Glad it all worked out! I've been there with the Sunday night panic certification too. One tip that's helped me - I set up a recurring calendar reminder for Saturday evenings that says "Certify for unemployment tomorrow." That way I remember to do it Sunday morning when I'm relaxed instead of scrambling at the last minute. The peace of mind is worth it!

I'm new to NY unemployment and this thread is super helpful! I just started collecting benefits and wasn't sure about the certification timing. Reading everyone's experiences makes me feel more confident about the process. Question though - is there any advantage to certifying early on Sunday versus later in the day, or does it really not matter as long as it's before midnight?

I completely understand your anxiety about this - the uncertainty around old unemployment claims can really consume your thoughts. What I've noticed from reading through these responses is how common your situation actually is. The confusion about reporting part-time earnings, especially the gross vs net question, affected so many people during that period. From my understanding of how these audits typically work, they usually prioritize cases with obvious red flags or patterns suggesting intentional fraud. The fact that you're genuinely concerned about having made honest mistakes actually works in your favor - it demonstrates the good faith effort that matters when they evaluate these situations. While the technical timeframes allow them to go back several years, practically speaking, most audits I've seen discussed happen much closer to when benefits were received. The longer it's been without contact, the less likely it becomes that they'll revisit your case, especially if there weren't any glaring issues at the time. If it helps ease your mind, you could try gathering whatever documentation you still have from that period - pay stubs, bank statements, any correspondence. Even incomplete records can show you were trying to comply with the requirements. But honestly, the anxiety about "what might happen" is often much worse than any actual outcome, particularly when your intentions were honest from the start.

I really feel for you - this kind of lingering worry about old claims can be absolutely exhausting. What strikes me most about your situation is how clearly you're demonstrating good faith intent. The fact that you're losing sleep over potentially honest mistakes from years ago shows you were never trying to defraud anyone - you were just trying to navigate a confusing system during an already stressful time. The gross vs net earnings confusion you mentioned is something I've seen come up in so many discussions about unemployment reporting. It's honestly one of the most common areas where people made honest errors, especially during 2019-2020 when so many were dealing with unemployment benefits for the first time while juggling part-time work. From what I understand, NYS Department of Labor does have the technical authority to audit old claims, but in practice they tend to focus their limited resources on more recent cases or ones with clear red flags suggesting intentional fraud. The fact that it's been several years without any contact from them is actually somewhat encouraging. I know everyone's saying "don't worry," which is easier said than done, but try to remember that you were doing your best with the information you had at the time. That genuinely counts for something if questions ever do arise. The anxiety about hypothetical scenarios is often much worse than any actual outcome, especially when your intentions were honest.

That's awesome news, Ethan! Your success story will definitely help others who find themselves in the same situation. The early morning calling strategy seems to be the most reliable method based on what everyone's shared here. Thanks for updating us with the resolution - it's always great to see these posts have happy endings!

Wow, what a journey this has been to follow! @Ethan Davis, I'm so relieved you got everything sorted out. As someone who's currently dealing with my own NY unemployment issues (thankfully not as complex as yours), this whole thread has been incredibly educational. The step-by-step breakdown from @Mei Wong was particularly helpful, and it's great to see that the early morning calling strategy really does work. I'm bookmarking this thread for future reference - the collective wisdom here is invaluable for navigating NY's unemployment system. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences and solutions!

ugh the whole at-will thing is so confusing! like they can fire you for literally anything but then sometimes you can still get unemployment?? makes no sense to me but glad it worked out for you OP

Just wanted to add that when you file your claim, make sure to emphasize that your termination was due to "lack of work" or "position elimination" rather than performance issues. NYS Department of Labor has specific categories for separation reasons, and choosing the right one can help streamline your approval process. Also, don't forget that you'll need to certify for benefits every week once your claim is processed - you can do this online or by phone. Good luck with your claim!

Congrats on the new job! 🎉 That's such amazing news after being unemployed since December - you must be over the moon! You're being really smart by asking about this upfront instead of figuring it out after the fact. From what I've learned (both from personal experience and seeing others go through this): ✅ Yes, absolutely claim your final week since you weren't working those days yet ✅ Once you start your new position, just stop certifying - no calls or formal closure needed ✅ The system automatically goes inactive after you miss several certifications ✅ Download/print your payment history NOW before you lose access (super important for taxes) ✅ Keep your login info saved somewhere safe The phone reminder tip that everyone keeps mentioning is GOLD - definitely set one up for your usual certification day that says something like "DON'T CERTIFY - WORKING!" Trust me, after months of weekly routine it's so easy to do it on autopilot. Also make sure you're 100% certain about your exact start date. Don't certify for any week that includes work days, even if it's just your first day. You're handling this perfectly by being proactive about it. Here's to your fresh start! 🙌

Congrats on the new job! 🎉 That's such exciting news after being unemployed since December - what a great way to start the new year! You're definitely being smart by asking about this ahead of time. From what I've seen others go through and based on the great advice already shared here: - Yes, absolutely claim your final week since you weren't working yet - Once you start your new job, just stop certifying - the system will handle the rest automatically - Make sure to download/print your payment history before you lose access (you'll need it for taxes!) - Set that phone reminder everyone's talking about - it's such a simple but brilliant tip to avoid accidentally certifying out of habit One thing I'd add is to maybe screenshot or write down the exact steps you took to end your claim properly, just in case you ever need to reference it in the future or help someone else in a similar situation. You're handling this transition perfectly by planning ahead. Best of luck with your fresh start - hope the new job is everything you're hoping for! 💪