I'm 62 and currently working but considering applying for early Social Security retirement benefits soon. This entire thread has been incredibly informative and reassuring! It's good to know that if I do face a layoff in the future, I wouldn't have to choose between Social Security and unemployment benefits. The consistent message from everyone who's actually been through this process is really encouraging - especially hearing that NYS Department of Labor agents say this situation is common for people in their 60s. I'm bookmarking this thread for future reference and really appreciate everyone who took the time to share their real experiences. It's so much more valuable than trying to interpret confusing government websites or getting conflicting advice from friends!

I'm 65 and was in almost the exact same situation as Diego about a year ago - got laid off from my job at a food processing plant after 12 years and had been collecting Social Security for about 4 months at that point. I can confirm you absolutely CAN collect both benefits simultaneously in New York! When I filed my initial claim with NYS Department of Labor, I was completely upfront about my Social Security income and the representative told me it wouldn't be a problem at all. She actually said they see this situation quite frequently with people in their 60s. The most important thing is demonstrating that you're genuinely able and available for work - they asked me specific questions about my physical capabilities, what shifts I could work, and what types of positions I was willing to consider. On the weekly claims, I report my gross Social Security amount (before Medicare deductions) in the "other income" section, but it doesn't reduce my unemployment benefits at all since Social Security isn't considered work income. I kept detailed records of all my job search activities using a simple notebook - applications, networking events, interviews - since NYS requires 3 work search activities per week. I successfully collected both for about 9 months until I found a part-time position that worked for my schedule. Don't hesitate to file Diego - you earned both benefits through decades of work and contributions to these systems!

I'm going through the EXACT same nightmare right now! Been trying to certify for 5 days straight and it's like the system is designed to keep us out. The phone just gives me that infuriating "all representatives are busy" message and hangs up immediately - no hold option, no queue number, nothing. My online account keeps showing "session expired" errors even when I just logged in seconds ago. What's really stressing me out is that my certification window closes in 2 days and I haven't been able to get through once! I've tried calling at different times throughout the day but it's always the same result. Reading through everyone's experiences here is both a relief and incredibly frustrating - relief that it's not just me, but frustrating that so many of us are stuck in this broken system. I'm definitely going to try that 7:58am calling strategy tomorrow morning that several people have mentioned. Also going to clear my browser cache and try a different device for the online portal. If those don't work, I might have to look into Claimyr too - it's ridiculous that we should have to pay a third party just to access our own benefits, but missing payments would be even worse. Thanks everyone for sharing your tips and experiences. At least we know we're not alone in this mess!

I'm experiencing this exact same issue right now and it's absolutely maddening! Been trying to certify for 4 days straight with zero success. The phone system immediately disconnects me with that "all representatives are busy" message - doesn't even give me a chance to wait on hold. My online account shows "temporary system error" no matter what time of day I try to access it. What's really frustrating is that I've been on unemployment for months without any issues, and suddenly the system just won't let me in during my certification period. My benefits are literally my lifeline right now and the stress of potentially missing this payment is overwhelming. After reading through all the helpful suggestions here, I'm going to try calling at exactly 7:58am tomorrow morning and also test clearing my browser cache and trying a different device for the online portal. If those don't work, I might have to consider the Claimyr service that @Zainab Ibrahim had success with, even though it's frustrating to potentially pay extra just to access my own benefits. Thanks to everyone sharing their experiences and solutions - it's both comforting and infuriating to see how many of us are dealing with this broken system. At least we're helping each other find ways around these issues!

I had this exact same problem when Wells Fargo closed my account! Here's what ended up working for me after trying everything: I went to my local NYS Department of Labor office with my ID, Social Security card, and a voided check from my new bank account. The in-person visit was honestly the fastest solution - took about an hour total including wait time, but they updated everything on the spot and gave me a confirmation number. While you're getting this sorted out, I'd also recommend calling your new bank ASAP to let them know unemployment payments are coming and ask them to flag your account to watch for any bounced payments from the old account. Some banks can even help redirect those payments if they come in. If you have a payment due soon, definitely try calling DOL early morning (8am sharp) to request a temporary hold on direct deposit so you get a paper check instead of risking it bouncing back. The stress isn't worth it - better to get a slightly delayed paper check than deal with payment complications!

I actually just went through this process last week and found a workaround that might help! If you're having trouble with the verification questions on my.ny.gov, try clearing your browser cache and cookies first, then use a different browser entirely. Sometimes the system gets glitchy with stored data. I had the same issue where it wouldn't accept my answers, but after switching from Chrome to Firefox and starting fresh, the verification worked perfectly. Also, make sure you're answering based on what you originally put on your unemployment application - sometimes people's answers change over time (like if you moved or changed jobs) but the system still expects your original responses. If that still doesn't work, the early morning phone call strategy others mentioned really is your best bet. I called at exactly 8:00 AM on a Tuesday and got through after just 5 minutes on hold. Good luck!

One more important thing - make sure you understand the difference between gross and net earnings. NYS Department of Labor wants your gross earnings before taxes and deductions when you file your weekly claim. And remember, even if you earn too much to get benefits for a particular week, you're still maintaining your claim and using up one of your benefit weeks.

I went through something similar last year when I was on unemployment and picked up freelance work. One thing that helped me was creating a simple spreadsheet to track my weekly earnings and calculate what my benefit reduction would be before I filed each claim. That way I wasn't surprised by the amounts. Also, don't forget that if you work more than 3 days in a week, even if you're under the earnings threshold, it can still affect your benefits. The day limit is separate from the dollar limit, which nobody ever mentions. Good luck with the temp job!

This thread has been absolutely incredible to read through! I'm new to this community and currently dealing with my first unemployment claim, so seeing everyone's shared experiences with forfeit penalties has been both educational and reassuring. It's honestly mind-blowing that something as basic as checking your account balance requires this level of detective work and community collaboration. What really impresses me is how Anderson's initial frustration has evolved into this comprehensive resource that will help so many people. The variety of solutions shared here - from secure messaging and Claimyr to manual calculations and strategic calling times - creates such a robust toolkit for anyone facing similar issues. Ana Rusula's warning about potential interest charges was particularly eye-opening! I'm definitely bookmarking this thread for future reference. Even though I'm not currently dealing with forfeit penalties, the problem-solving approaches and community support demonstrated here seem invaluable for navigating any NYSDOL challenges. Thanks to everyone for being so generous with sharing your real-world experiences and turning individual struggles into collective solutions. This is exactly what community support should look like!

This thread is absolutely amazing! As someone who's completely new to dealing with unemployment issues, I'm honestly shocked by how many hoops people have to jump through just to find out basic account information. Reading through everyone's experiences really shows how the NY unemployment system seems almost deliberately confusing. What really stands out to me is how this community has essentially created the comprehensive guide that NYSDOL should have provided from the start. Between the secure messaging approach, Claimyr service, manual calculation methods, strategic calling times, and warnings about hidden fees - you've all basically reverse-engineered the entire system through shared experience! Anderson, congratulations on finally getting your balance sorted out - your persistence really paid off and helped create this incredible resource for everyone else. And to everyone who shared their struggles and solutions, thank you for being so generous with your knowledge. This is exactly what community support should look like! I'm definitely bookmarking this thread as my unemployment survival guide. Even though I'm not currently dealing with forfeit penalties, having all these real-world strategies documented in one place feels invaluable for navigating whatever bureaucratic challenges might come up in the future.