I went through this exact situation about a year ago! Got laid off in January and accepted an offer in February, but couldn't start until April due to their extensive background check and security clearance process. NYS DOL was completely understanding about the 8-week gap. The key things that helped me: 1) I was completely honest about the pending offer during my initial filing, 2) I genuinely continued looking for other immediate opportunities since clearances can be denied or delayed indefinitely, and 3) I documented 4-5 job applications per week during my certifications. The rep I eventually spoke with explained that you're unemployed until you're actually working and earning a paycheck - future offers don't change your current status. I collected benefits for the full 8 weeks without any issues and transitioned smoothly into the new role. The income during that waiting period was a lifesaver since I had no idea if the clearance would even go through. Don't hesitate to file - this is exactly the kind of situation unemployment benefits are designed for!

I'm currently in almost the exact same situation! Got laid off 4 weeks ago and just accepted an offer yesterday, but my start date isn't until February 18th due to their background check process and training schedule. This entire thread has been incredibly helpful - I was really worried about filing for benefits with a future job already lined up, but seeing so many successful experiences with NYS DOL has given me the confidence I needed. The consistent message about being transparent during the application process while maintaining genuine availability for other immediate work makes perfect sense. I especially appreciate everyone mentioning specific details like application frequencies (3-5 per week seems to be the sweet spot) and the importance of documenting everything. With a 6+ week gap ahead of me, I'm definitely filing my claim this week. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences - this thread should be required reading for anyone in this situation!

wait im confused about the quarters too... so if i filed in january 2025 what quarters would they use?? i worked at walmart from march 2024 to november 2024 and made like $18000 total

The whole quarterly system is so unnecessarily complicated! Why can't they just use your last year of earnings like a normal person would think? I spent hours trying to figure this out when I got laid off and the NYS Department of Labor website explains it terribly.

Been through this exact thing. File with NY since that's where your wages were earned. Just make sure you have all your employment info ready when you file - dates, employer info, reason for separation, etc. The NYS Department of Labor system will walk you through it.

Just want to add that when you file with NYS Department of Labor, make sure you have your Social Security number and all your employment details from the NY job ready. The system is pretty straightforward once you get started. I was in a similar situation (lived in PA, worked in NY) and it was actually easier than I expected. The key thing is that your employer was paying into the NY unemployment system, so that's definitely where your claim needs to go. Don't overthink it - you've got this!

thanks for asking this question, i was wondering the same thing but felt dumb asking lol

I went through this exact same confusion when I first applied! One thing that helped me was looking at my actual wage statements from employers - they usually show which quarter the wages were reported for. Also, if you worked multiple part-time jobs like you mentioned, make sure ALL your employers reported your wages correctly to NYS Department of Labor. I had one employer who was late reporting my Q2 wages and it initially looked like I had a gap in my work history. The system automatically calculates your base period once you file, but it's worth double-checking that all your wages are showing up properly in their system.

I've been through this exact scenario and want to share what worked for me. When my employer contested after initially approving my claim, I immediately started organizing all my evidence chronologically. The most important thing is showing the inconsistency in their story - if they told you it was budget cuts initially, that's their official position on record. NYS Department of Labor adjudicators are very familiar with employers who try to reframe layoffs as "for cause" terminations to avoid higher unemployment insurance premiums. Keep copies of everything - that company-wide layoff email you mentioned is golden evidence. Also, if you have any performance reviews from the months leading up to your layoff that show satisfactory or good performance, include those too. The adjudication process took about 5 weeks in my case, but I kept receiving benefits throughout. Don't let them intimidate you - stick to the facts and trust that the system is designed to catch these kinds of inconsistent employer claims.

I'm dealing with a similar situation right now where my employer is trying to contest after the fact. One thing I learned from my unemployment advocate is that you should request a copy of your complete unemployment file from NYS Department of Labor - this will show exactly what your employer initially reported as the reason for separation versus what they're claiming now. The inconsistency between their original report and their contest reason can be powerful evidence in your favor. You can request your file by calling or through their online portal. Having that documentation showing they originally reported it as a layoff/budget cuts but are now claiming performance issues will really strengthen your case during adjudication. Don't let them gaslight you into thinking this was always about performance when you know it was clearly communicated as budget-related layoffs.