Also bring your alien registration number if you're not a US citizen - they need that for work authorization verification. And if you have any union information that's helpful too since it affects your benefit calculation.

One thing people forget is if you had any severance pay or vacation payout when you left your job, NYS Department of Labor needs to know about that too. It can affect when your benefits start.

The whole system is rigged against small business owners anyway. We pay all these taxes for years and then when we need help the most they make it impossible to get benefits. Typical government BS if you ask me.

I'm going through something similar right now - had to close my consulting business after losing my biggest client. From what I've researched, it really comes down to how you structured your business and paid yourself. If you were an LLC or corp and took W-2 wages with unemployment taxes withheld, you might qualify since you technically had an employer-employee relationship with your own business. The key is proving you were an "employee" of your business, not just the owner. I'd definitely apply - the application process will help clarify your eligibility and you'll get a definitive answer from NYS DOL.

Anyone else notice how they're quick to take our money for overpayments but slow af to pay out benefits? 🙄 Make it make sense.

I went through something similar last year! In my case, they automatically deducted from my weekly benefits until the overpayment was cleared - took about 6 weeks total. The key thing is to make sure you keep certifying each week even while they're deducting, otherwise you might miss out on benefits once the overpayment is resolved. Also, definitely check your online account regularly for any notices or updates. Sometimes they send important info there that doesn't come by mail. Hope this helps and that you get it sorted out soon! 🤞

Just got my hearing date! April 15th, so about 3 weeks from now. They sent instructions for the phone hearing and said both me and my former employer will be called. I'm nervous but feeling more prepared thanks to everyone's advice here. I've gathered all my evidence and am rehearsing how to clearly explain what happened. Will update after the hearing!

I went through this exact situation back in 2023 and won my appeal! The key thing that helped me was getting a letter from HR confirming the layoff was due to company restructuring, not voluntary resignation. If your company has HR, reach out to them ASAP - they often have standard forms for this. Also, don't panic about the 30-day deadline - you have time to gather evidence properly. I'd recommend writing a brief timeline of events leading up to your termination and any witnesses who can verify you were laid off. The appeal hearing was actually less intimidating than I expected - just answer questions directly and honestly. You've got this!

honestly the whole system is set up to deny claims anyway so you might as well try. worst case they say no and youre in the same spot you are now

I was in almost the exact same situation last year with schedule changes and my manager making work impossible. What helped me was keeping a daily log of every incident - when they changed my schedule, what they said to me, how it affected my ability to do my job. When I finally quit and filed for unemployment, I had three months worth of detailed records. NYS Department of Labor approved my claim and said the documentation really helped my case. Start keeping records now even if you haven't decided to quit yet.