@Mary, I'm sorry to hear about your hour reduction - that's really stressful! Just wanted to add that when you file your initial claim, you'll want to have your employment history ready including your employer's information, your Social Security number, and details about your wages from the past 18 months. The system will ask about the reason for your claim, and you'll select something like "reduction in hours" rather than "laid off." Also, don't wait to file - you can apply for benefits as soon as your hours are reduced, even before your first reduced paycheck. The sooner you file, the sooner your claim can be processed. You've got this!

Just wanted to share my experience - I went through something similar when my hours got cut from 35 to 15 per week at my office job. The partial unemployment benefits really made a difference! One thing that helped me was setting up direct deposit for the benefits right from the start - it made receiving payments much smoother. Also, keep a simple calendar or notebook to track your work hours each week since you'll need to report this accurately when filing your weekly claims. The NYS system is pretty user-friendly once you get the hang of it. Don't stress too much about the application process - they walk you through each step pretty clearly. The hardest part is just getting started, but once your claim is approved, the weekly filing becomes routine. Hang in there Mary, this temporary setback will get better!

I'm dealing with something similar right now. Just turned 60 and got laid off after 25 years at my company. My pension is $1,650/month and I'm still waiting to hear back from NYS DOL about my claim status. From what I've researched, there might be some differences in how they treat pensions if you were involuntarily separated (like a layoff) versus voluntary retirement. Also, I've heard that if your pension is from a different employer than where you were laid off from, the rules might be different. Has anyone had experience with that scenario? It's so confusing trying to navigate all these regulations when you're already stressed about finding new work at our age.

I'm in a very similar boat - 55 years old, laid off after 18 years, and getting a pension of about $1,400/month. What I learned from my experience is that you definitely need to report the pension upfront when filing your claim, but there are some nuances that might help your situation. First, make sure to clarify with NYS DOL whether your pension is considered "employer-contributory" - if you contributed your own money to it through payroll deductions, that portion might not count against your benefits. Second, if you're actively looking for work (which it sounds like you are), emphasize that you're available and able to work - this isn't a retirement situation. I'd also recommend documenting everything about your layoff and pension details before calling them, because you'll likely need to provide specific information about how the pension is funded and calculated. The system is definitely frustrating, but don't give up - there might be more options than the initial determination suggests.

I'm going through this exact same nightmare right now! Just completed my ID.me verification 2 days ago and I'm still getting that automated message when I call the unemployment line. It's so frustrating because I did everything correctly and got all the confirmation emails, but their system just won't recognize it. This thread has been incredibly helpful though - I was starting to panic that I had somehow messed up the verification process. Reading everyone's experiences is really reassuring that this is just a common glitch with NY's system. Just tried the web portal at labor.ny.gov like so many people suggested and I was able to certify successfully even though the phone system is still being stubborn! It's honestly crazy that this ID.me integration issue is still happening so frequently in 2025 when it's clearly affecting tons of people every week. But I'm really grateful for this community helping each other navigate these frustrating system problems. Definitely saving that technical support number (855-829-3674) just in case I need it if this takes longer than expected. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences and making me feel less alone in dealing with this mess!

I'm dealing with this exact same issue right now! Just completed my ID.me verification 3 days ago and I'm still getting that automated message when I call the DOL line. It's so frustrating because I got all the confirmation emails and the green checkmark, but their phone system acts like it never happened. This thread has been incredibly helpful - I was starting to worry I had messed something up during verification. Just tried the web portal at labor.ny.gov like everyone suggested and was able to certify successfully even though the phone system is still being stubborn! What a relief to know there's a workaround. It's honestly ridiculous that NY still hasn't fixed this ID.me integration problem when it's clearly affecting so many people every single week. But I'm really grateful for this community sharing experiences and solutions. Definitely saving that technical support number (855-829-3674) in case I need it if this drags on past the 7 business day timeframe. Thanks everyone for making me feel less alone in dealing with this broken system!

One more thing to keep in mind - when you file your claim, make sure you report your last day of work accurately and any final pay you received (like vacation payout or severance). The NYS Department of Labor will use this to determine your claim start date. Also, if you do any part-time work while collecting unemployment, you need to report those earnings on your weekly certification - they'll reduce your benefit amount but you can still collect partial benefits as long as you earn less than your weekly benefit rate. The system is designed to encourage people to take part-time work while job searching.

Just wanted to share my experience since I went through this process recently in NYC. I was also confused about the requirements at first, but here's what I learned: The key is having enough "covered employment" - which means jobs where your employer paid into the unemployment system. Your restaurant job definitely counts since they would have been deducting unemployment taxes from your paychecks. The part-time hours don't matter as much as meeting those dollar thresholds that Jade mentioned. I'd recommend calling the Teleclaim Center at 1-888-581-5812 early in the morning (like 8am) to avoid the rush - I found that's when I could actually get through to speak with someone. They can look up your wage history and tell you right away if you qualify before you even file. Also, start gathering your documents now - you'll need your Social Security card, driver's license, and any pay stubs or tax forms from the restaurant job. The sooner you apply after your last day of work, the better, since benefits can be backdated but there are time limits.

I'm dealing with a similar discharge situation right now and this thread is super helpful! Just wanted to add that when you file online, the NYS Department of Labor system will walk you through different scenarios and ask specific questions about why your employment ended. They don't just give you a simple "fired" vs "discharged" dropdown - they'll ask things like "Were you told your performance was unsatisfactory?" or "Did you violate company policy?" So even though the terminology might seem confusing, the actual filing process is designed to capture the real circumstances. I'd recommend having your termination paperwork handy when you start the application so you can reference the exact reasons they gave you.

Just went through this exact same thing a few months ago! "Discharge" definitely threw me off at first too - it sounds so formal and scary. But yeah, it's literally just the official term NYS Department of Labor uses for "fired" or "terminated." The important thing isn't the word they use, but the reason behind it. Since your paperwork says "attendance issues," that could go either way depending on the specifics. Were these unexcused absences or did you have legitimate reasons like medical appointments, family emergencies, etc.? If you had valid reasons and documentation, that works in your favor. The DOL will do their own investigation and contact both you and your employer to get the full story. Don't stress too much about the terminology - focus on gathering your evidence and being completely honest when you file. Even if there's an initial denial, you can always appeal with additional documentation.