I've been trying to get through to NYS Department of Labor for weeks to ask this exact question! Their phone lines are always busy and I keep getting hung up on. It's so frustrating when you just need a simple answer about reporting requirements.

Just want to add that while 401k withdrawals don't affect your UI benefits, you should really consider if this is the best option. The penalties and taxes can be brutal, plus you're losing years of compound growth. Maybe look into hardship loans from your 401k first?

I work with disability cases (not a lawyer just admin) and you're gonna have an uphill battle with the timing issue. But it's not impossible! Gather all your medical records showing when the disability started, any attempts at treatment, and documentation of why you couldn't file earlier (medical appointments, surgeries, whatever). Then you NEED to speak with an actual agent who can look at your specific situation.

I went through something similar - had a work injury that took months to properly diagnose and by the time I realized I couldn't return to my job, I thought I'd missed the window. Turns out NY has provisions for "good cause" delays, especially when medical issues are involved. The key thing is you need to show that your delay was due to circumstances beyond your control (which dealing with a new disability diagnosis definitely qualifies as). When you call, emphasize that you were overwhelmed with medical care and didn't understand your options at the time. Bring documentation showing your diagnosis timeline, treatment schedule, anything that shows you were dealing with a serious medical situation. Also mention you're already in the SSDI process - that actually helps show the severity of your condition. Don't let people discourage you about the timing - I've seen people get approved for unemployment even after long delays when they had valid reasons. Your disability diagnosis and the time it took to understand your new limitations is absolutely a valid reason. Just make sure you can work in SOME capacity when you file (even if it's different from your mechanic job) because that's the requirement for unemployment vs disability benefits. Good luck! 🙏

been there! took me 6 weeks to get my claim fixed because of some stupid paperwork issue. just keep calling and eventually youll get thru

I went through something similar a few months ago and it was incredibly frustrating. One thing that helped me was contacting my local state assembly member's office - they have caseworkers who can sometimes expedite issues with state agencies like the Department of Labor. Also, if you haven't already, try logging into your account from a different browser or clearing your cache, sometimes technical glitches prevent you from seeing important messages or documents they've requested. Don't give up on the phone calls either - I know it's exhausting but persistence really does pay off with these situations.

For anyone still experiencing issues, the NYSDOL has acknowledged the technical difficulties on their official channels. They've stated: 1. No one will be penalized for missing certification deadlines due to today's system issues 2. The main issue has been identified and partially resolved (database connection problems) 3. They recommend using the mobile app instead of the website if possible 4. If you receive error codes, document them and the time of your attempt If you absolutely need to certify today and cannot access the system, calling the Telephone Claims Center is an option, though wait times may be long. For fastest service, try calling right when they open (8:00 AM) tomorrow.

Just wanted to share my experience from today - I was also locked out all morning but managed to get through around 2 PM using Firefox after switching from Chrome. What worked for me was clearing ALL browsing data (not just cache/cookies), restarting my browser completely, and then waiting about 20 minutes before trying again. The site was still really sluggish but I was able to complete my certification. For anyone still struggling, I also noticed that if you get logged out during the certification process, DON'T immediately try to log back in. Wait at least 15-20 minutes or it seems to trigger some kind of session conflict. Really hope they invest in better infrastructure soon because this stress is the last thing unemployed people need!

Make sure you file your weekly claims even if your initial claim is still pending. That's something they don't tell you but you can lose weeks if you don't keep certifying.

Just wanted to add that you should also check if you qualify for any extended benefits or special programs. When I filed last year after being laid off from manufacturing, I found out about some additional training programs through NYS Department of Labor that can extend your benefits while you're learning new skills. Also, make sure you have all your employment history ready - they'll want dates, employer info, and reason for separation for each job in the past 18 months. The online application can time out if you don't have everything prepared beforehand.