I'm dealing with a nearly identical situation and this thread has been incredibly helpful! My employer cut my hours from 36 to just 9 hours per week, and when I couldn't afford to stay, they denied my unemployment claim for "voluntary quit." I had no idea about constructive dismissal or that late appeals were possible until reading everyone's experiences here. I'm about 8 weeks past my denial notice, but seeing so many success stories gives me real hope. I have pay stubs showing the dramatic reduction and some emails where my supervisor kept saying the cuts were "just for a few weeks" but they never restored my hours. It's really encouraging to see that appeals judges seem to understand these situations much better than the initial reviewers. Going to call the appeals office tomorrow and explain that I genuinely thought I had no options after the denial. Thank you all for sharing your stories - you've shown me that 9 hours a week clearly isn't enough to survive on and that I shouldn't have to accept being labeled as someone who "voluntarily" quit when I was essentially forced out!

I'm in an almost identical situation and this entire thread has been a lifeline! My hours got slashed from 40 to about 11 hours per week and I received the same "voluntary quit without good cause" denial. Like so many others here, I had no clue that constructive dismissal was a thing or that late appeals were even possible. Reading everyone's success stories is giving me the confidence to fight this - I'm about 6 weeks past my denial but it's clear that's not the end of the road. I have documentation showing the hour cuts and some messages from my manager about "temporary adjustments" that became permanent. It's incredible how many people here have successfully overturned these denials by proving that massive hour reductions essentially force you out. No one can survive on 11 hours a week! Planning to call the appeals office this week and argue constructive dismissal. Thank you everyone for sharing your experiences and showing that these cases can be won even after missing the initial deadline!

I went through something similar when I first started collecting unemployment. The key thing to remember is that rental income is passive income, not earned income from employment. NYS Department of Labor distinguishes between these types of income. You should definitely report it on your next weekly claim - there's usually a section for "other income" where you can include it. Don't panic about not reporting it initially - just be transparent going forward. The worst thing you can do is continue not reporting it now that you're aware of it.

I'm dealing with a similar situation - I have a duplex and live in one unit while renting out the other. From what I've learned, as long as you're not actively managing the property (like doing maintenance, advertising, showing units), the rental income is considered passive and shouldn't affect your unemployment benefits. However, I'd still recommend calling NYS DOL to clarify your specific situation since every case can be different. The peace of mind is worth the wait time on hold. Also, when you do report it, make sure to specify that it's rental income from a property you own, not income from employment or self-employment activities.

Just want to add that you should still try to make all your regular payments on time even while on unemployment. The benefit amount is usually less than your full salary, so budget carefully to avoid late payments that WOULD hurt your credit.

Great question and I'm glad you asked before filing! Everyone else is absolutely right - unemployment benefits won't show up on your credit report or affect your score. I went through the same worry when I was laid off from my tech job last year. Filed my claim right away and my credit score actually went UP a few points during those months (probably just normal fluctuation). The key is keeping up with your existing payments as others mentioned. NYS unemployment maxes out at $504/week so definitely budget accordingly if you're used to a higher income.

Cash App processing times >>> regular bank accounts frfr

Just got approved for benefits yesterday! This timeline gives me hope that I might see my first payment soon. Quick question though - can you use any digital wallet like Venmo or PayPal for direct deposit, or is Cash App the only one that works fast? Also, what exactly do you mean by "answer certification questions correctly"? Are there specific things to watch out for? Thanks for sharing your experience, really helpful for us newbies! 🙏

Also freeze your credit immediately if you haven't already. If they have enough info to file an unemployment claim, they probably have your SSN and other details that could be used for other types of fraud.

I went through this exact same situation about 6 months ago. In addition to reporting the fraud to NYS Department of Labor, make sure you also contact the IRS about the fraudulent 1099-G that will likely be issued. You can use IRS Form 14039 (Identity Theft Affidavit) to report it. The IRS has a special process for unemployment identity theft cases. Also, when you file your taxes, you'll need to report only your actual income and attach documentation showing the fraudulent unemployment claim was reported. It's a pain but definitely manageable if you stay on top of it.