Wait, what about if you're collecting disability? I thought you could get both but maybe I'm wrong about that?

Another important disqualifier that hasn't been mentioned is if you're receiving severance pay - depending on how it's structured, it might delay or reduce your benefits. Also, if you were working under the table or getting paid in cash without proper tax reporting, you might not have enough documented earnings to qualify. And just to add to what others said about students - you can claim benefits if you're willing to drop out or reduce your course load to accept suitable work, but if you're not available because of class schedules, that could be a problem. The key thing is always being "able, available, and actively seeking work.

Just checking in - any progress with your claim? Were you able to reach anyone?

This is such a common issue with NYSDOL and it's incredibly frustrating! I went through something similar last year where they had completely wrong wage information. A few things that helped me: 1. When you speak with the wage investigation unit, ask them to send you a copy of the wage records they have on file from each employer - sometimes you can see exactly what's missing or incorrect. 2. If you worked for multiple employers during your base period, make sure ALL of them properly reported your wages. I found out one of my part-time jobs never submitted their quarterly reports. 3. Document every phone call - date, time, who you spoke with, and what they said. This helped when I had to escalate further up the chain. The good news is that once they actually investigate, it usually gets resolved pretty quickly. The wage investigation process is much more thorough than just having a regular rep look at your uploaded documents. Hang in there!

I'm on my third unemployment claim in 5 years due to company closures and layoffs. Never had any issues with NYS Department of Labor questioning the frequency. As long as you lost your job through no fault of your own and meet the work/wage requirements, you're good to file.

Your coworker might have been thinking of the requalification requirements rather than a waiting period between claims. In NY, if you received benefits and then returned to work but didn't earn enough to establish a new benefit year, you might have to wait. But since you've been working full-time for 18 months, you should have more than enough earnings to qualify for a fresh claim. The key is having sufficient wages in your base period - and with steady full-time work, that shouldn't be an issue. Good luck with your claim!

I'm so sorry you're going through this stress - the physical symptoms from unemployment anxiety are real and brutal. I went through something similar last year when they denied my claim despite having clear W-2s showing I earned $5,400 in my base period. What finally worked for me was getting super organized with my documentation and being extremely persistent. A few things that helped: 1) I calculated my own base period earnings quarter by quarter and made a simple spreadsheet showing exactly what I earned when, 2) I sent everything certified mail so they couldn't claim they "lost" my documents again, and 3) I kept detailed notes of every phone call including agent names and ID numbers. The hearing request someone mentioned above is crucial - even if your reconsideration goes through, having that hearing request on file puts legal pressure on them to actually review your case properly instead of just rubber-stamping another denial. Stay strong and don't let them wear you down. You earned those benefits and deserve them. The system is broken but you can still win if you're persistent and organized. 💪

Mason, I'm so sorry you're dealing with this mess. The same thing happened to me - they "miscalculated" my earnings and denied me even though I had clear paystubs showing I made over $4,000 in my base period. The stress is absolutely horrible and I totally get the physical symptoms you're experiencing. What finally got mine resolved was using a combination of approaches: I filed both a Request for Reconsideration AND a Request for Hearing at the same time (like others mentioned), but what really made the difference was using claimyr.com to actually get through to a specialist who could fix it in real time. I was skeptical at first but after 3 weeks of getting nowhere with regular calls, I got a callback in about 45 minutes and the agent corrected my wage calculation during the call. My payments started within 4 days. Document everything you're doing - every call, every form you send, every interaction. Send your reconsideration documents certified mail so they can't claim they lost them again. And don't let them gaslight you - you KNOW what you earned, and you have the paystubs to prove it. You're going to get through this. The system is designed to make you give up, but you have rights and you've earned those benefits. Stay strong! 💪

Just want to add that you'll need to start doing job searches right away as part of your weekly claims. Keep good records of where you apply because NYS Department of Labor can ask for your job search log at any time. Don't slack on this part even though you're dealing with the stress of the closure.

Sorry to hear about your company shutting down - that's really tough! Just wanted to mention that when you file your claim, you might also want to ask about any additional programs NYS offers for workers affected by business closures. Sometimes there are retraining programs or extended benefits available. Also, if your employer owes you any final wages or unused vacation time, make sure to collect that separately from unemployment - it won't affect your UI eligibility but you want to get what you're owed before they close completely.