One thing that might help you understand this better is to look at your paystubs from your retail job - you should see a line item for "unemployment tax" or "UI tax" being deducted. That's how you know those wages are covered. For your 1099 work and Etsy sales, you wouldn't see those deductions because you're considered self-employed for those. The key distinction is whether you're an employee (W-2) or independent contractor/self-employed (1099). When you file your claim, NYS DOL will verify your covered wages through employer reports, so just be honest about all your income sources and let them sort out what counts.

Just want to add that if you had multiple W-2 jobs throughout the year, ALL of those wages will count toward your benefit calculation even if you only worked at some of them for a short time. NYS DOL looks at your "base period" which is usually the first 4 of the last 5 completed calendar quarters before you file. So if you're filing now, they'd look at your wages from early 2024 through late 2024. Make sure you have all your W-2s handy when you file because they'll want to know about every employer you had during that time period.

I'm going through the same thing right now - about 3 weeks left on my benefits and getting really anxious about what comes next. From what I've been able to piece together from the NYS DOL website, you should get a notice in the mail explaining your options, but honestly their communication isn't always clear or timely. I've been keeping detailed records of all my job search activities just in case I need to prove I've been actively looking. One thing that's helped me is setting up an appointment at my local American Job Center (you can find locations on careeronestop.org) - they have counselors who can walk you through the different programs and extensions you might qualify for. They also help with resume review and job search strategies which has been useful since I've been out of work for so long. It's free and way less stressful than trying to navigate the system on your own.

I'm in almost the exact same situation and this thread has been so helpful! I'm at week 24 of my benefits and starting to panic about what happens next. Based on what everyone is sharing here, it sounds like the key things are: 1) Keep filing weekly claims no matter what, 2) Watch for that notice in the mail about 3-4 weeks before benefits end, 3) Don't wait until the last minute to take action. I'm definitely going to look into the American Job Center that Tasia mentioned - having someone explain all the options in person sounds way better than trying to decode the NYS DOL website on my own. Has anyone here actually gone through the process of getting extended benefits approved? I'm curious how long that takes and if there's typically a gap in payments while they process everything.

I had my RESEA meeting about a month ago and wanted to share some encouragement! I was super anxious beforehand too, but it turned out to be genuinely helpful. The counselor spent time going through my resume and actually suggested some keywords I should add for my industry that I never would have thought of. The most important thing is having your work search documentation ready. I kept everything in a Google Sheet with columns for date, company, position, application method, and follow-up status. She was really impressed with how organized I was and the whole thing went smoothly. One surprise was that she asked about my computer skills and whether I needed any training. Turns out they have free courses available that I had no idea about! She also gave me access to a job board that's specifically for my field. Don't stress too much - as long as you can show you're actively job searching (which it sounds like you are), they're genuinely there to help you succeed. The fact that you're preparing ahead of time shows you're taking it seriously. You've got this! 💪 Good luck tomorrow and let us know how it goes!

Had my RESEA meeting about 2 weeks ago and honestly it was way less intimidating than I built it up to be in my head! The counselor was really professional and actually helpful. Here's what made it go smoothly for me: - Had all my work search activities in a simple Excel sheet (date, company, position, how I applied) - Made sure my resume was saved as a PDF on my desktop - Prepared to talk through about 5-6 recent job applications in detail - Had a list of questions ready about local job resources The whole thing took about 55 minutes and she actually connected me with a free career workshop I didn't know existed. She also gave me some solid feedback on my resume formatting that I'm still using. Just be honest about your job search efforts and have your records organized - they really are there to help you succeed, not catch you doing something wrong. The spreadsheet approach sounds like you're already well prepared! Best of luck tomorrow - you're going to do great! 🙌

I went through a similar appeal process last year and can share what I learned. The NY Department of Labor publishes annual statistics, and employers typically win appeals in about 20-30% of cases, but it varies significantly based on the reason for termination. Performance-related firings usually favor the employee unless there's clear documentation of willful misconduct or policy violations. The fact that you have documentation of safety complaints is huge - New York has strong whistleblower protections, and retaliation for reporting safety issues is a serious violation. I'd recommend organizing your evidence into a clear timeline: when you made the complaints, how your employer responded, and when the termination occurred. If there's a short timeframe between your safety complaints and termination, that pattern often speaks for itself at hearings. Stay calm, stick to facts, and let your documentation do the talking. You're in a stronger position than you might think!

I'm new to this whole unemployment appeals process and reading through everyone's experiences here is really eye-opening. I had no idea that employers only win appeals around 25-35% of the time - that's actually much better odds than I expected! I'm not dealing with an appeal myself right now, but I've been worried about the possibility since my own unemployment claim is still being processed. It's really encouraging to see how people like Grant have organized their documentation and built strong cases, especially with the safety complaint angle. The advice about keeping everything chronological and letting the timeline speak for itself seems like solid strategy. Thanks to everyone sharing their experiences and knowledge here - this community is incredibly helpful for those of us navigating these complex systems for the first time.

Hey @Sofia Torres! Welcome to western NY! I went through this exact same headache when I first got my Way2Go card. Here's what I've learned after months of trial and error: **Free ATM options:** - AllPoint ATMs (use their app to find them) - most reliable option - Many local credit unions don't charge fees for government cards - Some 7-Elevens have AllPoint ATMs inside **Cash back tricks:** - Walmart, Target, grocery stores like Wegmans/Tops - You can do multiple cash back transactions per day at different stores - Way cheaper than ATM fees **Pro tip:** Download the Way2Go mobile app - it has a built-in ATM locator that shows you fee-free options near you. Game changer! The $500 daily limit is annoying but if you need more cash, combine ATM withdrawals with cash back purchases. Hope this helps and good luck with everything! 🙂

@Sofia Torres I've been using my Way2Go card in western NY for about 6 months now and learned some tricks! Beyond what everyone mentioned about AllPoint ATMs, I found that many Stewart's Shops have fee-free ATMs that work with the card. Also, if you're near any M&T Bank branches, their ATMs don't charge fees for Way2Go withdrawals (at least in my experience in the Buffalo area). One thing I wish someone told me earlier - you can actually transfer money from your Way2Go card directly to your bank account through their website for free, though it takes 2-3 business days. Way better than dealing with ATM fees if you're not in a rush for cash. The website is kinda clunky but once you set it up it's super convenient. Also pro tip: if you ever have issues with your card being declined or need to check your balance, you can text "BAL" to 96411 and they'll send you your balance for free instead of using a paid ATM just to check. Hope this helps with the transition back to NY!