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.

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.

I'm in a similar boat - my benefit year is ending next month but I still have like 8 weeks of benefits left that I haven't used yet. Do those just disappear or can I still claim them somehow?

Just wanted to add that you should definitely file a new claim as soon as your benefit year ends if you're still unemployed, even if you're not sure you'll qualify. The worst they can say is no, but you might be surprised - sometimes people have earned more wages than they realize from part-time work or gig work that could qualify them. Also, make sure you keep filing your weekly claims right up until your benefit year ends so you don't miss any payments you're entitled to. The transition can be seamless if you file the new claim right away.

I'm in the same boat as many of you here! Filed my new claim about 19 days ago and still showing $0 balance, but I did get the updated BYE date. The waiting is honestly the worst part because you never know if it's just slow processing or if there's actually an issue that needs attention. I've been religiously certifying every week even with the zero showing, and checking my inbox daily for that monetary determination letter everyone mentions. Still nothing yet! Reading through all these responses is actually really helpful - sounds like anywhere from 2-4 weeks seems to be the norm, which is longer than I expected but at least gives me a realistic timeline. I think I'll give it until the full 3 week mark before considering other options. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences, it definitely helps with the anxiety of not knowing what's normal!

I'm going through this exact same situation! Filed my new claim 15 days ago and my balance dropped to $0 even though I got the new BYE date. It's such a relief to see I'm not the only one dealing with this - I was starting to panic thinking something went wrong with my application. I've been certifying every week like everyone suggests, but that zero balance is so nerve-wracking when you're counting on those benefits. Based on all the responses here, it sounds like 2-3 weeks is pretty normal for the system to update with your new benefit amount. I'm going to keep being patient and wait for that monetary determination letter to show up in my inbox. Thanks for posting this question - reading everyone's experiences has really helped ease my anxiety about the whole process!

I had the same frustrating experience with NYS Department of Labor's overpayment system! What finally worked for me was calling their overpayment unit directly at (518) 457-2635 - it's a separate number from the regular unemployment line so the wait times are usually shorter. When you call, have your SSN and the overpayment notice handy. They can tell you your exact balance including any interest that may have accrued. I also recommend asking them to send you a payment statement by mail so you have it in writing. The online system is honestly broken for tracking these balances.

I've been dealing with NYS Department of Labor overpayments for almost 8 months now and it's been a nightmare trying to track my balance. What I ended up doing was requesting all my payment records through their FOIL (Freedom of Information Law) request process - you can find the form on their website. It takes a few weeks but they'll send you a complete breakdown of your original overpayment, all payments made, any interest charges, and your current balance. It's way more reliable than trying to piece it together from their broken online system. You can also try emailing their overpayment recovery unit directly at overpayment@labor.ny.gov - sometimes they'll respond with balance info faster than waiting for a phone call.

Congrats on getting through the ID.me verification! Just a heads up - keep an eye on your NYSDOL account over the next few days. Sometimes there can be a delay between ID.me completing and your unemployment account actually updating to show you're verified. If you don't see any changes in your payment status within a week, definitely call or use one of those callback services people mentioned. The 3-week wait you've already had is way too long, so hopefully this gets things moving for you quickly!

That's awesome that you got through the ID.me verification! I just went through the same thing last month and had the exact same worry about the email addresses not matching. Like everyone said, it's totally fine to use different emails. The key thing now is to keep checking your NYSDOL account - for me it took about 3 days after completing ID.me before I saw the "link verification" button appear in my account. Once I clicked that, my payments started processing within 48 hours. Fingers crossed yours moves just as quickly after the long wait you've already had!