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Yeah this happened to my brother too! He hurt his shoulder at his job and couldn't do heavy lifting anymore but his company just laid him off instead of finding him different work. He ended up getting unemployment but had to prove he was looking for office jobs and stuff he could actually do with his injury. Took forever to get approved though.
I went through something similar when I had surgery and couldn't return to my retail job that required standing for long periods. The key thing NYS Department of Labor looks at is whether you're "able and available" for SOME type of work, not necessarily your previous job. Since your doctor cleared you for non-physical work, you should be able to qualify. When you file, be honest about your restrictions but emphasize what you CAN do. Document your job search efforts for positions that fit your medical limitations - remote work, desk jobs, customer service roles, etc. Also definitely look into workers compensation since this was a workplace injury. You might be eligible for both depending on timing and circumstances. The approval process can take a while when there are medical restrictions involved, so file as soon as possible.
This is really helpful advice, thank you! I hadn't thought about emphasizing what I CAN do rather than focusing on my restrictions. You're right that I should definitely pursue workers comp too since this was a workplace injury. Do you know if there's a time limit for filing workers comp claims? I'm worried I might have waited too long already since it's been about a month since the injury.
Just report everything honestly when you do your weekly claim. The online system will calculate your reduced benefit automatically once you enter your work hours and gross pay. It's actually pretty straightforward once you get used to it.
@Andre Lefebvre - You're smart to ask about this upfront! I went through the exact same situation a few months ago. When you do your weekly certification on the NYS Department of Labor website, there's a specific section where they ask if you worked and how much you earned. Just enter your gross earnings for that week (before taxes). The system automatically calculates your reduced benefit. In your case with $270 weekly earnings, you'll still get a decent portion of your $504 benefit. The key is being consistent about reporting it every single week - don't skip even one week thinking "it's just part-time." That's where people get into trouble with overpayments later.
@Paolo Bianchi This is really helpful advice! I m'in a similar boat - just started collecting UI and wondering about taking on some freelance work. When you say gross "earnings do" they mean before all deductions or just before taxes? Like if I do some contract work and have to pay for my own supplies/materials, can I deduct those costs or do I report the full amount the client pays me?
I work at a local community center and see people dealing with this all the time! From what I've observed helping folks navigate the system, late questionnaire submissions are super common and they definitely don't automatically deny for it. The DOL knows people have busy lives and things happen. What usually matters more is that you submitted it and can explain why it was late if they ask. I've seen people submit questionnaires weeks late and still get approved - it just takes a bit longer for them to process. The key is staying responsive to any follow-up requests they might have. You did the right thing by submitting it as soon as you remembered. Try not to stress too much about it!
This is such valuable insight from someone who sees these situations regularly! It's really comforting to know that late questionnaire submissions are common and that the DOL understands people have busy lives. I was honestly convinced I was the only person who had ever forgotten about one of these deadlines and that I'd be automatically disqualified. Your perspective about them caring more about the explanation than the exact timing makes total sense. Thank you for taking the time to share what you've observed - it's helping me realize this isn't as catastrophic as I thought it was!
I'm going through the exact same anxiety right now! Submitted mine about a week late and have been checking my account obsessively. Reading all these responses is making me feel so much better though - seems like this happens to way more people than I thought and the DOL is generally understanding about it. Going to try calling them tomorrow to give them a heads up about the late submission. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences, this thread is a lifesaver for those of us stressing about this! 🙏
I'm so glad you posted this because I'm in the EXACT same boat! Just submitted mine yesterday after being 6 days late and I've been refreshing my account every hour like a crazy person 😅 It's such a relief to see all these stories from people who went through the same thing and came out fine. The waiting and not knowing is honestly the worst part. Definitely going to call them too - seems like being proactive about explaining the situation can only help. We got this! 💪
I went through this exact nightmare last year! What finally worked for me was a combination approach: I used Claimyr to get through to a human (totally worth the cost when you're desperate), and while waiting for that callback I also sent the written request to the Albany PO Box that Zoe mentioned. The written request actually came through first - took about 10 days but I got my 1099-G in the mail. Don't stress too much about the IRS coming after you immediately - they're pretty backlogged too. But definitely get that form sorted ASAP. Also pro tip: once you get through to someone, ask them to email you a copy too so you have it digitally for next year!
This is really reassuring to hear! I've been so stressed thinking the IRS was going to come knocking down my door next week. Good to know they're backlogged too and that the written request actually works - I'm definitely going to try that along with a couple other suggestions from this thread. Thanks for sharing your experience and the tip about asking for an email copy!
Just wanted to add another option that worked for my sister last month - she went directly to her local Social Services office (not the career center) and they were able to help her access her unemployment account and print the 1099-G on the spot. Apparently some of their staff have backend access to the system that bypasses the login issues. She said she waited about 45 minutes but walked out with the form in hand. Might be worth calling your local office first to see if they can help before making the trip. Good luck - I know how stressful this is when tax deadlines are looming!
Javier Morales
This thread is incredibly helpful! I'm also dealing with a missing certification issue right now - certified on Tuesday but nothing showing in my payment history. After reading through everyone's experiences, especially @Aaron Boston's resolution, I'm feeling much more hopeful that this is just another one of those verification holds from the February system update rather than a major problem. It's so frustrating that the system creates these holds automatically but requires calling to fix them, and that there's no notification to let us know what's happening. Going to try calling tomorrow morning with all my info ready. Thanks to everyone for sharing their experiences - this community is such a lifesaver when the official resources leave us in the dark!
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Emma Swift
•@Javier Morales I m'in the exact same boat! Just certified earlier this week and nothing is showing up. This thread has been such a relief to read - I was starting to panic that something was seriously wrong with my claim. It s'really reassuring to see that @Aaron Boston got his resolved so quickly once he reached an agent, and that these verification holds seem to be a common issue since that February update. I m planning'to call tomorrow too. Hopefully we ll both'get through and get this sorted out fast! Thanks to everyone for sharing their experiences here - it s so'much better than trying to figure this out alone.
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Yuki Tanaka
This thread has been incredibly reassuring to read! I'm also dealing with a certification that's not showing up in my payment history - certified on Wednesday and it's now Friday with nothing appearing. Reading about @Aaron Boston's experience and how it was just a verification hold that got resolved quickly once he reached an agent gives me so much hope. It's frustrating that these system issues from the February update are still causing problems months later, but at least now I know what to expect when I call. Planning to try first thing Monday morning with all my documentation ready. Thank you to everyone who shared their experiences - this is exactly the kind of practical advice that makes all the difference when you're stressed about missing payments!
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Ravi Sharma
•@Yuki Tanaka I m'so glad this thread is helping you feel more confident about the situation! It s'really frustrating how common these verification holds seem to be since that February update, but it s'reassuring that they appear to be relatively straightforward to resolve once you actually get through to someone. The hardest part seems to be getting connected to an agent. I d'definitely recommend trying that tip about calling back immediately if you get disconnected - and maybe even consider that Claimyr service if the regular phone lines aren t'working out. Good luck on Monday! Hopefully you ll'have the same quick resolution that @Aaron Boston experienced.
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