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I'm going through this exact same nightmare right now! Got an overpayment notice for $1,750 back in March and it's been complete radio silence since then. No payment instructions, no follow-up letters, nothing in my portal - just this huge amount hanging over my head making me anxious every single day. I've tried calling probably 40+ times and never once got through to a human being. The stress of not knowing if they're secretly adding interest or penalties while I'm stuck unable to figure out how to pay them is absolutely killing me! Reading through everyone's experiences here has honestly been such a huge relief - I was starting to think I was losing my mind. It sounds like the claimyr service that so many people are recommending is really the only viable solution at this point. I had no idea something like that even existed but if it can actually connect me with a real person who can walk me through the payment process, it seems like the best money I could spend right now. This whole situation has been affecting my sleep and my ability to focus at work. I just want to pay what they say I owe and get this weight off my shoulders! Thanks to everyone for sharing their stories - knowing I'm not alone in dealing with this broken system helps more than you know.
I'm in the exact same boat with a $1,400 overpayment from February! The lack of clear instructions is absolutely infuriating. I've been reading through this entire thread and it's clear that NY unemployment's system is completely broken when it comes to collecting these overpayments. Like you, I've been losing sleep over this wondering if penalties are secretly accumulating while we're all stuck in limbo. Based on everyone's experiences here, the claimyr service seems to be the only reliable way to actually get through to someone who can explain the payment process. I'm definitely going to try it this week because I can't handle this uncertainty anymore. It's ridiculous that we have to use a third-party service just to pay money back to the government, but if it works it works! Hang in there - sounds like once you get connected to a real person it gets sorted out pretty quickly.
I'm going through the EXACT same thing right now! Got an overpayment notice for $1,200 back in March and it's driving me absolutely insane. Like everyone else here, I got zero instructions on how to actually pay it back. I've been checking my portal daily, tried calling dozens of times, and the stress is honestly affecting my daily life. After reading through all these comments, it's clear that NY unemployment's communication system is completely broken. The claimyr service that so many people are mentioning sounds like a lifesaver - I had no idea something like that existed! I've probably wasted hours upon hours trying to get through their phone lines with zero success. The worst part is not knowing if they're adding penalties or interest while we're all stuck in this limbo. I'm definitely going to try claimyr this week because I just want this resolved and off my mind. Thanks to everyone for sharing their experiences - this thread has been more helpful than anything on the official NY unemployment website! It's both comforting and frustrating to know so many of us are dealing with this same ridiculous situation.
Just wanted to follow up and say HUGE thanks to everyone who helped! I was able to complete my tax filing using the EIN number 11-2868823 that several of you provided. TurboTax accepted it without any issues and my return has already been submitted. For anyone else running into this same problem - definitely check if your 1099-G form has the EIN in box 9 first, but if it's missing like mine was, you can safely use 11-2868823 for NY unemployment benefits. This community is a lifesaver! I was so stressed about missing the tax deadline but you all came through with the exact info I needed. Really appreciate how helpful everyone has been here.
That's awesome to hear! I'm actually dealing with the same exact issue right now and was getting super frustrated. Seeing your success story gives me hope that I can get this sorted out quickly too. Going to try using that EIN number 11-2868823 in my tax software tonight. Thanks for posting the follow-up - it really helps to know when solutions actually work!
I'm going through this exact same situation right now! My 1099-G form from NY unemployment is completely missing the EIN in box 9 and I've been stuck on this step in my tax software for days. Reading through all these responses is so helpful - I had no idea this was such a common problem. I'm definitely going to use the EIN number 11-2868823 that everyone has confirmed works. It's really frustrating that NY doesn't consistently print this on the forms, but at least there's a solution. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences and the correct number! Quick question though - has anyone had any issues with the IRS later questioning this EIN if it wasn't printed on their original form? I just want to make sure I won't run into problems down the road.
I went through something similar a couple years ago with a toxic manager who kept changing my schedule last minute and creating a hostile work environment. I was able to get unemployment after quitting for good cause, but the key was having solid documentation. Start keeping detailed records NOW - every schedule change, every hostile interaction, every time they make you work beyond your scheduled hours without proper notice. Screenshots, emails, text messages, and a daily log with dates/times are your best friends here. Also check if your employer is violating any of NY's Fair Workweek laws about advance scheduling notice - those violations can really strengthen your case. The process took about 6 weeks for me including an adjudication hearing, but having thorough documentation made all the difference. Don't wait until you're at your breaking point to start documenting - the more evidence you have, the better your chances of getting approved for benefits.
@Amina Sy This is really encouraging to hear from someone who successfully went through this! 6 weeks sounds manageable if I can get approved. I m'curious about the adjudication hearing - was it intimidating? Did you have to appear in person or was it over the phone? I m'already feeling overwhelmed just thinking about potentially having to defend my case in front of someone. Also, when you mention Fair Workweek law violations, did you file a separate complaint about those or just use them as evidence for your unemployment claim? I m'trying to figure out the best strategy here because it sounds like my employer might be breaking multiple laws, not just creating a hostile work environment.
I've been through a similar situation and wanted to share what worked for me. Before quitting, I actually reached out to the NYS Department of Labor's worker protection unit to file complaints about the scheduling violations while I was still employed. This created an official record that my employer was violating labor laws, which really strengthened my unemployment case later. You can file these complaints online or by phone, and they investigate independently of any unemployment claim. Having that paper trail of violations made my "good cause" argument much stronger when I eventually did quit and file for UI benefits. Also, don't underestimate the power of sending yourself summary emails after verbal conversations - I'd email myself right after incidents with details like "Manager told me at 3pm I had to stay until 9pm tonight instead of my scheduled 6pm end time" with dates and witnesses present. The DOL adjudicator said this kind of real-time documentation was very credible. Start building your case now while you're still there - it'll make everything easier if you do decide to quit.
@Andre Rousseau This is brilliant advice! I had no idea you could file complaints with the worker protection unit while still employed - that s'such a smart way to create an official paper trail before things get worse. I m'definitely going to look into filing complaints about the scheduling violations right away. The email summary idea is really clever too. I ve'been so frustrated after these interactions that I never thought to document them immediately, but you re'right that real-time documentation would be much more credible than trying to remember everything later. Quick question - when you filed those complaints with the worker protection unit, did your employer find out it was you who filed them? I m'worried about potential retaliation, but it sounds like having that official record was crucial for your case.
@Andre Rousseau This is such valuable information! I m'definitely going to file complaints with the worker protection unit right away - having that official documentation seems like it could make all the difference. One more question if you don t'mind - when you eventually filed for unemployment, did you mention the pending worker protection complaints in your initial application, or did that information come up later during the adjudication process? I want to make sure I present everything in the right order and don t'accidentally hurt my case by mentioning too much upfront. Also, did the DOL ever follow up on those scheduling violation complaints separately, or were they mainly just useful as supporting evidence for your unemployment claim?
I'm currently in week 4 of a similar situation - laid off in late April with a 6-week severance package and my claim has been pending this whole time. This thread has been such a relief to read! I was starting to think I did something wrong with my application since the NYS DOL phone system just gives you the runaround and the website is so vague about severance impacts. Now I understand I just need to wait 2 more weeks for my severance period to end before unemployment benefits should start. I've been keeping up with my weekly certifications like everyone recommends here. One thing I'll add - my former HR department was also pretty useless about explaining how this would work with unemployment, so don't expect much help from that direction. This community has been way more informative than any official source I've found!
I'm so glad this thread exists too! I'm in week 3 of my own severance waiting period and was getting really anxious about whether I was handling everything correctly. It's crazy how unhelpful the official channels are compared to hearing from people who've actually been through this process. Your timeline sounds very similar to mine - I also have a 6-week package and have been diligently doing my weekly certifications. It's good to know I'm not the only one finding HR departments pretty useless about the unemployment side of things. They're great at explaining the severance itself but seem clueless about how it interacts with state benefits. Hang in there - sounds like we're both almost through the waiting period!
I'm dealing with this exact same situation right now! Got laid off in January with an 8-week severance package and have been stuck in "pending" status ever since. This thread has been incredibly helpful - I had no idea that severance essentially counts as continued employment for unemployment purposes. I've been doing my weekly certifications but was getting really worried that I messed something up in my initial application. Now I understand I just need to wait out the full severance period. The frustrating part is that my company's HR department made it sound like the severance wouldn't affect unemployment at all, so I was completely blindsided when my claim didn't move forward. Has anyone else had their employer give them incorrect information about this? I'm wondering if HR departments just don't understand how unemployment works or if they're deliberately vague about it.
Fiona Sand
Just went through this exact same thing last month! The system definitely shows weird dates sometimes but you're right to be confused. Here's what worked for me: 1. Ignore whatever date it's showing - you're always certifying for the PREVIOUS complete week (Sunday to Saturday) 2. If it's asking about "this week" that's still happening, that's definitely a system glitch 3. Report your hours/earnings from the most recent COMPLETED week only 4. Don't wait - the system won't fix itself and you might miss your certification window The NY unemployment system is notoriously buggy with dates. I've seen it show next week, last month, even random dates from 2023 lol. Just stick to the rule: previous complete week only. If you're still getting errors or weird behavior, screenshot everything and try certifying during off-peak hours (like 6am or after 10pm). The system seems to work better when fewer people are on it. Hope this helps! The whole process is frustrating but once you get the hang of it, it gets easier.
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Sean Kelly
•Thanks for the detailed breakdown! This is super helpful - I was getting so stressed about the wrong dates showing up. Good to know it's just their system being wonky and not me missing something important. Definitely going to try certifying during off-peak hours if I run into more issues 🙏
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Vera Visnjic
Been dealing with NY unemployment for months and this date confusion is SO common! You're definitely not alone - their system constantly shows wrong dates or asks about incomplete weeks. Here's what I learned the hard way: ALWAYS certify for the previous COMPLETED week only, regardless of what dates the system shows. So if it's Wednesday and asking about "this week," just report zero hours/earnings and certify for last week's actual work. The key things that helped me: - Keep a weekly log of hours/earnings (saves so much stress later) - Screenshot every screen before submitting - If the system kicks you out mid-certification, don't panic - you can usually log back in and continue - Try certifying Sunday evenings or early Monday mornings when traffic is lighter Also pro tip: if you get completely stuck and need to talk to someone, I've had good luck with that claimyr service others mentioned. Yeah it costs $20 but honestly worth it when you're pulling your hair out trying to get through their phone system. The whole thing is a nightmare but hang in there - once you get into the rhythm of weekly certification it becomes much more manageable! 💪
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