The whole system is designed to make it as difficult as possible honestly. Between the weekly claims, job search requirements, and all the bureaucracy, it feels like they don't want you to actually get benefits. But you need the money so you jump through all their hoops.

I went through this same process last year when I got laid off. One thing that really helped me was setting up direct deposit right away - it makes getting your payments much faster than waiting for checks in the mail. Also, download the NY.gov mobile app if you have a smartphone. It makes filing your weekly claims way easier than trying to do it on the website every time. The app remembers your information and you can file your claim in like 2 minutes once you get the hang of it. Just make sure you file before the Sunday deadline each week or you'll miss that week's payment entirely.

Just got off the phone after FINALLY getting through! Been locked out for 6 months and tried everything. Here's exactly what worked for me today: Called 800-833-3000 at 8:32 AM (Tuesday), selected Spanish (option 2), got connected to an agent in literally 12 minutes. When they picked up I said "Hi, I need English please" and they transferred me right away - no questions asked, super friendly about it. The English agent already had my call info so I didn't have to re-explain everything. She pulled up my account, asked me to verify my SSN, date of birth, and last employer. Then she asked a few security questions about my claim history. Whole thing took maybe 8 minutes and boom - account unlocked! She explained that my account got flagged because I logged in from different devices during COVID (home computer, phone, library, etc.) which triggered their security system. Makes sense but would've been nice to know that 6 months ago lol. For anyone still dealing with this - the Spanish line trick is 100% legit and the agents are super helpful once you get through. Don't waste any more time on the English line. Tuesday mornings seem to be the sweet spot. Good luck everyone! 🎉

This thread is a goldmine! I've been locked out since March 2023 and have probably called that 800 number over 200 times with zero success. The Spanish line trick sounds like exactly what I need to try - can't believe I never thought of that approach. Quick question for those who've gotten through recently: once your account is unlocked, does everything work normally again? I'm mainly worried about accessing my 1099-G forms for tax season since I can't get them anywhere else. Also wondering if there's any way to prevent this from happening again in the future? Going to try calling Tuesday morning using the Spanish line method. Fingers crossed this nightmare finally ends! Thanks everyone for sharing what actually works instead of the generic "keep trying" advice you get everywhere else 🤞

Just make sure you keep track of your hours and earnings! NYS Department of Labor cross-references with employer wage reports so they WILL find out if you don't report correctly. I've seen people get massive overpayment bills because they thought they could hide small jobs.

You're absolutely doing everything right by reporting your earnings! I've been in a similar situation and the anxiety is totally understandable. Just to add to what others have said - the NYS Department of Labor actually encourages part-time work while on unemployment because it helps people transition back to full employment. The partial benefit system is designed specifically for situations like yours. Keep detailed records of your work hours and pay stubs, and continue reporting honestly each week. You're not going to get in trouble for working part-time and reporting it correctly - that's exactly what you're supposed to do!

Thanks everyone for clarifying this! I was getting really stressed thinking I'd have to pay everything back just for getting a job. So to confirm - as long as I report my part-time earnings accurately on my weekly certification, NYS Department of Labor will just adjust my benefit amount accordingly? And I only risk having to pay money back if I don't report income or if there's some other eligibility issue they discover later? This is such a relief because that part-time job would really help me transition back to full-time work eventually.

Just wanted to add one important detail - when you report part-time earnings, NYS Department of Labor has a partial benefit formula where you can earn up to a certain amount (I think it's around $143/week in 2024) before they start reducing your benefits dollar-for-dollar. So depending on how much your part-time job pays, you might still get some unemployment benefits on top of your wages. This actually makes the transition easier since you're not losing all your UI support immediately. Just make sure to report everything accurately and you'll be fine - no payback required!

Just wanted to add some practical advice - when you file your weekly claims, keep detailed records of your hours and earnings from both jobs. I use a simple spreadsheet to track everything week by week. Also, if your delivery job pays through apps like DoorDash or Uber, make sure you're tracking those 1099 earnings carefully since they don't withhold taxes. The NYS Department of Labor will want accurate gross earnings reported, and having good records will save you headaches if they ever audit your claim.

I went through this exact situation about 6 months ago! Had a part-time office job that cut my hours from 30 to 10 per week, plus I was working weekends at a catering company. The NYS Department of Labor was actually pretty helpful once I got through to them. The key thing is that you're eligible for partial unemployment benefits because you had a "qualifying reduction in hours" - doesn't matter that you still have the other job. Just make sure when you file that you use the retail job (the one that cut your hours) as your primary employer for the claim. You'll still need to report all income from both jobs each week, but as long as your total weekly earnings are below your weekly benefit amount plus the $50 disregard, you'll get some benefits. With your current $180/week total, you should definitely qualify for something. Good luck!