Conflicting NY unemployment determination letters - am I eligible or not?

omg the EXACT same thing happened to me back in January!! So frustrating!! I tried calling for 2 weeks straight and never got through to anyone. Like literally 5+ hours on hold and then it would just disconnect me. I ended up having to just go to the hearing and explain the contradiction there. Turns out it was a system error on their end. My employer got the approval letter but somehow the system generated a denial letter to me. The judge at the hearing immediately saw the error and fixed it, but I had to wait like 6 weeks without any benefits because of their mistake. Good luck!!

This is actually a fairly common clerical error in the NY unemployment system. What happens is that two different determination letters get generated - one to the claimant and one to the employer - but sometimes the conclusions don't match due to a system glitch when there are multiple eligibility factors being considered. In your case, it looks like they correctly determined you were eligible due to childcare issues (which is a valid reason in NY), but incorrectly sent you a denial letter. Bring both letters to your hearing and point out the contradiction - the judge will almost certainly rule in your favor since you have documentation showing you were already approved. You should still try calling to get this resolved before the hearing date if possible, as it might save you time. Document all call attempts (dates/times).

If both determination letters have the same date but different conclusions, it's definitely a system error. The NY DOL computer system sometimes generates contradictory notices when certain claim elements trigger multiple decision pathways. Here's what you should do: 1. Make copies of BOTH determination letters 2. Submit a request for reconsideration through your online account 3. Upload scans of both letters as evidence 4. Explain briefly that you received contradictory determination letters 5. Continue with your hearing preparations just in case This should flag your case for manual review. Someone will likely catch the error and correct your eligibility status without needing a hearing. But don't cancel your hearing until you get official confirmation that you're approved!

I wasted THREE FULL DAYS trying to call the NY unemployment office about a similar issue last month. Kept getting disconnected or waiting on hold for hours. Finally I tried Claimyr (claimyr.com) and got through to an agent in about 20 minutes. They have this service that basically navigates the phone system for you and calls you back when there's an actual human on the line. Saved me so much frustration! They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/Rdqa1gKtxuE The agent I spoke with said contradictory determination letters happen all the time, and they had to manually override my denial. Got my benefits about a week later including backpay.

It worked for me! I was skeptical too, but I was desperate after spending days trying to get through. The agent I spoke with immediately understood the issue with my contradictory letters and fixed my claim status while I was on the phone.

Hate to add to your stress but make sure you attend that hearing no matter what!! My cousin got contradicting letters, thought it would get fixed before the hearing, didn't go, and ended up having to repay $4700 in benefits they initially gave him. The system is so messed up and unforgiving with deadlines even when its their error

Yes, definitely mention the childcare issue in your reconsideration request. Quote the exact language from the letter sent to your employer that approves you for this reason. The more specific you are, the easier it will be for a claims examiner to spot the error and correct it. Also, when you upload the letters, highlight the contradictory sections so they're immediately visible to whoever reviews your case. Many examiners are handling hundreds of cases and might miss subtle details if they're not pointed out clearly.

this happened to my sister! the hearing people told her it was cuz the computer generated the wrong letter to her but the right one to her job. dumb system cant even keep track of who gets what letter lol. she got approved at the hearing and got all her money like 2 weeks later

Another important point: document everything related to this contradictory determination. Take screenshots of your online account status, save all letters and notices with their envelopes (postmark dates matter), and keep a log of all your call attempts with dates and times. At your hearing, this documentation will strongly support your case. Administrative Law Judges appreciate thorough documentation and often rule in favor of claimants who can clearly demonstrate system errors like the one you're experiencing. As for the childcare issue specifically - this has been a valid eligibility reason in NY since 2025 when they updated their regulations. The fact that your employer's letter mentions this specific reason is a strong indicator that you should be eligible.

the DOL is COMPLETELY INCOMPETENT!!!! i had 5 determination letters ALL saying different things. spent 4 months fighting with them and almost got EVICTED waiting for them to figure out their own system. you better believe they'll blame YOU for THEIR mistakes too!!! system is designed to make us give up!!!!

Don't give up hope! To answer your question about backpay - yes, I did get all the money for those 6 weeks once they fixed the error. They were actually pretty quick about the backpay once the judge made the correction. Only took about 3 days to hit my account after the hearing.