I just want to echo what everyone else is saying - definitely file your claim right away! I was in a very similar situation about 8 months ago where I got terminated for "performance issues" but it was really because I had been asking HR about unpaid overtime. I was terrified they'd deny me automatically, but NYS Department of Labor approved my benefits after about 4 weeks. The adjudication process was actually pretty fair - they called both me and my former employer separately to get the full story. What really helped my case was that I had documentation showing I was trying to address workplace issues through proper channels, just like you with your scheduling complaints. The fact that you worked there for 2 years with no formal write-ups is huge in your favor. Poor performance that leads to termination usually has a paper trail of warnings and improvement plans - the absence of that documentation will likely work against your employer's case. Stay strong and don't let them scare you out of filing!

I went through this exact situation about 6 months ago and want to give you some encouragement! I was fired for "poor performance" after working at a warehouse for 18 months with no prior disciplinary action. Like you, I suspected retaliation because I had filed a complaint about safety violations the week before. I was so nervous about applying but decided to file anyway through my.ny.gov. NYS Department of Labor called me about 3 weeks later for the fact-finding interview, and the adjudicator was actually really thorough and fair. They asked detailed questions about my work history, the circumstances of my termination, and whether I had received any warnings. The fact that I had no write-ups and a clean record for over a year really helped my case. I was approved for benefits about 2 weeks after that call. My former employer did try to contest it, but NYS Department of Labor sided with me after reviewing all the evidence. The key is being completely honest during the process and providing any documentation you have. Those text messages about scheduling issues could definitely help show a pattern of retaliation. Don't let fear stop you from filing - you've earned these benefits through your work, and being terminated for "poor performance" without prior warnings is a pretty weak case for misconduct on their part.

I went thru this last week. You HAVE to talk to a human. The automated system and website both suck. After 3 days of trying I used claimyr.com to get through and had my form in 2 days.

I just went through this exact same situation last month! Here's what worked for me: Call the tax document line (1-877-280-4541) first thing in the morning around 8:30 AM - that's when I had the shortest wait time (only about 20 minutes). When you get through, ask them to email it to you instead of mail since you mentioned you moved recently. They can send it as a PDF same day. If that line is still busy, the Claimyr service that others mentioned really does work - I was skeptical too but it saved me hours of frustration. Also double check that your address is updated in BOTH your unemployment account AND your NY.gov ID account, sometimes they don't sync properly. Good luck with your tax appointment!

I just went through this process a couple months ago and want to echo what everyone else is saying - JUST APPLY! I was in almost the exact same boat with around $4,000 from part-time work spread across different employers and was absolutely convinced I wouldn't qualify. Spent weeks stressing about it and trying to add up quarters myself with old pay stubs. Finally just bit the bullet and filed online, and to my shock I was approved! Turns out my highest quarter was better than I thought because I forgot about some overtime hours. The whole thing took maybe 30 minutes to file and then I got my determination letter about 2 weeks later. Even if you don't qualify under the regular base period, they automatically check you for the alternative base period too. The worst case scenario is you get a "no" and you're in the same spot you're in right now, but at least you'll know for sure instead of wondering. Don't let the confusing wage calculations scare you away from potentially getting benefits you're entitled to!

I'm seeing a lot of great advice here, but wanted to add one practical tip that helped me when I was in a similar situation - if you're really worried about your wage calculations, you can actually request a "Statement of Wages" from NYS Department of Labor before filing your claim. It shows exactly what wages they have on record for you by quarter, which takes all the guesswork out of whether you'll qualify or not. You can request it through the same online portal where you'd file your claim. That said, I agree with everyone else that you should probably just apply directly since the process is the same either way and you'll get your answer faster. But if you're the type of person who really needs to know beforehand (like I was!), that wage statement option exists. Either way, don't let the uncertainty keep you from trying - $4,200 across multiple employers sounds very promising to me!

Just want to echo what others have said about keeping detailed records! I've been working part-time (about 18 hours over 3 days) while collecting UI for the past two months and it's been working great. The weekly certification is pretty straightforward once you get the hang of it - just answer honestly about days worked and total earnings. One thing that helped me was setting up a simple spreadsheet to track my hours and pay each week before I do my certification. Also, don't stress too much about the "fraud" concern - as long as you're reporting everything accurately, you're doing exactly what the system is designed for. The part-time work has actually been a confidence booster while I'm job hunting for full-time positions. Good luck with the new opportunity!

One thing I haven't seen mentioned yet is that you should also be aware of how your part-time earnings might affect your total benefit year amount. While the weekly calculations are important, NY also tracks your total benefits paid out over the year. If you're earning decent part-time income, you might extend how long your benefits last since you're drawing less each week. I've been doing freelance graphic design (usually 2-3 days a week) while on UI and it's actually helped me build up my portfolio for when I land a full-time position. Just make sure when you report your work that you're clear about whether it's W2 employment or 1099 contract work - they handle those slightly differently in terms of what documentation they might want later.

Congrats on the new job! Just wanted to add one more thing that helped me - when you do your final certification and report returning to work, make sure you have your exact start date ready. The system will ask for the specific date, not just "this week" or "next week." I made that mistake and had to call back to correct it (which was a nightmare). Also, if you're starting mid-week like November 17th (which is a Sunday if we're talking about this year), you'll still certify for that partial week but report your earnings from the new job. The system will calculate your partial benefit automatically. Good luck with the new position!

Hey @Zara Perez! I just went through this exact same situation a few months ago. The process is actually pretty straightforward once you know what to do. When you certify for your last week (the week ending before you start work), make sure to answer "YES" when they ask if your employment status changed and enter November 17th as your return-to-work date. After that, just stop certifying - don't file a new claim or anything. Your claim stays open for a full year in case you need it again, but it goes inactive once you stop certifying. The key is being honest about your work status on that final certification. I was worried about the same things you mentioned, but as long as you don't keep certifying after you start working, you'll be totally fine. Congrats on landing the job! 🎉