One final important tip: If you win your hearing, there can still be a delay before payments resume. Contact your state representative if it takes more than 2 weeks after a favorable decision to see any action on your claim. They can often expedite things through their NYSDOL contacts. Your local assembly person or state senator's office can be surprisingly helpful with unemployment issues.

I went through this exact situation last year and want to emphasize something that saved me - DOCUMENT EVERYTHING! Take screenshots of every page you visit on the NY.gov site, save confirmation numbers if you get any, and keep records of every phone call attempt (date, time, how long you waited). I ended up needing this documentation later when there was confusion about when I submitted my hearing request. Also, if you do get through to someone on the phone, ask them to email you a confirmation of whatever they helped you with. The system has so many glitches that having paper trails can be the difference between winning and losing your case. Stay strong - the process is deliberately frustrating but it IS possible to get through it!

One important thing to consider - if you do qualify based on previous W-2 wages, you'll need to be available for work and actively job searching. Running your sole proprietorship while collecting benefits could be tricky depending on how much time you're dedicating to it. NYS Department of Labor requires you to be able and available for full-time work.

I went through this exact situation last year. As a former sole proprietor who had some W-2 income, I was able to qualify for benefits. The key is that NYS Department of Labor looks at ALL your covered wages during the base period, not just your most recent employment status. Since you mentioned having part-time W-2 work last year, definitely check your wage history first. Also, when you do apply, be completely transparent about your consulting business status - they'll ask about any self-employment income during your weekly certifications. If your business truly has no income coming in and you're genuinely seeking employee work, you should be fine. Just make sure you can document your job search efforts.

just another way the government makes it impossible for small businesses to succeed... all these mandatory insurance requirements add up fast

For anyone starting a business in NY, I'd recommend checking out the NYS Department of Labor's online employer registration system. It walks you through the process step by step and calculates your contribution rates based on your industry classification. The system is actually pretty user-friendly compared to trying to figure everything out from scattered information online. You can also download the employer handbook which explains all the requirements in detail. Better to get familiar with the system early rather than scrambling to register once you hit that $300 threshold.

Keep trying claimyr.com! They helped me reach an agent after weeks of trying on my own. The unemployment phone system is literally designed to make you give up, I'm convinced. Once I finally got through to a human, they escalated my case and I had a resolution within days.

This is absolutely infuriating and I'm so sorry you're dealing with this! I went through something similar last year when someone filed for benefits using my info. A few things that helped me: 1. Keep calling at exactly 8am when they open - I literally set 5 alarms and had my phone ready to redial immediately if it didn't go through 2. Document every single attempt you make to contact them (screenshots, call logs, etc) - you'll need this paper trail 3. Contact your local state assembly member's office - they have caseworkers who specialize in helping constituents with DOL issues and can escalate your case 4. File Form 14039 with the IRS immediately if you haven't already - this protects you from penalties while the fraud gets sorted out 5. Check if your employer can provide you with alternative tax documents to help with filing The whole system is broken and it shouldn't be this hard for victims to get help. Don't let them wear you down - keep pushing until you get someone who actually listens and takes action. You've got this! 💪

honestly just keep calling until you get someone who actually knows what they're talking about. took me like 15 tries but eventually got a good agent who explained everything

I went through this same runaround last year and what finally worked was being very specific about what I needed when I called. Instead of just saying "I need help with my claim," I'd say "I need to speak with an adjudication specialist about claim number [your number] that's been pending for three weeks." The regular call center folks will try to help but they literally can't access the adjudication queue - only the specialists can see what documents or information they're waiting for. Also, try calling right when they open at 8am, you're more likely to get through to someone who can actually transfer you to the right department.