Just make sure you report everything accurately because they will find out about your other job through wage records anyway. Better to be upfront than deal with an overpayment notice later.

I went through this exact same situation about 6 months ago when I lost my full-time office job but kept my part-time evening gig at a bookstore. The application process was actually pretty straightforward - you definitely need to report both jobs during the initial filing, including wages from both for the base period they ask about. They'll calculate your weekly benefit rate based on your total earnings history, then subtract your part-time wages each week when you certify. In my case, I was earning about $150/week from the bookstore and still qualified for a decent partial benefit. The main thing is to be completely honest about all income sources from day one. Good luck!

I'm so sorry you're going through this - the stress of having benefits suspended during an investigation is absolutely brutal. I went through a similar situation about 18 months ago and it took roughly 6 weeks to resolve. What I learned is that being proactive really helps, even though the waiting is still agonizing. I'd recommend gathering ALL your documentation now - job search logs, bank statements, termination paperwork, any correspondence with employers - and send it certified mail even if they haven't specifically requested it yet. Also, if you haven't already, try to get through to someone on the phone to at least confirm what triggered the investigation. Like others mentioned, calling right at 8 AM seems to be the best time to actually reach a human. The system is frustrating but hang in there - legitimate claims do get cleared up, it just takes way longer than it should. Keep detailed records of every interaction and don't let them make you feel guilty for following up regularly. You deserve to know what's happening with your case.

I'm dealing with a fraud investigation right now too - just hit the 5 week mark yesterday. The uncertainty is absolutely crushing, especially when you know you did everything by the book. What's helped me mentally is setting up a routine around it rather than letting the anxiety consume me randomly throughout the day. I call every Tuesday and Friday at 8 AM sharp (seems to be the magic hour based on what everyone's saying), keep a spreadsheet tracking every interaction, and I've already sent them a comprehensive evidence packet via certified mail. The financial stress is real - I've had to ask family for help with rent which is humiliating when this whole thing shouldn't even be happening. But reading through all these experiences gives me hope that most legitimate cases do get resolved, even if it takes way longer than any reasonable person would expect. Stay strong and keep documenting everything - we'll get through this bureaucratic nightmare eventually.

One thing - you still have to meet the job search requirements even for partial unemployment. Keep track of your work search activities because they can ask for your log anytime during certification.

Just went through this exact same situation at my job! The key thing is to file online at labor.ny.gov and when you do your weekly certifications, always report your gross earnings (before taxes). The system will automatically calculate how much partial benefit you get. Also keep all your pay stubs - they sometimes ask for proof of your reduced earnings. The whole process was way easier than I expected once I actually started it. Good luck!

I've been helping people with ID.me verification issues for months now, and I want to add a few more troubleshooting tips that have worked for others: 1) Try using incognito/private browsing mode - this eliminates any browser extension conflicts, 2) If you're on mobile, make sure your phone's camera lens is clean (sounds obvious but you'd be surprised!), 3) For the selfie part, hold the phone at arm's length and look directly at the camera, not at your image on screen, 4) If you wear contacts, try without them as sometimes the reflection can interfere with facial recognition. Also, Pro tip: If you get through the document scan but fail at facial recognition, don't restart the whole process - you can usually just retry the selfie portion. The verification usually takes 2-3 business days to process once you successfully complete all steps, so factor that into your timeline. Hang in there - almost everyone gets through eventually!

I'm dealing with the exact same issue right now! Been stuck on the facial recognition part for 3 days straight. Reading through all these tips is super helpful - I had no idea about the VPN issue or using a dark surface for the ID scan. Going to try the phone + Safari + natural lighting combo tomorrow morning, and definitely turning off my VPN first. It's so frustrating that such an important process has so many technical glitches, but at least it sounds like most people eventually get through. Thanks everyone for sharing what worked for you - gives me hope I'll figure this out soon!

I'm also a teacher in NY and went through this exact situation when I first started teaching. The reasonable assurance rule is definitely frustrating, but there's one scenario that might apply to some teachers - if you're on a temporary or substitute contract rather than a permanent position. I had a friend who was able to collect unemployment between her long-term sub positions because she didn't have that "reasonable assurance" of returning to the same job. Also, if you're looking for summer income, many districts hire teachers for summer programs, ESY (Extended School Year), or summer school positions. The pay isn't great but it's something. Some teachers also do test prep tutoring or work at educational summer camps. It's worth checking with your union rep too - they usually have good information about what options are available in your specific district.

I'm a former NYS Department of Labor employee and can confirm what others have said about the reasonable assurance rule. It's codified in NY Labor Law Section 590.11 and is pretty strictly enforced for school employees. The key factor is whether you have a contract or written agreement to return to work in the fall. Even if your salary is spread over 12 months instead of 10, you're still considered to have reasonable assurance. One thing I haven't seen mentioned yet - if you're a probationary teacher and there's genuine uncertainty about your job security for the next year, that could potentially affect your eligibility. But you'd need documentation showing the uncertainty isn't just routine evaluation but actual doubt about contract renewal. The burden of proof would be on you to show the assurance isn't "reasonable." For most tenured or continuing contract teachers though, summer unemployment just isn't going to happen under current NY law.