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Just wanted to jump in and say I feel your pain. Been freelancing for 5 years and the feast or famine cycle is real. I've basically had to become my own insurance company at this point.
Have you considered looking into the Freelancers Union? While they can't get you into the NYS Department of Labor unemployment system, they do offer some benefits and resources specifically for independent contractors. They have health insurance options and sometimes advocate for policy changes that could help freelancers in the future. Also, if you're doing graphic design, you might want to check if there are any creative industry organizations that offer emergency grants or short-term financial assistance during slow periods. It's not the same as UI, but it's something. The lack of a safety net is definitely one of the biggest downsides to freelancing in NY.
I had success filing my self-employment claim but only after I got help reaching a NYS Department of Labor agent by phone. The online system kept rejecting my application and I couldn't figure out why. Turns out I was categorizing my income type wrong. If you're having trouble getting through to someone, I used a service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that helped me get connected. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI that explains how it works. Saved me weeks of calling and getting hung up on.
That's really helpful! I was dreading trying to call them. How quickly were you able to get through?
Just make sure you have your Social Security earnings record too. Sometimes there's a mismatch between what you reported and what's in their system, especially if you had some W-2 work mixed with self-employment.
I've been certifying with NYS DOL for over a year now and can confirm what everyone else is saying - being one day late is totally normal and won't affect your benefits at all. I actually asked a representative about this once and she told me they expect people to occasionally certify late due to work schedules, family obligations, or just plain forgetting. The system is designed to be flexible for exactly this reason. Your payment will likely just be processed one day later than usual, but you'll still receive the full amount for that week. Don't beat yourself up over it - it happens to the best of us!
Thank you so much @Faith Kingston! It's really comforting to hear from someone with over a year of experience with NYS DOL. I was spiraling a bit this morning thinking I'd ruined everything, but all these responses have put my mind at ease. It sounds like the system is much more reasonable than I expected. I really appreciate everyone taking the time to share their experiences - this community is amazing for newcomers like me who are still figuring everything out!
I've been through this exact situation multiple times and can tell you that NYS DOL is actually quite lenient with late certifications. You have a grace period of several days after your assigned certification day before they consider it a missed week. One day late is absolutely nothing to worry about - your payment might be delayed by 24-48 hours at most, but you won't lose the week. I'd recommend calling the DOL helpline if you want official confirmation, but based on my experience and what others have shared here, you're completely fine. The system understands that life happens and people occasionally forget or have scheduling conflicts. Just try to stay consistent going forward and you'll be all set!
This is exactly what I needed to hear! I'm completely new to the unemployment system and was terrified that one small mistake would mess everything up. Reading everyone's experiences here has been such a relief - it sounds like NYS DOL is much more understanding than I expected. @Connor Gallagher thank you for mentioning the grace period, that s'really helpful to know for the future. I think I ll'definitely set up those notification reminders that others mentioned so I don t'have to go through this panic again. This community has been incredible for easing my worries!
I went through something similar when I started part-time work while on unemployment. The key thing to remember is that NYS uses a formula where they reduce your weekly benefit amount by 25% of what you earn over $50. So if your weekly benefit is $300 and you earn $300 from part-time work, you'd get $300 - (0.25 × $250) = $237.50 in unemployment benefits that week. Always report your gross earnings (before taxes) for the week you actually worked, not when you get paid. The system is designed to encourage people to work part-time while looking for full-time employment, so don't let fear keep you from being honest about your earnings.
Thank you for breaking down the formula! That's super helpful to see the actual calculation. So in my case with making $300 from 15 hours of work, I'd still get a decent amount of unemployment benefits. It's reassuring to know the system is set up to help people transition back to work rather than punish them for taking part-time jobs.
I'm dealing with a similar situation right now - started a new part-time retail job while still collecting unemployment. The weekly certification process asks very specific questions about work performed and earnings, so there's really no ambiguity about what you need to report. One thing that helped me was keeping detailed records of my hours and gross pay each week, including any tips or bonuses. NYS Department of Labor also has a work search requirement waiver if you're working part-time, which is a nice benefit. The partial unemployment system actually makes it easier to transition back to full-time work without the financial cliff you'd face if benefits cut off completely. Just make sure you understand whether your part-time job affects your work search requirements too.
This is really helpful information! I'm new to navigating unemployment while working part-time and wasn't sure about all the details. The work search requirement waiver you mentioned is something I hadn't heard about - does that automatically apply when you start part-time work, or do you need to request it? I'm trying to make sure I stay compliant with all the requirements while I look for full-time employment.
Aiden O'Connor
Just went through this exact same thing last month! The NY DOL system has been having major sync issues between their databases. What I learned is that the "Latest Transactions" section and the payment history pull from different systems, so you'll often see discrepancies like this. Here's what helped me: 1. Check your actual bank account/card - sometimes the money hits before the website updates 2. Try both the website AND mobile app - they sometimes show different info 3. Clear your browser cache and log out/back in 4. Give it 3-5 business days total In my case, the money actually appeared in my account on day 3 even though the website didn't update until day 6. The system is definitely overwhelmed right now with all their backend upgrades. Don't panic - if it says payment was released on 7/30 in your Latest Transactions, that's usually accurate even if the history page hasn't caught up yet. Keep taking screenshots of everything though, just in case you need to call later!
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Lily Young
•this is super helpful, thank you! i just checked my bank account and the money actually IS there even though the website still shows nothing 😅 you're totally right about the sync issues - it's wild that the payment went through but the website is still blank. definitely gonna keep taking screenshots of everything just in case. thanks for breaking down the timeline too, makes me feel way less stressed about this whole mess!
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Zoe Stavros
This is such a common issue right now! I've been helping my neighbor deal with the same exact problem for weeks. The NY unemployment system has been super unreliable lately - seems like they're constantly doing maintenance or updates that mess with the sync between different parts of their database. What I've noticed is that the payment release dates are usually accurate even when the payment history is blank. If your "Latest Transactions" section says payment was released on 7/30, that's probably legit. The backend processing just takes forever to update all their different systems. A few things that might help while you wait: - Check your bank/card balance directly instead of relying on the website - Try logging in at different times of day (sometimes updates happen overnight) - Keep refreshing both the regular site and mobile app if you have it - Document everything with screenshots for your records I know it's scary when money is tight, but from what I've seen, the actual payments are still going through even when the website is acting up. Most people I know have gotten their money within 3-5 days of the "release" date, regardless of what the payment history shows. Hang in there! 💪
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Jamal Carter
•this is exactly what i needed to hear right now! been super stressed about this but your breakdown makes so much sense. just checked my account and like others said, the money is actually there even though the website shows nothing 🎉 it's crazy how broken their system sync is but at least the payments are still processing. thanks for taking the time to explain everything and for helping your neighbor too - people like you make these stressful situations so much easier to deal with!
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