I was in a really similar situation about 8 months ago - got fired from a manufacturing job for attendance issues that were mostly due to chronic migraines and some family emergencies. I was so scared to apply because I thought getting fired meant automatic disqualification, but I'm really glad I did. The NYS Department of Labor ended up approving my claim after about 5 weeks of review. During my phone interview with the adjudicator, I explained how my health condition made it unpredictable when I'd be able to work, and how I tried to communicate with my supervisor when possible. What really helped was that I had kept screenshots of texts I sent to my boss about being sick, and I had some medical records showing my condition was real. The adjudicator seemed to understand that legitimate health issues are totally different from just skipping work because you don't want to go. Even without formal documentation from your employer, if you can show you made efforts to communicate about your health problems and that they were genuine medical issues, you have a good chance. Definitely apply right away like others said - you've paid into the system and you deserve a fair review of your situation!

I'm dealing with a very similar situation right now and this thread has been incredibly helpful! I got fired from my office job two weeks ago for "excessive absences" but most of those were due to managing diabetes and some complications that required frequent doctor visits. Like many of you, I was terrified to apply because I thought being terminated automatically meant no benefits. After reading all these experiences though, I filed my claim with NYS Department of Labor yesterday. It's really encouraging to see that they seem to take legitimate health issues into consideration during the adjudication process. I made sure to be completely honest in my application about my medical condition and how it affected my attendance. I also have documentation of some of my appointments and a few emails where I notified my supervisor about needing time off for medical reasons. Hopefully that will help during the review process. Thanks to everyone who shared their stories - it really gave me the confidence to apply rather than just assuming I'd be denied!

I'm dealing with this exact same PIN nightmare! Got locked out 5 days ago and have been going in circles with the online system. Reading through all these experiences has been both frustrating and reassuring - it's clear this system is fundamentally broken but at least we're not suffering alone. I'm definitely going to try the One-Stop Career Center approach based on all the positive feedback here. Already called my local office and they confirmed they can handle PIN resets with proper documentation. Planning to go Monday morning with my ID, Social Security card, and recent pay stubs. It's absolutely wild that in 2024 we need to physically travel somewhere just to reset a 4-digit PIN, but honestly I'm just desperate for any solution that actually works! The fact that the original poster last applied in the 70s and is dealing with this mess now really shows how backwards this whole system has become 😅 Will definitely update this thread with my results - we all need more success stories to keep hope alive in this bureaucratic nightmare! Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences and solutions. This community support makes all the difference! 🙏

I'm going through this exact same PIN reset nightmare right now! Been locked out for about a week after forgetting my PIN and the security questions not working. This whole thread has been incredibly helpful - it's both reassuring to know I'm not alone and infuriating to see how many people are dealing with this broken system. Based on everyone's experiences here, I'm definitely planning to try the One-Stop Career Center approach. Just called my local office and they confirmed they can handle PIN resets in person with proper ID, Social Security card, and recent employment documents. They estimated about a 2-3 hour wait for walk-ins, which honestly sounds like paradise compared to endless phone holds or waiting weeks for fraud statement processing. It's absolutely ridiculous that in 2024 we need to physically travel somewhere just to reset a 4-digit PIN, but at this point I'll take any working solution! Planning to head there tomorrow morning with all my paperwork ready. The fact that you last applied in the 70s and are dealing with this mess now really shows how they've somehow made the system MORE complicated over the decades 😅 Will definitely update this thread with my results - we need more success stories to give everyone hope! Thanks to everyone for sharing their experiences and solutions - this community support makes dealing with this bureaucratic nightmare so much more bearable! 🤞

Congrats on the new job! 🎉 That's such exciting news after being unemployed since December - what a great way to start the new year! You're definitely being smart by asking about this ahead of time. From what I've seen others go through and based on the great advice already shared here: - Yes, absolutely claim your final week since you weren't working yet - Once you start your new job, just stop certifying - the system will handle the rest automatically - Make sure to download/print your payment history before you lose access (you'll need it for taxes!) - Set that phone reminder everyone's talking about - it's such a simple but brilliant tip to avoid accidentally certifying out of habit One thing I'd add is to maybe screenshot or write down the exact steps you took to end your claim properly, just in case you ever need to reference it in the future or help someone else in a similar situation. You're handling this transition perfectly by planning ahead. Best of luck with your fresh start - hope the new job is everything you're hoping for! 💪

Congrats on the new job! 🎉 That's awesome news after being out of work since December. You're definitely being smart by asking about this upfront - shows you want to handle everything properly. From my experience helping family members through this exact situation, you're on the right track: - Yes, absolutely claim for your final week since you weren't working those days yet - Once you start your new position, just stop certifying - that's all you need to do! No calls or formal closure required - The system will automatically mark your claim inactive after you miss several certifications - Definitely save/print your payment history before you lose access (super important for tax season) That phone reminder tip everyone keeps mentioning is pure gold - I'd definitely set one up for your usual certification day. After months of weekly routine, it's so easy to accidentally certify on autopilot! Also make sure you're crystal clear on your exact start date so you don't accidentally certify for any week that includes work days. You're handling this transition perfectly by planning ahead. Here's to your fresh start and new opportunities! 🙌

I'm so glad I found this thread! I just submitted my unemployment application yesterday through my.ny.gov and literally got a job offer call this morning. I was panicking about how to handle this properly without messing anything up for the future. Reading through everyone's detailed experiences here is incredibly reassuring - it's clear that calling NYS Department of Labor directly is definitely the right approach. Based on all the advice shared, I'm planning to call tomorrow morning right at 8:00 AM with my SSN, application confirmation number, and submission date all ready to go. It's so helpful to know the agents are understanding about these situations and that properly withdrawing the claim actually helps their system rather than creating problems. The persistence with redialing seems to be the key, but knowing it typically only takes 5-10 minutes once you get connected makes it totally worth the effort. Thanks to everyone who took the time to share their recent experiences - this thread has been a lifesaver for knowing exactly how to handle this situation properly!

I went through this exact same situation about 6 weeks ago! Filed my unemployment application on a Friday and got an unexpected job offer the following Wednesday. I was really stressed about how to properly handle the withdrawal without creating any complications. I called the NYS Department of Labor customer service line (number is in your my.ny.gov account) at 8:05 AM on Thursday morning. It took me roughly 32 redials to finally get through to an agent, but once connected, the process was incredibly smooth and efficient. The representative was very understanding and professional - they asked for my Social Security number, full name, and the date I originally submitted my application. Within about 6 minutes, they had completely withdrawn my claim from their system and provided me with a confirmation number, which I immediately wrote down and saved. I also received an email confirmation later that same day for my records. The agent actually thanked me for calling to properly withdraw the claim rather than just abandoning it, explaining that it helps them manage their workload more effectively. They assured me there were absolutely no penalties involved and that this withdrawal wouldn't negatively impact any future unemployment applications if I ever needed to file again. My strong recommendation is to call as early as possible in the morning (8 AM really does seem to be optimal based on everyone's experiences), have all your documentation ready before you call, and don't get discouraged by the busy signals - just keep persistently redialing until you connect. It's definitely worth the effort to handle this properly and officially close out your claim. Congratulations on finding employment so quickly - what a great problem to have!

This thread has been absolutely incredible - thank you so much to everyone who shared their experiences! I'm actually facing a layoff myself next month (my department is being "consolidated" which we all know means eliminated), and reading through all these detailed responses has given me such clarity on what I need to prepare for. The distinction between "wages in lieu of notice" vs actual severance payments is going to be my first question to HR - I had no idea that classification could completely change when benefits start. I'm also going to make sure to ask about any work restrictions and whether I have options between lump sum vs payment plan structures. Planning to file my unemployment claim immediately when the separation happens, regardless of severance timing, and document absolutely everything along the way. One question I have - has anyone here had success negotiating any aspects of their severance package, or is it usually pretty much take-it-or-leave-it? I'm wondering if there's any room to discuss payment timing or structure if it would help with unemployment eligibility. Thanks again to this community for creating such a comprehensive resource - this is exactly the kind of real-world advice you need when facing these situations!

This thread has been such a lifesaver! I'm actually in a very similar situation to @Maya Patel - my company just announced they're eliminating my entire division next month and I'm trying to figure out the severance/unemployment situation before I have to make any decisions. Reading through everyone's experiences has really opened my eyes to how complex this can be. The "wages in lieu of notice" vs true severance distinction that @Ava Kim mentioned seems absolutely crucial - I had no idea that could make such a difference in timing. I'm definitely going to ask HR specifically about that classification and get it in writing. Also planning to inquire about lump sum vs payment plan options since it sounds like that choice could dramatically impact when I can start collecting benefits. One thing I'm curious about - @Liam O'Reilly asked about negotiating severance terms, and I'm wondering the same thing. Has anyone here had success asking their employer to structure the severance in a way that's more favorable for unemployment purposes? Like requesting a lump sum instead of payments, or asking them to classify it as true severance rather than wages in lieu of notice? I'm not sure if companies are typically willing to be flexible on those details, but it seems worth asking if it could mean the difference between immediate benefits vs waiting weeks or months. Thanks to everyone for sharing such detailed experiences - this community knowledge is incredibly valuable during such a stressful time!