The whole system is confusing honestly. Why can't they just make it clear on the website where you're supposed to file? I spent an hour looking through labor.ny.gov trying to figure this out when I got laid off. Shouldn't have to guess about something this basic.

just file in ny since thats where your job was, dont overthink it

honestly the whole system is a mess, they make it so confusing on purpose!! ive been trying to figure out my eligibility for weeks and every person i talk to tells me something different about the requirements

Based on what you described, you should definitely qualify. The layoff from your most recent job is what matters for eligibility, and 8 months of work should give you enough wage credits. Just file as soon as possible since there's usually a one-week waiting period before benefits start.

The whole system is ridiculous if you ask me. Why can't they just make a simple calculator that actually works? I spent three weeks trying to figure out my benefits and even the NYS Department of Labor rep I finally reached gave me different numbers than what showed up in my account.

Don't forget you can also check if you qualify for the alternate base period if your regular base period doesn't give you enough wages to qualify. That uses the most recent 4 quarters instead of the first 4 of the last 5.

Just remember you HAVE to report every penny you make or they'll hit you with an overpayment later. I learned that the hard way when I didn't report a small cash job thinking it wouldn't matter. NYS Department of Labor doesn't mess around with unreported income.

Take the catering job! The worst thing you can do is sit around doing nothing. Even if it reduces your unemployment a little, you're gaining experience and networking. Plus you'll still be collecting something from NYS Department of Labor as long as your earnings aren't too high.

If you're having trouble getting your 1099-G or need to talk to someone about your unemployment tax situation, I used a service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) to get through to an actual NYS Department of Labor agent when I couldn't access my account. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI that shows how it works. Really helped me get my tax documents sorted out quickly.

Just remember you can also deduct any job search expenses you had while collecting unemployment - gas for interviews, resume printing, etc. Won't offset much but every little bit helps when you're dealing with an unexpected tax bill.