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I had issues getting through to NYS Department of Labor when I had questions about garnishments on my account. If you need to talk to someone about this stuff, I found this service called Claimyr that helped me get through to an actual agent. Check out claimyr.com - they have a video demo at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI that shows how it works. Way easier than sitting on hold for hours.
Just make sure you keep paying your current support while on unemployment. The court doesn't care if you're unemployed, they still expect the payments. If you can't afford it, you need to petition for a modification BEFORE you fall behind.
@ef7084b4b048 This is really important advice. I've seen people get in trouble thinking unemployment gives them a pass on child support. How quickly can you usually get a modification hearing if your income changes?
@c99017ed5c88 In my experience it can take 4-6 weeks to get a modification hearing scheduled, which is why filing immediately when your income changes is so crucial. The court can only modify support going forward from when you file the petition, not retroactively. So if you wait 3 months to file, you're still responsible for those 3 months at the original amount even if your income dropped on day 1.
just went thru this myself - bring all your unemployment stuff to the court clerk and they help you fill out the forms. also bring proof of job searching since they might ask about that too
I'm going through something similar right now - lost my restaurant job three weeks ago and waiting for my NYS Department of Labor claim to process. The stress about child support is keeping me up at night. From what I've researched, you can file the modification petition yourself without a lawyer (called "pro se") but having one definitely helps navigate the process faster. The family court self-help center usually has forms and can walk you through the basics. Also document everything - keep records of your job search efforts, unemployment correspondence, and any partial payments you make. Shows the court you're being responsible about the situation even when finances are tight.
As someone who just started claiming unemployment last month, I can't tell you how relieved I am to find this thread! I certified on Monday and when nothing showed up in my payment history by Wednesday, I was convinced I'd messed something up. This is all so new to me and the NYSDOL website doesn't really explain these normal delays anywhere obvious. Reading everyone's experiences here has been a huge help - it sounds like 1-3 business day delays are totally normal, especially lately. I'm going to stop refreshing my payment history every hour now! Thank you all for sharing your stories, it really helps us newcomers understand what to expect from this system.
I'm so glad you found this thread helpful! I'm also completely new to unemployment - this is literally my first time ever filing a claim and I had no idea what to expect. When I certified earlier this week and didn't see my payment show up right away, I thought for sure I had done something wrong or missed a step. The NYSDOL website really doesn't prepare you for these normal processing delays at all! It's such a relief to see so many experienced members here explaining that 1-3 day delays are totally routine. This community has been a lifesaver for understanding all the little quirks of the system that nobody tells you about upfront. Definitely saving this thread for future reference too!
I'm experiencing the exact same thing! Just certified yesterday for my unemployment benefits and my payment history is completely blank today. This is only my third week claiming so I wasn't sure if this was normal or if I should be worried. After reading through all these comments though, it sounds like 1-2 business day delays are pretty typical, especially with the recent system updates. It's really reassuring to see so many people going through the same thing and that it usually resolves itself quickly. As a newcomer to this whole process, I really appreciate everyone sharing their experiences - it helps so much to know what's normal vs what's actually a problem! I'll check again tomorrow and try not to stress about it.
Just want to add that you should definitely still file even with the child support issue. I know someone who waited months thinking they couldn't get benefits because of back support and they lost out on thousands of dollars. The NYS Department of Labor will handle the intercept automatically - you just need to focus on getting your claim approved and filing your weekly certifications on time.
I went through this exact situation about 6 months ago. Was behind on child support by around $6K and was terrified they'd reject my unemployment claim. But like others have said, you can definitely still get benefits. In my case, they intercepted about 40% of my weekly payments (not quite the full 50% max). The key thing is to file ASAP - I made the mistake of waiting a few weeks because I was worried and that cost me money I'll never get back. The intercept happens automatically once your benefits start, so there's no extra paperwork or hoops to jump through on your end. It's better to get 60% of something than 100% of nothing while you're job searching.
Thank you for sharing your experience! It's really helpful to hear from someone who went through the same thing. I'm definitely going to file this week - you're absolutely right that getting something is better than nothing. Did you find that the 40% intercept stayed consistent throughout your unemployment period, or did it change at all? I'm trying to budget and plan ahead as much as possible.
Kylo Ren
The system is so confusing! I reported my part-time earnings last week and now my claim status changed to 'under review.' Should I be worried? I made sure to report everything honestly.
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Malik Johnson
•Don't panic! "Under review" is pretty normal when you first start reporting part-time earnings. They just need to verify your income and adjust your benefit calculation. It usually takes 1-2 weeks to process. As long as you reported everything accurately like you said, you should be fine. The system flags any changes to review them manually. Just keep certifying your weekly claims as usual while you wait.
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Ava Martinez
Just wanted to add that when you do sign up for Uber, make sure to keep detailed records of all your earnings - not just what Uber reports to you, but also track your mileage, gas, car maintenance costs, etc. NYS Department of Labor wants to know your gross earnings from ride sharing, but you'll also need those expense records for tax purposes since you'll be considered an independent contractor. Also, don't forget that Uber earnings can be unpredictable - some weeks you might make $50, others $300 - so always report the actual amount you earned that specific week on your certification.
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Yara Elias
•This is really helpful advice about keeping detailed records! I hadn't thought about tracking all the car expenses. Do you know if there's a specific app or method that works best for tracking mileage and expenses for Uber drivers? I want to make sure I'm doing this right from the start since I'll need those records for both unemployment reporting and taxes next year.
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