone had told me is that you can continue certifying for benefits during the appeal process even though you're not getting paid yet - this keeps your claim active. If you win the appeal, they'll pay you retroactively for those weeks. The hearing itself was less scary than I expected - just be honest, stick to the facts, and have your documents organized. You've got this!

I went through the exact same thing last year - filed in March and didn't see a penny until July! The "pending determination" status you're seeing is key. In my case, it turned out my former employer had flagged my claim for review but nobody bothered to tell me. What finally worked was calling at exactly 8:00 AM on a Tuesday (they seem to have more staff then) and staying on hold for 2+ hours. Yes, it's brutal, but I finally got through to someone who could see what was holding up my claim. They also backdated everything once the issue was resolved. Don't give up - that money is rightfully yours!

I'm dealing with a very similar situation right now - filed in late January and still waiting on my first payment! The "pending determination" status is so frustrating because they give you zero information about what's actually wrong. I've been following this thread and trying some of the suggestions people mentioned. One thing that helped me was checking the "Correspondence" section in my online account (not just Messages) - I found a notice there that I had somehow missed before asking for additional wage verification from a previous employer. Maybe check there if you haven't already? Also, I tried the Claimyr service that Sofia mentioned and actually got through to an agent yesterday! Turns out my claim was flagged because my previous employer never responded to their verification request, so it was just sitting in limbo. The agent was able to push it through and said I should see payments within 5-7 business days. Fingers crossed! Keep pushing - it's exhausting but we have to advocate for ourselves since the system won't do it for us. 💪

update?? did u get thru??

Been lurking here for a while and finally decided to jump in since I'm dealing with the exact same nightmare. Week 2 of trying to reach someone about a payment issue and it's honestly affecting my mental health at this point. Reading through all these comments gives me some hope though - seems like there are actual solutions that work! Going to try that 8am call strategy with the specific number sequence first, and if that doesn't work I'll look into the Claimyr service. Thanks everyone for sharing what's worked for you, this community is a lifesaver when the system is failing us this badly.

The phone system is ridiculous. I've called probably 200 times over the past month trying to get my disqualification explained and I've gotten through TWICE. Both times they told me different things about my appeal process. The whole NYS Department of Labor phone system needs to be completely overhauled.

I feel your pain! I've been dealing with the same issue trying to reach them about my benefit calculation. What worked for me was calling exactly at 8:00 AM on Tuesday - seems like they have more staff available earlier in the week. Also, I noticed that if you select the option for "reporting fraud" (even though that's not what you need), you sometimes get through to a real person faster who can then transfer you to the right department. It's frustrating that we have to use these workarounds just to get basic help with our claims.

Just want to add that if you're in a job training program through Workforce Development, some of those programs might have their own requirements, but that's separate from your basic UI eligibility. The NYS Department of Labor website has info about job search requirements but I don't remember seeing anything about drug testing there.

Thanks everyone for the helpful responses! I was really worried about this since I've heard so many conflicting stories. It's good to know that NYS Department of Labor doesn't require drug testing for regular unemployment benefits. I was laid off due to company downsizing, so it sounds like I should be fine to file my claim without worrying about any testing requirements. Really appreciate the clarification about it only being an issue if you were fired for failing a workplace drug test - that definitely doesn't apply to my situation.