I just went through this exact same process a couple months ago with NYS Department of Labor after losing both my warehouse job and my weekend restaurant shifts. The system definitely combines wages from all your covered employers automatically - you don't need to do anything special beyond listing both jobs when you file your initial claim. What really helped me was calling the Telephone Claims Center early in the morning (like right when they open at 8am) to verify that both employers showed up in their system correctly. The wait times are still brutal but much better first thing in the morning. One thing to watch out for is that if you had any gaps between when the jobs ended, they might ask for documentation about why each job ended. I had to provide a layoff notice from the warehouse and a letter from the restaurant explaining they reduced staff. The whole thing took about 2.5 weeks to process, but my weekly benefit amount was definitely higher than it would have been with just one job. Make sure to keep doing your weekly certifications even while it's processing!

I'm actually going through something very similar right now! I had a part-time office job and a weekend event planning gig that both ended in January. When I filed with NYS Department of Labor, I was really confused about the same thing - whether they'd combine the wages or if there was some kind of cap. From what I've learned so far (still waiting for my claim to be fully processed), they definitely look at your total earnings from all covered employment during your base period. The tricky part for me has been that my event planning work was sometimes paid as a lump sum after events, so my pay stubs look weird compared to the regular weekly paychecks from my office job. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that it all gets sorted out properly! It's really helpful to read everyone's experiences here - makes me feel less alone in trying to navigate this system.

Based on everyone's experiences shared here, I think you definitely have a good chance of qualifying! The consensus seems to be that NYS Department of Labor evaluates these situations individually, and your 35 years of work history is a huge advantage. I'd recommend applying online and being prepared to clearly explain during the phone interview that while your employment ended, you're now able, available, and actively seeking work. Don't get discouraged by the potential wait times - several people mentioned it took 2-3 weeks for adjudication. Make sure to start documenting your job search activities right away (3 contacts per week minimum) since you'll need those records for your weekly certifications. The success stories from folks like Kristin and Abigail show it's definitely possible for people in similar retirement situations to get approved. Good luck with your application!

I'm 62 and just went through this exact situation! I officially retired in March but had to start looking for work again by June due to rising costs. The key thing that worked for me was being completely upfront during the application process - I explained that while I had initially retired, my circumstances changed and I was now actively seeking employment. NYS Department of Labor approved my claim after about 2.5 weeks of adjudication. During the phone interview, they asked detailed questions about my availability and job search efforts, not so much about the retirement itself. My advice: start your job search activities immediately (even before applying) so you have solid documentation, and focus on demonstrating current availability rather than dwelling on past retirement decisions. The age discrimination concern is real, but I found success with healthcare support roles and retail positions that value experience. Your 35-year work history will definitely help establish eligibility - that's exactly what they want to see. Don't let the retirement label discourage you from applying!

I actually just went through this process a few months ago as a temp worker! Want to add one important thing that helped me - when you file your claim, make sure you list the temp agency's full legal business name exactly as it appears on your pay stubs. I initially just put the common name they go by and it caused a delay in processing because the wage records didn't match up properly. Also, if you worked for multiple temp agencies during your base period, you'll need to list all of them with their respective wage amounts. The NYS Department of Labor was actually really helpful once I got through to them - they explained that temp workers are some of the most common unemployment claimants, so the system is definitely set up to handle our situations. Just be patient with the initial processing time and make sure all your information is accurate. You've got this!

I've been working temp assignments for about 2 years now and have filed for unemployment between longer gaps in work several times. You absolutely qualify as a temp worker in NY! One thing I'd add that I learned the hard way - when you file your initial claim, they'll ask for the reason your employment ended. Make sure you select something like "lack of work" or "temporary layoff" rather than "quit" since your assignment ending isn't the same as quitting. Also, while you're collecting benefits, keep checking in with your temp agency regularly. I usually called mine once a week to show I was actively seeking work through them, which helped satisfy the job search requirements. The whole process is really designed with temp workers in mind since we're such a big part of the workforce now. Don't stress too much about the paperwork - just be thorough and honest about your work history and you should be fine!

Same boat here! Filed last week and still waiting to hear back from them. The uncertainty is killing me because I need to know if I should look for summer work or wait for unemployment to kick in.

I went through this exact situation last year as a paraprofessional! I was able to get unemployment benefits for the summer because my district couldn't guarantee me hours for the following school year at the time I filed. The key thing NYS Department of Labor looks at is whether you have "reasonable assurance" of employment for the next academic year. Since paraprofessionals often don't get their contracts renewed until late in the summer (or sometimes not at all), many of us do qualify. I'd recommend filing as soon as your last day of work ends - don't wait too long because there can be delays in processing. Make sure you have all your employment documentation ready and be completely honest about your school employment status when filling out the application.

I'm going through the exact same thing right now! Been trying to get my verification code for 4 days straight and nothing is coming through. I've tried different browsers, cleared my cache, checked every email folder possible, even created a new email address - still nothing. The system keeps saying "code sent" but there's literally nothing in my inbox. This is so incredibly frustrating when you just need to file your claim and get some financial relief. Has anyone had success getting through to the tech support line recently? I'm wondering if the 888-209-8124 number is even working at this point.

I'm dealing with this exact same verification email issue right now! It's so frustrating because the system acts like everything is working fine on their end, but we're just sitting here waiting for codes that never arrive. I've been following this thread and it sounds like the email sync between different parts of their system is completely broken. For anyone still struggling with this - I found another potential workaround while researching. Try logging into your NY.gov account separately first and make sure your email is verified there, then log out completely and try the unemployment verification again. Sometimes the systems aren't talking to each other properly. Also seeing a lot of people mention calling at 8am sharp - I'm definitely going to try that tomorrow. This whole situation is making an already stressful time even worse when people just need to access the benefits they've earned. Fingers crossed they fix this system-wide issue soon!