This is happening way too often and it's completely unacceptable! I just went through this exact same situation yesterday - waited for an hour and twenty minutes for absolutely nobody to show up. I was starting to panic thinking my benefits might get cut off for "missing" a meeting that I definitely didn't miss! Thank goodness for this thread because everyone's advice has been a total lifesaver! I immediately took screenshots of everything (the meeting room showing I was there, my confirmation email, timestamps) and called that Virtual Meeting Support line at 518-457-2299 that so many people mentioned. They were able to confirm that their agent never even logged into the system and marked it as "agency error" in my file right away - such a relief! I also filed a complaint on the DOL website under "Technical Issues" instead of trying to reschedule normally, just like everyone suggested. Got a response within 48 hours and was rescheduled without any penalties or issues with my benefits. It's honestly disgraceful that we have to become unemployment system experts just to protect ourselves from their technical failures when we're already stressed about our financial situation. But I'm so grateful for this community sharing actual solutions that work! The documentation and using these specific channels is absolutely crucial. Don't let them try to blame you for their broken system! 💪

This exact same thing just happened to me this morning! Waited for an hour and a half and nobody showed up. I was getting so anxious thinking I'd somehow messed up or that they'd mark me as a no-show. Reading through everyone's experiences here has been such a relief - at least I know I'm not alone and there are actual steps I can take. About to call that Virtual Meeting Support line at 518-457-2299 and file under "Technical Issues" like everyone's suggesting. Already took screenshots of everything. It's honestly crazy that we have to become experts at protecting ourselves from their own system failures, but thank you all for sharing what actually works! This community has been a lifesaver 🙏

I'm currently going through this exact same situation as a newer real estate agent (licensed for about 8 months) and this thread has been incredibly helpful! It's disappointing to confirm that we don't qualify for unemployment benefits as independent contractors, but I appreciate everyone sharing their experiences and alternative strategies. I'm definitely going to look into transaction coordination work and reaching out to my sphere of influence more systematically. For other agents reading this - I've also found that some brokerages offer small stipends or desk fees waivers during slow periods, so it might be worth talking to your broker about temporary assistance options. The market will turn around eventually, but in the meantime it's good to know there are creative ways to bring in some income while staying in the real estate space. Thanks to everyone who shared their stories - it really helps to know we're not alone in this struggle!

I'm also a real estate agent dealing with this exact situation right now. It's so frustrating to be in this limbo where you're essentially unemployed but can't access unemployment benefits because of the independent contractor classification. I've been reading through all the suggestions here and they're really helpful - especially the ideas about transaction coordination and VA work for other agents. One thing I want to add is that I've started looking into getting my property management license as well, since that could provide more steady income opportunities. The property management companies in my area seem to always be hiring, and the skills translate well from real estate sales. Has anyone else explored this route? Also, for what it's worth, I did try calling NYS Department of Labor multiple times but could never get through to actually speak with someone - the phone system is incredibly frustrating. Thanks to everyone sharing their experiences and suggestions - it really helps to know other agents have made it through similar tough periods.

This thread is exactly what I needed! Just got laid off from my job in Rochester two weeks ago and my employer is processing about $1,600 in vacation pay that should hit my account next week. After reading through everyone's experiences, I now understand that I need to calculate this against my weekly gross salary ($400) which means it covers 4 weeks of benefits. What's really helpful is learning that the vacation pay gets allocated to the weeks immediately following my termination date, not when I actually receive the payment. I'm definitely going to call my HR department tomorrow to get the official weekly breakdown documentation - seems like that's absolutely critical for staying compliant with NYS Department of Labor requirements. It's honestly ridiculous how confusing the official guidance is on this, but this community discussion has made it crystal clear. Thanks everyone for sharing your real-world experiences!

This is such a helpful thread for someone just starting this process! I got laid off last Friday from my job in Buffalo and I'm still trying to wrap my head around all the unemployment requirements. My HR department mentioned they'll be sending me around $1,400 in vacation pay in a couple weeks, and honestly I had no clue this would impact my unemployment benefits at all. After reading through everyone's experiences here, it's clear I need to get ahead of this - my weekly gross was about $350, so that vacation pay covers exactly 4 weeks. I'm going to call HR first thing Monday to get the official documentation showing which specific weeks the vacation time covers. It's frustrating that the NYS Department of Labor website doesn't explain any of this clearly, but I'm so grateful for communities like this where people share their real experiences. Better to do this right from the start than deal with audit problems later!

This NEVER works for me! The system just ignores what I say and goes back to the same stupid menu no matter what I try!! 🤬

I feel your pain! I was stuck in the same nightmare loop for weeks. What finally worked for me was a combination of tips from this thread - I called at exactly 7:58am on a Thursday using Javier's updated sequence (1-888-209-8124, then 1 for claimant services, 3 for payment issues, 9 for rep). The key was having EVERYTHING ready beforehand like Oliver mentioned - claim ID, SSN, work history dates, and all determination letter numbers written down. Even then I waited 1.5 hours on hold but finally got through to someone who could actually help. Don't give up - it really does work if you hit the right timing and have all your paperwork ready!

THE WHOLE SYSTEM IS SET UP TO PROTECT WORKERS from employers who try to dodge their responsibilities. If companies could just opt out of paying unemployment insurance, nobody would ever qualify for benefits! NYS Department of Labor takes this stuff seriously and audits employers regularly. Don't let any employer tell you they 'don't participate' in unemployment - that's not how it works.

One thing to keep in mind is that even part-time and temporary workers are usually covered under New York's unemployment insurance system, as long as they meet the minimum earnings requirements. So if you're working multiple jobs or just started somewhere new, you're likely building up eligibility. The system tracks your earnings from all covered employers over the past 18 months when you file a claim. It's actually pretty comprehensive coverage compared to some other states.