To summarize the main options: 1) If you're completely unable to work due to medical reasons, look into NYS Disability Benefits (not through NYS Department of Labor). 2) If you're on unpaid medical leave but your job is being held, potentially standby unemployment. 3) If you recover but face discrimination or can't return to your exact role, then regular unemployment might apply. Each situation is different, so definitely worth getting specific guidance for your circumstances.

I'm in a similar situation and found that the key is understanding the "able and available" requirement. Even if you have a medical condition, you might still qualify for unemployment if you can perform some type of work, just not your previous job. For example, if your doctor clears you for light duty or part-time work but your employer can't accommodate those restrictions, you could potentially file a claim. I'd recommend getting a detailed statement from your doctor about what work activities you CAN do, not just what you can't do. This documentation could be crucial when speaking with NYS Department of Labor representatives about your eligibility.

The NYS Department of Labor phone system is impossible to get through to ask these kinds of questions. I've been trying for weeks to clarify my own eligibility issues. If you need to actually talk to someone, I found this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that helps you get through to actual agents. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI showing how it works. Saved me hours of calling and getting hung up on.

I'm in a similar boat with my freelance graphic design work. The whole system is set up for traditional employees and leaves us entrepreneurs hanging. It's frustrating because we pay plenty of other taxes but can't access these safety nets when we need them most.

One thing to remember is that if you don't qualify for a new regular UI claim, you might still be eligible for extended benefits depending on the unemployment rate. But those programs come and go, so check with NYS Department of Labor when you file.

I'm in a similar situation - my benefits are ending soon too. From what I've researched, you can file immediately when your benefit year ends, but the key thing is whether you've earned enough wages since your last claim started. NYS Department of Labor looks at your "base period" which is typically the first 4 of the last 5 completed calendar quarters. If you only worked part-time or sporadically during your claim, your new benefit amount might be significantly lower. I'd suggest gathering all your wage statements from any work you did during your claim period before you apply - you'll need those to show your earnings.

ugh the whole system is so complicated!! why cant they just make it simple instead of having different rules for everything

@Anastasia Sokolov I made the same mistake initially! Even though we "earned" the right to unemployment benefits by working and paying into the system, the IRS and most agencies classify the actual benefit payments as unearned income because you're not actively working while receiving them. You might want to go back and correct any forms where you listed it as earned income - it could affect your eligibility for certain programs or cause issues with tax filings. The logic is that earned income comes from current work activity, while unearned income includes things like unemployment benefits, Social Security, pensions, etc.

Update on my earlier comment - I just checked the NYSDOL website and they're reporting higher than normal processing times due to a system upgrade that started September 15. They're estimating 3-4 weeks for new claims right now, up from their usual 1-2 weeks. So your timeline is unfortunately right in line with current expectations.

I'm going through the exact same thing right now! Filed my claim on September 30th and got those two letters within the first week, but it's been radio silence since then. The waiting is absolutely killing me - I keep refreshing my payment history page hoping something will magically appear. Reading through everyone's experiences here is both reassuring and terrifying at the same time. It sounds like 3-4 weeks is the new normal, which means I've still got another week or two to go. Has anyone had luck calling early in the morning or later in the evening to get through to someone?