Same thing happened to me! Was so stressed when I got the denial letter. Turns out I had filed too early - you have to wait until your last day of work plus any severance period ends. Also if you're getting any kind of pension or retirement payments that can disqualify you even if you're young. Really recommend reading through the whole denial letter carefully, sometimes the reason is buried in legal language at the bottom.

I went through the same thing with NYS DOL last year. The most important thing is to request your "Notice of Determination" if you haven't already - it should have more specific details than just "not meeting eligibility requirements." Also check if you filed during the right base period. Since you worked 8 months but some was part-time, you might need to look at wages from 15-18 months ago, not your recent employment. The timing of when you file matters a lot for which quarters they count. Don't give up - many denials are overturned on appeal if you have the right documentation.

UGH the NYS Department of Labor processing times are ridiculous!! They expect us to survive on nothing while they take their sweet time reviewing obvious cases. Meanwhile they're quick to send overpayment notices if you make the slightest mistake later on.

I'm going through the same thing right now - filed 12 days ago and still showing "under review." What I've learned from calling different offices is that 10 days is still within the normal range, especially if you filed correctly with all your documents. The system automatically flags certain claims for additional review even when there's nothing wrong. Try not to panic yet, but definitely keep checking your online account daily for any requests for additional info. If you hit the 3-week mark with no updates, that's when I'd start making more aggressive attempts to contact them directly.

Another day another problem with the ny unemployment system... but yeah holiday delays are normal. If it doesn't show up by Thursday THEN start worrying and get on the phone with them.

Same thing happened to me! My Wells Fargo account is empty this morning when I usually get my deposit by 8am on Tuesdays. Really stressing me out since I have bills due today, but reading all these comments is making me feel better that it's just the holiday delay. Fingers crossed it shows up tomorrow morning. At least we're all in the same boat - misery loves company I guess 😅

same boat here, hours got cut and bills piling up

I went through something similar last year when my employer cut everyone's hours due to "restructuring." The key thing that helped me was documenting everything - I kept all my old schedules showing full-time hours, new schedules showing the drastic cut, and even calculated how the reduced income was below my basic living expenses (rent, utilities, food). NYS DOL approved my claim because I could prove the hour reduction was substantial and made continuing employment economically unfeasible. Make sure you emphasize that you didn't have a choice - the employer's decision to cut your hours forced you into an impossible financial situation. It's not considered "voluntary" quitting when the working conditions become untenable through the employer's actions.

Have you considered contacting legal aid organizations? Some provide free consultations for unemployment cases. Also check if there were any procedural errors during your hearing - like if you weren't given proper notice or if the hearing officer had conflicts of interest.

I went through something similar a few years ago - denied claim, lost all appeals, felt completely hopeless. While suing is technically possible, the reality is it's a long shot unless you have documented evidence of clear procedural violations or discrimination. What helped me was filing a complaint with the NYS Inspector General's office about the handling of my case. It didn't overturn my decision, but it did result in them reviewing the process. Also, some private attorneys specialize in administrative law and might give you a free consultation to evaluate if you have grounds for a lawsuit. Don't give up entirely, but definitely explore all administrative options first before spending money on legal fees.