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I went through this exact situation about 6 months ago and can definitely confirm that unemployment benefits count as income for the marketplace. What I found most helpful was creating a simple spreadsheet to track everything - my weekly UI amount from NYS Department of Labor ($340/week in my case), how many weeks I'd already collected, and a realistic estimate of how many more weeks I might need benefits. I also included a column for any odd jobs or freelance work I picked up while unemployed. The NY State of Health application process was actually pretty user-friendly once I had all my numbers organized. One thing I wish someone had told me earlier is to save screenshots of your benefit payment history from your NYS DOL online account - it came in handy when I needed to verify my income information later in the process. Also, don't forget that you can always call the marketplace customer service if you get stuck on any part of the application. They were really helpful when I had questions about how to report income that might change mid-year.
The spreadsheet idea is brilliant! I'm definitely going to set that up before I start my application. Having everything organized like that would make me feel so much more confident about the numbers I'm putting down. I really appreciate the tip about saving screenshots of the payment history from NYS DOL - that's the kind of detail I never would have thought of but could save a lot of headache later. It's also good to know the marketplace customer service is actually helpful. Sometimes these government services can be hit or miss, but it sounds like they really do try to walk people through the process when needed.
I'm in the exact same situation right now - just started collecting unemployment from NYS Department of Labor about 3 weeks ago and need to get health insurance coverage. Reading through all these responses has been incredibly helpful! I had no idea unemployment counted as income for marketplace purposes, so I'm really glad I found this thread before submitting my application. One question I have is about timing - since I just started collecting benefits, should I estimate based on the full year or just from when my benefits started? I was working the first 9 months of the year at my previous job, so I'm not sure how to handle that mixed income situation when filling out the NY State of Health application.
Great question about the timing! For the NY State of Health marketplace application, you'll want to report your total expected annual income for the entire year - so that includes both your employment income from the first 9 months AND your unemployment benefits for the remaining months. You'll need to add up your wages from January through when you were laid off, plus your estimated UI benefits from when you started collecting through the end of the year. This gives them the complete picture of your annual income situation. The marketplace is designed to handle these kinds of mixed income scenarios where people have job changes during the year. Just make sure to be as accurate as possible with both portions of your income estimate!
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As someone who just joined this community, I have to say this entire thread has been incredibly eye-opening! Reading through everyone's experiences with NY unemployment filing really highlights how important it is to have knowledgeable people willing to share what they've learned the hard way. The original poster's situation resonates with me because I think many of us would make that same mistake - assuming we'll find work quickly and not wanting to "burden the system" if we don't really need it. But it's clear from everyone's responses that unemployment benefits exist for exactly these situations, and there's no shame in using them when you're eligible. What really stands out to me is how this community provided both practical information (the 4-week backdating rule, good cause requirements, weekly certification reminders) AND emotional support throughout the process. The follow-up showing that 3 out of 6 weeks got approved proves that even when you make mistakes, acting quickly based on good advice can still salvage a difficult situation. For anyone else who might stumble across this thread in the future: don't wait! File immediately, be honest about why you delayed, and make sure to certify every single week going forward. This community has created a really valuable resource here.
Welcome to the community, Ava! Your observation about not wanting to "burden the system" really hits home - I think that mindset prevents a lot of people from accessing benefits they've actually earned through their work history and tax contributions. As someone completely new here myself, I've been struck by how this thread shows the real value of peer support when navigating complex government systems. The combination of practical advice, emotional encouragement, and follow-up success stories creates such a helpful resource for anyone facing similar challenges. It's also encouraging to see how the community celebrates positive outcomes like the 3-week approval. That kind of support makes such a difference when you're dealing with financial stress and job search anxiety. Looking forward to learning more from everyone's experiences here!
As a newcomer to this community, I'm really grateful to have found this thread! Reading through everyone's experiences with NY unemployment filing has been incredibly educational. The original poster's situation is so relatable - I think many of us would assume we'd find work quickly and hesitate to file for benefits. What amazes me most is how this community provided not just technical guidance about backdating rules and filing procedures, but genuine support throughout the entire process. Seeing the follow-up that 3 out of 6 weeks got approved gives me hope that even when mistakes are made, acting on good advice can still make a meaningful difference. The key takeaways are crystal clear: file immediately when unemployed, understand that NY allows up to 4 weeks of backdating with good cause, keep detailed job search records, and never miss weekly certifications. This thread should be required reading for anyone navigating NY's unemployment system! Thanks to everyone who shared their hard-earned wisdom here - communities like this make such a difference during challenging times.
Welcome to the community, Sara! I'm also new here and have been following this thread closely. It's amazing how much collective wisdom exists in communities like this - people who have navigated these complex systems and are willing to share what they learned to help others avoid the same pitfalls. Your point about this being "required reading" is spot on. The progression from initial panic to successful resolution really demonstrates the value of asking for help early and acting on good advice quickly. As someone who's never had to deal with unemployment benefits before, threads like this are invaluable for understanding not just the technical requirements, but also the emotional journey of navigating these systems. The supportive atmosphere here really stands out - people celebrating each other's successes and offering encouragement during stressful times. It's exactly the kind of community support that makes a real difference when you're facing job loss and financial uncertainty.
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Don't panic yet! Many of these overpayment determinations get overturned on appeal. The key is to respond quickly and provide thorough documentation. Make sure you understand exactly what they're claiming - was it an issue with your separation reason, earnings reporting, or availability for work? Each type of issue requires different evidence to dispute.
The notice just says 'eligibility determination' but doesn't specify. How do I find out the exact reason so I know what documentation to gather?
You'll need to call or access your online account to get the detailed determination. Sometimes the initial notice is vague but there should be more specific information available through your NYS Department of Labor portal.
I'm going through something similar right now - got a notice for $2,800 from benefits I received in early 2021. What's really confusing is that I was definitely eligible at the time and followed all the rules. I'm wondering if this is related to some kind of audit they're doing now? Has anyone found out what specific issues they're finding with people's cases? I'm preparing my appeal but want to understand what I'm dealing with first.
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This entire thread has been incredibly helpful! I'm in the exact same situation - just reapplied after working for about 7 months and couldn't remember if I selected direct deposit or the debit card option. My KeyBank card is from early 2024 and doesn't expire until 2027, so based on everyone's experiences here, it sounds like they should reuse it. I'm definitely going to call that KeyBank number (1-866-295-2955) that several people mentioned to verify it's still active before my first payment. It's so much better getting real advice from people who've actually been through this rather than trying to decipher the official government websites! Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences - this has saved me a lot of anxiety and phone calls to unemployment.
Totally agree - this thread is gold! I'm actually in a very similar boat, just got approved after being back at work for about 8 months. My KeyBank card is also from 2024 and expires in 2027, so sounds like I should be all set. That phone number tip is brilliant - definitely calling tomorrow to check my card status before stressing about it. It's amazing how much clearer everything becomes when you hear from people who've actually navigated this system recently. Way better than spending hours on hold trying to reach an actual person at unemployment! Thanks everyone for being so helpful to newcomers like us.
I'm in almost the exact same situation! Just got approved for benefits again after working for about 11 months. I have a KeyBank card from 2023 that expires in 2026, but I've been so worried about whether it's still active since I haven't used it in almost a year. This thread has been a huge relief - sounds like they'll most likely reuse the existing card if it's not expired. Definitely calling that KeyBank number (1-866-295-2955) tomorrow to check if it's still active before my first payment is due. Thanks everyone for sharing your real experiences! This is way more helpful than anything I could find on the official sites.
Sofia Rodriguez
Had this exact situation happen to me last year when my retail job cut everyone's hours for inventory week. Only worked Monday and Tuesday (14 hours total) instead of my usual 35-hour week. Filed for partial unemployment and got approved for about $165 that week. The process was actually easier than I expected - just make sure when you certify that you mark exactly which days you worked and enter your gross earnings accurately. One tip that saved me time: have your pay stub or employer portal info ready when you certify so you can enter the exact dollar amount. Don't worry about your employer - they deal with this stuff all the time and it's built into their unemployment insurance costs. You're not doing anything wrong by claiming benefits you've earned!
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Miguel Ramos
•That's really helpful Sofia! Having the pay stub info ready beforehand is a great tip - I can see how that would make the certification process much smoother. It's so reassuring to hear from yet another person who went through this exact situation successfully. The $165 you got for 14 hours sounds about right compared to what others have shared. I'm really grateful for all these real experiences being shared - it's making me realize this is way more common and straightforward than I initially thought. Definitely going to file for my reduced week now!
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Peyton Clarke
I was in almost the exact same situation about 8 months ago! My hours got reduced from full-time to just 2 days when my manager had to adjust the schedule due to overstaffing issues. I was super nervous about filing but decided to go for it since my pay dropped from around $650/week to just $300. The certification process was actually pretty simple once I figured out the system - just report the specific days you worked (sounds like you'll mark 2 days) and your gross earnings of $320. I ended up getting about $170 in partial benefits for that week, which really helped bridge the gap. My employer never mentioned it or had any issues with it. The key is just being completely accurate with your reporting and keeping records of everything. You've definitely got grounds to file and shouldn't feel bad about using a system you pay into! The NY website is confusing but just take it step by step and you'll get through it.
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Adrian Hughes
•Thanks so much for sharing your experience Peyton! It's amazing how many people have been through this exact situation - really shows how common reduced hours are and how the partial unemployment system is designed to handle it. The $170 you got for a similar earnings drop to mine gives me a good idea of what to expect. I really appreciate everyone emphasizing the importance of being accurate with reporting - I'll definitely have my exact work days and gross pay amount ready when I certify. It's such a relief to hear from so many people that their employers didn't have any issues with it. I'm definitely going to file now - you're absolutely right that we pay into this system for exactly these situations!
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