definitely get everything in writing from your doctor about what you can and cant do workwise. learned that the hard way when i had my back injury

I went through something similar about 8 months ago. The key thing to understand is that NYS Department of Labor looks at whether you're "able and available" for work, not just your employment status. In my case, I was on workers' comp for a shoulder injury but my doctor cleared me for sedentary work. Even though my regular job was warehouse work that I couldn't do, I was able to get unemployment because I could demonstrate I was available for office-type positions. You'll need to file for unemployment and be honest about your limitations - they may approve you for partial benefits if you can work in some capacity. The workers' comp and unemployment serve different purposes, so you might be eligible for both depending on your medical restrictions. Document everything and be prepared to explain your situation clearly to the DOL representative.

I got fed up with the phone system and used claimyr.com - had my issue resolved the same day after weeks of trying. Just sharing what worked for me - talking to an agent got my $ unlocked so fast. Their youtube explains how it works: https://youtu.be/Rdqa1gKtxuE

I went through something similar last year - had to quit due to a medical condition and waited months with $0.00 showing. The key is getting proper medical documentation that clearly states your vaccine reaction made it impossible to continue working at that job. You'll also need to show you tried to work with your employer first (like requesting accommodations or medical leave). Once I finally got through to an agent with all my paperwork ready, they were able to approve my claim and I got all the back pay. The $0.00 definitely just means it's pending review, not denied. Don't give up - medical reasons CAN qualify for unemployment in NY, but you need to advocate for yourself and get that documentation submitted properly.

I think I read somewhere that unemployment was supposed to go down this year but then some layoffs in tech happened? Not sure how accurate that was though. My cousin in Buffalo said their claim got extended somehow but I don't know if that's related to unemployment rates or something else entirely.

I've been tracking the NYS Department of Labor data pretty closely since I started my claim in January. The unemployment rate has actually been trending slightly downward over the past few months - we're sitting around 3.9% as of the latest report. Processing times for weekly certifications have been consistent for me (usually processed within 2-3 days), so I don't think increased volume is really impacting the system right now. That said, I'd still recommend staying proactive with your job search regardless of the trends - the sooner you find something, the better, especially since we're heading into summer when some seasonal opportunities might open up.

Update us when you get that determination letter! The exact wording will determine your next steps. While you're waiting, compile a chronological list of every interaction you've had with both NYSDOL and your former employer including dates, times, and names. This timeline will be extremely valuable during your appeal hearing. Also, if you're struggling financially while this gets resolved, you can request an emergency hearing due to financial hardship. This can sometimes speed up the process by 2-3 weeks.

Wow, this is exactly why I always tell people to document EVERYTHING when dealing with NYSDOL - they seem to have serious communication issues between departments. The fact that your determination letter says "voluntarily left" when you were clearly terminated shows there's a major disconnect somewhere in their system. Since you now have the official reason for denial in writing, you definitely need to appeal this within 30 days. Focus your appeal on two main points: 1) You were terminated, not quit voluntarily, and 2) Your termination was due to disability discrimination which would qualify as "good cause" even if you had quit. Get that written statement from your former employer ASAP confirming you were terminated. Also, since this involves disability discrimination, make sure to mention in your appeal that you're filing a complaint with the NYS Division of Human Rights - this adds weight to your case and shows the termination wasn't legitimate. Don't give up! Cases like yours with clear documentation usually get resolved in favor of the claimant once you get in front of an actual hearing officer who can review everything properly.

Not sure if this helps, but when I FINALLY got through to someone after trying that Claimyr service, the agent told me they're prioritizing DocuSign emails for people who call in because there's a backlog of over 15,000 waiting to be sent automatically. So if you just wait, you might be waiting a LONG time. Just something to keep in mind if your benefits are on hold until you complete those forms.

I'm dealing with this exact same issue right now - got the text on November 3rd but still no DocuSign email. Reading through everyone's experiences here, it sounds like calling with the "online account access issues" option is the way to go. @Mei Wong thanks for sharing that tip about which phone option to choose, that's super helpful! It's honestly ridiculous that we have to jump through all these hoops just to get basic unemployment benefits, but at least now I know I'm not the only one dealing with this mess.