One thing to check - were you working under the table for any of that delivery work? Because if it wasn't properly reported as W-2 or 1099 income, NYS Department of Labor won't count it toward your benefit calculation. All your earnings need to be documented with proper tax reporting to qualify for the calculation.

I got my benefits increased by $85 per week after I proved they missed wages from a seasonal job I had. Took about 3 weeks to get it corrected but they also paid me the difference retroactively for all the weeks I had already claimed. definitely worth pursuing if you think they made an error

Just want to add that you HAVE to report any unemployment benefits on future immigration forms, so keep all your records organized. The 90-day unemployment period includes weekends and holidays, so it goes faster than you think. Also make sure your job search activities meet both NYS Department of Labor requirements and USCIS expectations.

ugh the whole system is so confusing!! why cant they just give straight answers about this stuff... been unemployed for 2 weeks and nobody can tell me if filing will mess up my status or not 😤

The NYS Department of Labor phone system is impossible to get through to ask these questions directly. I spent weeks trying to reach someone about my specific situation. Finally used this service called claimyr.com that actually got me connected to an agent who could explain my eligibility. There's a video demo at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI showing how it works. Was way easier than trying to navigate the phone maze myself.

Just to add - even medical reasons can qualify in some cases. If you had to quit due to illness or caring for a family member, there are provisions for that too. The key is documenting everything properly when you file with NYS Department of Labor.

what everyone's saying is right but honestly the thing most associated with unemployment in my experience is just WAITING. waiting for your claim to get processed, waiting during adjudication if they need to verify something, waiting for your weekly payments to hit your account. the system is slow and theres not much you can do about it except be patient

The waiting is definitely the worst part! But to answer your original question, the three main things associated with unemployment eligibility are: 1) involuntary job loss or quitting with good cause, 2) meeting the wage/work history requirements in your base period, and 3) being able and available to work. If you meet all three, you should be approved assuming you file correctly.

ugh the whole system is designed to make you suffer while waiting... took them 6 weeks to approve mine and by then I was already behind on everything. Make sure you document EVERYTHING and keep calling them constantly

Credit cards can be a temporary buffer but be really careful about debt. Better to exhaust all assistance programs first. Also check if your local community college has emergency student funds if you're considering training programs.