UPDATE: I finally got through to someone! I used that Claimyr service and got connected to an agent in about an hour. Turns out when I reported my one day of work, some flag got triggered in the system that put my claim on hold. The agent was able to see that it was just a temporary job and immediately reactivated my claim. She said my payments should resume with my next certification on Sunday. Such a relief! Thanks everyone for your help.

Wow, glad you got this sorted out! This is exactly why I hate the NY unemployment system - it's like they designed it to randomly punish people for working. I had a similar issue last year where I did some freelance work for 3 days and it completely screwed up my claim. Took forever to get it fixed and meanwhile I'm stressing about rent and bills. It's ridiculous that we have to jump through hoops just because we tried to work a little bit. At least now you know for next time that even short-term work can trigger these stupid system flags. Thanks for posting the update - it'll help other people who run into the same problem!

Just wanted to add that if your mom is still worried, she can always call the Social Security Administration directly to confirm that unemployment benefits won't affect her disability payments. They have a customer service line and can give her peace of mind from the official source. But everyone here is absolutely right - these are two completely separate government programs with different funding sources and eligibility requirements. Your unemployment claim through NYS Department of Labor has zero impact on her Social Security disability benefits. Go ahead and file your claim - you've already waited 2 weeks and shouldn't delay any longer!

Just to add another perspective - I'm a former NYS Department of Labor employee and can confirm everything everyone has said here. Unemployment insurance and Social Security are administered by completely different federal and state agencies. UI falls under the Department of Labor system (both federal and state level), while Social Security is handled by the Social Security Administration. There's literally no computer system or database connection between them that would allow one to affect the other. Your mom's Social Security disability is based on her work history and medical condition - your employment status or unemployment benefits have absolutely zero bearing on her eligibility or payment amount. File your claim ASAP since you're already behind by 2 weeks!

If you're having trouble reaching someone at NYS Department of Labor to get clarification on your benefits, I had success using Claimyr (claimyr.com) to get through to an actual agent. They have a demo video at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI that shows how it works. Saved me hours of calling and getting busy signals.

just make sure you do your job search requirements too or they'll cut off your benefits even if your WBA looks good

Same boat here... running low on weeks and getting nervous. At least we're not alone in this struggle.

I feel your anxiety - I was in a similar situation a few months ago. The standard 26 weeks in NY goes by fast when the job market is tough. One thing that helped me was reaching out to local workforce development centers - they sometimes have additional resources or training programs that can extend your support while you search. Also, don't forget about partial unemployment benefits if you end up taking temporary or part-time work while still looking. The income requirements are pretty flexible and you might still qualify for some benefits. Hang in there, and definitely check that my.ny.gov account to see your exact remaining balance so you can plan accordingly.

Just wanted to update - I sent in my certification history that the agent provided (after using Claimyr to reach someone), and I got confirmation yesterday that my verification was accepted! The letter says my benefits will continue without interruption. So there IS a solution to this, but you definitely need to get that official record from them.

FYI I just spoke to someone from NY unemployment (finally!!!) and they said this is part of a MASSIVE fraud investigation they're doing. Apparently there was some huge ring of people falsely certifying for others. She said they're sending these letters to thousands of people, even those who did everything correctly. She also said we're not supposed to send bank statements - only actual proof of certification.