I've been researching this too since I'm potentially looking at relocating. From what I've found, Massachusetts actually does have higher maximum benefits (around $855/week) like your brother mentioned, but the cost of living adjustment makes it less impressive. Washington state is another good one - they have high benefits and no state income tax. New Jersey is solid too with benefits up to $713/week. But honestly, @Emma Morales makes a good point - the real value is in landing a good job quickly rather than optimizing for unemployment benefits you hopefully won't need long-term. Have you considered looking at job markets in different states as your primary factor?

I've been through unemployment in both NY and California, and honestly NY's system is much more manageable. While CA has higher maximum benefits (around $450-$850 depending on your previous earnings), their EDD system is notoriously difficult to navigate and has massive delays. NY's $504 max isn't the highest, but the processing is generally more reliable. If you're thinking about relocating, I'd recommend looking at states like Washington (great benefits, no state income tax, strong job market) or Minnesota (good benefits duration and solid worker protections). But honestly, focus your energy on networking and job applications rather than benefit shopping - the best unemployment benefit is the one you don't have to use for long!

This happened to my wife. The letter is legit but here's the thing - they are VERY picky about the content. Her first letter got rejected because she didn't "provide sufficient cause" for backdating. Second letter we were super specific about why she couldn't file (our internet was out for 3 weeks due to a storm, then she was in the hospital, etc). The more barriers you can list that prevented you from filing, the better chance you have. Don't just say you didn't know you should file.

I went through this exact same situation last year! The letter is definitely legit - it's called a "Request for Backdating" and NY requires it for any benefits more than 7 days before your filing date. In your case, since you filed in August but were unemployed since May, that's why they need the letter. Here's what worked for me: Keep it simple and factual. Explain that you were laid off on May 23rd but initially thought it might be temporary, so you delayed filing thinking you'd be called back. By the time you realized the layoff was permanent, several months had passed. Include your full name, claim ID, SSN (last 4), and phone number. Send it to the address Logan mentioned above, and definitely use certified mail. I got my backpay about 5-6 weeks after they received my letter. The key is following up every couple weeks to make sure it's being processed. Don't let them forget about you! You're entitled to those payments if you were eligible during that time period.

If you're having trouble reaching NYS Department of Labor by phone to ask questions about your claim duration, I used a service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that helped me get through to an actual agent. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI that shows how it works. I was stuck trying to call for weeks about my adjudication issue.

Just make sure you don't mess up your weekly claims because they can be really strict about that stuff. I missed one week by accident and it took forever to get it sorted out.

One more thing to consider - if you can get your employer to lay you off instead of resigning, that would make you automatically eligible for unemployment. Sometimes if you approach HR about the hostile work environment, they might prefer to let you go rather than deal with a potential lawsuit. Just something to think about as an alternative strategy.

I went through something similar with a toxic manager about 2 years ago. The harassment was mainly verbal too, but I started keeping a detailed journal of every incident - date, time, what was said, any witnesses present. I also sent follow-up emails to my supervisor after difficult conversations "just to confirm what we discussed" - that way I had written records. When I finally quit and applied for unemployment, NYS Department of Labor initially denied me but I appealed with all my documentation. It took about 6 weeks total but they eventually approved my claim. The key was showing a pattern of behavior that made continuing to work there unreasonable. Start documenting everything now, even if you're not sure you'll quit yet.

+1 on this being normal. My husband does roofing and goes through the same cycle every year.

I've been in construction for over a decade and can confirm this is completely normal. NYS Department of Labor definitely understands seasonal patterns in construction - they see thousands of claims like this every winter. The key things to remember: file your claim as soon as you're laid off, keep detailed records of your job search activities (even if you plan to return to the same employer), and don't worry about them thinking you're gaming the system. Construction seasonality is well-documented and expected. Just be consistent with your weekly certifications and you'll be fine.