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 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.

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.

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.

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 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.

As someone who just filed my unemployment claim this morning, this thread has been absolutely invaluable! I was completely lost about how taking on freelance work would affect my benefits and was honestly scared to pursue any opportunities at all. Massive thanks to @Alex Wade for sharing that official DOL link and correcting all the outdated information - the hours-based system is such a relief for newcomers like me! Learning that I can work up to 30 hours per week and earn up to $504 while keeping my full unemployment benefits changes everything. I was literally about to decline a small tutoring gig because I thought ANY work would wipe out my benefits completely. It's honestly frightening how much misinformation from the pre-2021 rules is still circulating online - I almost made a terrible financial decision based on those outdated day-based penalties. I'm definitely bookmarking that partial unemployment page and starting a detailed tracking spreadsheet like others have suggested. This community discussion has been a lifesaver for helping me understand how the system actually works instead of relying on confusing and contradictory advice from other sources. Thanks to everyone who shared their real experiences!

As someone who just started collecting unemployment benefits last week, this thread has been absolutely essential for understanding how gig work affects benefits! I was completely panicked about a small freelance photography project I was offered because I thought any work would completely eliminate my unemployment payments. Huge thanks to @Alex Wade for posting that official DOL link and clearing up all the misinformation floating around - the current hours-based system is such a relief! Learning that I can work up to 30 hours per week and earn up to $504 while keeping my full unemployment benefits is a total game changer for people like me trying to rebuild their careers. I was honestly about to turn down work I really need based on all those outdated comments about losing benefits for working any hours at all. It's honestly terrifying how much bad information from the pre-2021 day-based rules is still circulating online - I almost made a really costly mistake! I'm definitely bookmarking that partial unemployment eligibility page and starting a detailed tracking spreadsheet like others have suggested. This community has been invaluable for helping newcomers like me get accurate, current information instead of outdated advice that could have seriously hurt me financially. Thanks to everyone who shared their real experiences navigating this system!