Don't stress about it too much. Most employers are pretty straightforward with these forms since they know NYS Department of Labor will investigate if there are discrepancies. Just make sure you have your facts straight about your last day and reason for leaving.

I went through this same situation last year when I got laid off from my marketing job. The NYS Department of Labor form they send to employers is pretty straightforward - it's called a Notice of Unemployment Insurance Claim (Form IA 12.3). Your employer will need to provide your dates of employment, weekly wages, and the reason you separated from employment. Since you mentioned it was due to budget cuts, that should be classified as a "lack of work" separation which generally doesn't disqualify you from benefits. The whole process is routine for HR departments, so try not to worry too much about creating drama.

I remember being so confused about this when I first filed. The key thing to understand is that they're looking at completed quarters only, so if you filed mid-quarter, that current quarter doesn't count toward your base year calculation. It's all about the timing of when wages were reported by your employers.

The base year system can definitely be tricky at first! One thing that helped me understand it was realizing that NYS Department of Labor is essentially looking back at your earnings from about 15-18 months ago when you file. So your most recent work history might not even be considered, which seems counterintuitive. If you're still confused about your specific calculation, you can request a detailed breakdown of how they calculated your weekly benefit amount - they'll show you exactly which quarters and wages they used. This helped me catch an error where one of my employers hadn't reported my wages correctly to the state.

Ugh employers always try to make you feel guilty about claiming benefits you EARNED. You paid into this system through your work, don't let him intimidate you!

Your boss is trying to intimidate you, which unfortunately happens more than it should. The NY unemployment system is experience-rated, meaning employers with higher turnover and more claims see gradual increases in their tax rates over time - but this happens slowly and is based on overall patterns, not individual claims. Your specific weekly benefits come from the state fund that all employers pay into. Since you were laid off (not fired for misconduct), you absolutely qualify for benefits and shouldn't feel guilty about claiming them. Document that phone call from your boss in case he tries to contest your claim improperly - harassment of former employees over legitimate UI claims can actually get employers in trouble with the Department of Labor.

This thread has been super helpful! I'm in a similar situation and was also overthinking what to send. Based on everyone's experiences here, it sounds like the 2024 W2 alone should be sufficient. I especially appreciate the DOL rep confirming that extra documents can actually slow things down - that's exactly what I needed to hear to stop second-guessing myself. Quick question for those who uploaded online: did you scan your W2 or just take a clear photo with your phone? My scanner is acting up and I want to make sure a phone photo would be acceptable quality-wise.

Just wanted to add my experience from last year - I was in the exact same boat as you, totally overthinking what to send! I ended up just submitting my W2 through the online portal and it was approved without any issues. The whole process took about 8 days from submission to approval. One thing that really helped ease my anxiety was calling the DOL helpline before submitting (though I know that can be hit or miss getting through). The rep I spoke with confirmed that for most people with standard employment, the W2 is all they need. She also mentioned that if they need anything additional, they'll send you a specific request rather than rejecting your claim outright. The online upload is definitely the way to go - you get that immediate confirmation number and can check the status. Just make sure your scan/photo is crystal clear. Good luck!

Mine took forever to reopen last time - like 3 weeks! And then when it finally did reopen, they said I owed money back from my previous claim period because apparently I made some mistake with reporting wages. The whole system is such a mess, I swear they make it complicated on purpose.

I'm in a similar situation - just submitted my reopen request yesterday after my contract job ended. Reading through these responses, it sounds like I should expect to wait at least a week or two. @Callum did you end up getting any confirmation email or notification when you submitted the reopen request? I'm not even sure if mine went through properly since the website didn't give me much feedback after I clicked submit.