NY unemployment denied over work search requirements - help needed ASAP

This happened to me in January. You need to file your appeal right away - don't wait until the deadline approaches. Log into your NY.gov account, go to your dashboard, and there should be a section for "Appeals and Hearings" where you can submit your request. Make sure you upload ALL of your work search documentation - screenshots of applications, confirmation emails, attendance certificate from the workshop, everything. The system is really strict about the 3 work search activities per week, and they need to be on different days.

same thing happnd to me!! the system is totally rigged to deny people. i did all my work searches too and they still said i didnt do enough. ended up having to pay back like 4k. such bs

I handle these cases regularly, and there's an important distinction to understand here. The law requires "work search activities" not just applications. These include: 1. Submitting job applications 2. Attending workshops/job fairs 3. Creating profiles on job search websites 4. Networking activities (with documentation) 5. Taking skills assessments For your appeal, write a clear statement explaining exactly what activities you did each week. Don't just say "I did my work searches" - specify dates, companies, methods of application, and attach ALL documentation. The hearing will be scheduled 2-3 weeks after you submit your appeal request. You'll have a chance to present your evidence to an Administrative Law Judge via phone or video conference.

Yes, the career center workshop absolutely counts as one activity. Creating profiles on job search websites counts too, but only when you initially create them (not for ongoing use). For your appeal documentation, include screenshots showing the date you created those profiles. One common mistake is not spreading activities across different days. You need work search activities on at least 3 SEPARATE days each week. For example, applying to 5 jobs on Monday and doing nothing the rest of the week doesn't satisfy the requirement.

I was in this EXACT situation last year. The system is designed to trick people! They make the rules complicated on purpose so they can deny benefits and keep their numbers down. I tried for WEEKS to get through to someone on the phone to explain my situation but it was impossible. Always busy signals or disconnects after waiting for hours. Complete nightmare.

anybody know what happens if you lose the appeal? do they take the money directly from your bank account or how does repayment work?

Just wondering... if you're doing ALL your job applications on Sundays, are they actually legitimate applications? I mean, are you really tailoring your resume and cover letter for each position? The DOL can check with employers whether your applications were complete and properly submitted. Just something to think about for your hearing.

dont give up hope! my cousin won her appeal even tho she didnt have perfect records. the judge was actually understanding about the confusing requirements. just be honest and bring whatever evidence you have!

For your appeals hearing, here's what you should prepare: 1. A week-by-week calendar showing all work search activities 2. All documentation sorted chronologically 3. A brief written statement explaining why you believed you were complying with requirements 4. Evidence that you participated in the career center workshop Even if your activities weren't spread across 3 days each week, there's a chance the judge will be understanding if you can demonstrate good faith effort and consistent job searching. The judges recognize that not everyone understands all the technical requirements, especially if this is your first time on unemployment.

If you're struggling to reach someone at NYSDOL to discuss your case before the hearing, I found a service called Claimyr that really helped. Their site (claimyr.com) has a system that calls the unemployment office for you and alerts you when an agent answers. Saved me from constant redialing. Their demo video explains it: https://youtu.be/Rdqa1gKtxuE. Getting advice from an actual agent before my hearing made a huge difference in how I presented my case.

Regarding your question about the career center letter - YES, absolutely get that! Any official documentation from the career center is extremely valuable for your appeal. Ask them for a formal attendance verification with the date and description of the workshop. The more official documentation you have, the stronger your case will be. The judges put a lot of weight on third-party verification of your work search activities.

my aunt works at the career center and she says lots of people get denied for the same reason but most win on appeal if they actually did the work. the system is just super technical n picky about the rules

Update: I called the appeals office this morning and spoke to someone who was actually helpful! She explained that I need to submit my appeal through my online account AND mail a paper copy to their office with all my documentation. Going to spend today getting everything organized. Thanks everyone for the advice - will update after my hearing!

Watch out for the time of your hearing too! They scheduled mine at 8:30am and when I called at 8:32am they marked me as a NO-SHOW and automatically ruled against me!!! Had to file ANOTHER appeal just to get a new hearing. The whole system is designed to make you fail.

good luck!! let us know how it goes, hoping everything works out for u!

I went through this exact same situation about 8 months ago and won my appeal! Here's what really helped me: I created a detailed spreadsheet showing every single work search activity by date, including the method (online application, phone call, in-person visit), company name, position title, and any confirmation numbers or emails I received. Even though I had made the same mistake of doing most activities on one day, the judge appreciated that I had clearly been making genuine efforts to find work. The key is showing good faith compliance with the spirit of the law, even if you didn't technically meet every requirement perfectly. Also, practice explaining your situation clearly and concisely - you'll probably only have 10-15 minutes to present your case. Don't let them intimidate you with all the legal language - just tell your story honestly with your evidence ready!

I'm dealing with a similar situation right now and this thread has been incredibly helpful! One thing I wanted to add - if anyone else is reading this and facing the same problem, make sure you check if your state has any "good cause" exceptions for work search requirements. Sometimes life circumstances (like lack of transportation, caring for family members, or technical issues with job sites) can be valid reasons for not meeting the exact requirements. Also, I noticed some people mentioned using online services to get through to unemployment offices - just be careful about giving personal info to third-party services. The official NYSDOL website has a callback feature that might be safer to try first. Kaiya, I'm rooting for you in your appeal! The fact that you were genuinely trying to find work and have documentation should work in your favor.