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THE WHOLE SYSTEM IS A JOKE! I've been waiting 6 WEEKS for my adjudication and they keep saying 'we're reviewing your case.' Meanwhile I'm about to lose my apartment. NYS Department of Labor acts like they're doing us a favor when WE PAID INTO THIS SYSTEM through our paychecks!
Just to add - make sure you're filing your weekly claims every Sunday even if your initial claim is still pending. Missing weekly certifications can delay your benefits even after approval. Also keep detailed records of any job search activities since you'll need to meet those requirements once approved.
ugh the whole system is so confusing and they make it impossible to get straight answers. I got disqualified initially because they said I didn't work enough quarters but then when I appealed with better documentation they approved me. sometimes it feels like they just deny everyone first to see who fights back
To answer your earlier question about base periods - NYS Department of Labor looks at the first four of the last five completed calendar quarters before you file your claim. So if your cousin files now in 2025, they'd look at her wages from Q1 2024 through Q4 2024. She needs at least $2,600 total in that period AND wages in at least two different quarters. The seasonal retail work might actually help if it was during Q4 2024 and the restaurant work was in a different quarter.
From what I understand, there are different levels of review. Simple claims get auto-approved by the computer system. More complex ones go to claims examiners, and really complicated cases might go to hearing officers. The whole process depends on your specific situation and how busy they are.
Been there! I was so worried about getting disqualified too. The main thing is being honest on your application. If you were laid off due to company restructuring like you said, that's not misconduct. The work search requirements are probably what trips up most people once they start collecting - you have to document your job search activities every week.
Geoff Richards
ugh the whole system is so confusing. why can't they just make it simple to reopen a claim instead of making you start over from scratch every time
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Simon White
•I know it seems annoying but it actually makes sense from a benefits perspective. Starting fresh means they recalculate your weekly amount based on recent earnings instead of old wages from 2023.
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Hugo Kass
good luck! definitely file asap though
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