I went through this exact same situation about 3 months ago! The trick is to call the NYS DOL at (888) 209-8124 right at 8:00 AM on a Tuesday or Wednesday - avoid Mondays at all costs. When I finally got through (took about 45 minutes of calling), the representative was able to see that my first week got stuck in their system during the initial processing. She explained that sometimes when claims need manual review or there's a slight delay in approval, that first week doesn't automatically get added to your payment queue even though you're eligible for it. The rep manually released the payment and I received it about 10 days later. Make sure you have your SSN, confirmation number from your initial application, and the exact dates of that first week ready. Also, be prepared to explain that you've been receiving regular payments but noticed the very first week you claimed is missing from your payment history. Don't let them tell you to just file online - this requires manual intervention from their end. Good luck!

I'm dealing with this same issue right now! Reading through all these responses has been incredibly helpful. It sounds like calling (888) 209-8124 at exactly 8am on Tuesday or Wednesday is the consensus best approach. I'm going to try tomorrow morning with my confirmation number and all the details ready. For anyone else in this situation - it's really encouraging to see so many people who actually got their missing first week resolved by calling. The fact that multiple people mentioned it's often a system processing issue where the week gets "stuck" rather than permanently lost gives me hope. I'll report back after I call tomorrow in case it helps others going through the same thing. This thread has been a lifesaver - way more helpful than anything I could find on the actual NYS DOL website!

The system is so broken!!! I know people who worked under the table for YEARS and got unemployment no problem but those of us who followed all the rules and paid our taxes properly get screwed over. Makes no sense.

Have you considered reaching out to a lawyer who specializes in employment law? Sometimes the line between contractor and employee isn't as clear-cut as it seems, especially if your client had a lot of control over your work or if the relationship lasted that long. An attorney could review your contract and working arrangement to see if there's any argument for misclassification. Also, even though you can't get unemployment now, you might want to consider setting aside an emergency fund going forward since we don't have that safety net - I learned this the hard way!

Hey Olivia! You absolutely did not mess up - this is totally normal and happens to almost everyone! I went through the exact same confusion about 2 months ago. Here's what's actually happening: When you first apply, that's just collecting your initial info. But when you start the actual claiming process, NY unemployment makes you go through their updated verification system - that's why you saw the "register for direct deposit" option again. It's not that you did anything wrong the first time, it's just their way of double-checking everything through their newer security protocols. The IDme verification is completely separate - that's their anti-fraud measure that they added relatively recently. So you were supposed to do both of those steps! Since you used the same banking info both times, you're golden. The system will just confirm everything matches up and you'll be all set. I was paranoid about the same thing, but my direct deposits have been coming through perfectly ever since. The NY unemployment system really should explain this process better instead of leaving us all wondering if we broke something! But you handled it exactly right. You should see your first payment within the next 1-2 weeks. Don't stress about it! 😊

You definitely didn't mess up! I just went through this same exact situation last month and had the same panic. What's happening is that NY unemployment has this weird two-step process where your initial application just collects your info, but then when you actually start filing weekly claims, they make you verify everything again through their newer security system. The "register for direct deposit" option appearing doesn't mean you did anything wrong - it's just their confusing way of making you confirm your banking details through their updated verification process. The IDme thing is totally separate and required for pretty much everyone now. As long as you entered the same bank account info both times (which it sounds like you did), you're completely fine! I was stressed about it for weeks but my payments have been coming through perfectly ever since. The system really should just say "verify your previously entered information" instead of making it sound like you're setting up something new. You should see your first payment in about 1-2 weeks. Don't worry - you handled everything correctly! 👍

Wait, I'm confused about something similar. If I worked one day but forgot to report it on my weekly claim, is that considered an overpayment? I only made like $80 that day but now I'm worried I'll owe money back.

I was in a similar situation a few months ago and decided to proactively contact NYS Department of Labor when I realized I had underreported my part-time earnings. It was definitely nerve-wracking, but the representative I spoke with was actually helpful and appreciative that I came forward voluntarily. They had me submit corrected information and calculated the overpayment amount - ended up being around $900. Since I reported it myself, they waived any potential penalties and just required repayment through monthly deductions from my remaining benefits. My advice would be to contact them sooner rather than later if you're confident you made an error. The longer you wait, the more it might look like you were trying to hide something.

Another important consideration - since this is web development contract work, make sure you understand how NYS Department of Labor handles self-employment income. As a 1099 contractor, you're technically self-employed for those weeks you're working. If you're working full-time hours on the contract (even if it's temporary), you might not be eligible for benefits during those weeks regardless of the income amount. The key is whether you're "totally unemployed" vs "partially unemployed" during each claim week. I'd recommend calling to clarify your specific situation before starting the contract.

Great advice from everyone here! I went through something similar with NYS Department of Labor last year. One additional tip - when you're reporting your contract earnings, be very specific about the dates you actually performed the work. Since freelance/contract work can sometimes have irregular schedules, I found it helpful to keep a daily log of hours worked. This made it much easier to accurately report on my weekly claims and avoided any confusion during my certification calls. Also, don't forget that as a 1099 contractor, you'll be responsible for paying self-employment taxes on that income, so set aside about 25-30% of what you earn for tax purposes.