Just remember that welfare has work requirements too so make sure you're meeting the job search requirements for both programs. NYS Department of Labor requires you to look for work and so does welfare usually.

I went through this exact situation about 8 months ago with two kids as well. You absolutely can get both - I received unemployment from NYS Department of Labor and SNAP/cash assistance from local DSS. The key thing is being completely transparent about your unemployment benefits when you apply for welfare. They'll reduce your cash assistance based on your UI payments, but you'll likely still qualify for SNAP and definitely for Medicaid for you and your kids. Apply for both ASAP since there can be processing delays, especially with welfare applications. Also keep all your documentation organized because both agencies will want proof of everything. Hang in there - the combination of both programs really helped me get through those tough months until I found work again.

when u finally get thru make sure u ask them to update ur email AND set up ur NY.gov ID!!! thats different from ur unemployment login and makes everything easier in the future. i lost my login info 3 times before an agent showed me this trick.

I went through this exact nightmare last year! What finally worked for me was going to my local One-Stop Career Center in person. I know it's a pain to travel, but I brought my ID, social security card, and an old paystub from when I was collecting benefits. The staff there were able to verify my identity and reset my account on the spot. They even printed out my 1099-G right there. Much faster than the phone runaround, and you're dealing with actual humans who want to help instead of that broken phone system. Look up "One-Stop Career Center" + your county name to find the closest location. Most are open Mon-Fri 9-5. Save yourself the phone hell!

THE BASE PERIOD SYSTEM IS SO STUPID! Why can't they just use your most recent wages like any normal person would expect??? I lost out on hundreds of dollars because I started a better job right before filing and those wages didn't count. The whole system is designed to screw people over.

Just went through this same thing last month. You can also request a monetary redetermination if you think they calculated your base period wrong. I had to submit pay stubs to prove my wages were higher than what showed up in their system.

just go to my.ny.gov and log in then click unemployment services then weekly certification. its not that hard once you know where to look lol

I've been filing weekly claims for about 6 months now and here's what I've learned: Try filing between 6-8 AM on Sunday mornings when the system is most stable. For the job search contacts, you need to have them ready during certification - you can't add them separately later. Keep a simple log with company name, contact method (online application, phone, email), and date. The system will ask for 3 work search activities per week unless you're in an approved training program. Also, save your work frequently as you go through the questions in case it times out - the system sometimes saves partial progress. If all else fails, you can call the Telecert line at 1-888-581-5812, though expect long wait times.

check ur spam folder! sometimes their emails go there and they need more info but never tell u

Been in the exact same boat since April - ID verified, documents submitted, still pending with zero payments. Finally got through last week using the callback feature on the NY.gov site (took 3 days but they actually called back). Turns out my case was flagged for "additional review" but nobody bothered to tell me what they needed. Agent cleared it up in 10 minutes and said I should see payments within 72 hours. Try the callback option if you haven't yet - way better than sitting on hold for hours!