Just make sure you keep track of your hours and earnings! NYS Department of Labor cross-references with employer wage reports so they WILL find out if you don't report correctly. I've seen people get massive overpayment bills because they thought they could hide small jobs.

You're absolutely doing everything right by reporting your earnings! I've been in a similar situation and the anxiety is totally understandable. Just to add to what others have said - the NYS Department of Labor actually encourages part-time work while on unemployment because it helps people transition back to full employment. The partial benefit system is designed specifically for situations like yours. Keep detailed records of your work hours and pay stubs, and continue reporting honestly each week. You're not going to get in trouble for working part-time and reporting it correctly - that's exactly what you're supposed to do!

I was in almost the exact same situation last year! I had been on NY unemployment since April and needed to visit my sister in Arizona for a long weekend. I was so worried about it that I actually used Claimyr to get through to a representative beforehand. The agent I spoke with was super helpful and explained that short domestic trips are completely fine as long as you remain available for work and continue your job search activities. She emphasized that "available for work" in today's job market includes being able to do phone and video interviews, which it sounds like you're prepared for. I certified from Arizona without any issues and even had a Zoom interview scheduled for the Monday I got back. The rep also mentioned that they understand people have family obligations and normal life situations - they're not expecting you to be chained to your house while on unemployment. Just keep documenting your job applications and stay reachable for potential employers. You're only going for a few days and you're being responsible about it, so you should be totally fine. Have a great visit with your family!

I've been on NY unemployment since September and was in almost the exact same situation a few months ago - needed to visit my aunt in Colorado for a long weekend. I was so worried about it that I couldn't sleep! But after reading through all the advice here and talking to a rep (used claimyr.com to get through), I learned it's really not a big deal at all. The rep told me that as long as you're genuinely available for work and keeping up with job searches, short domestic trips are totally fine. I ended up having a great time with my family and certified from Colorado without any issues. Just make sure you can honestly answer "yes" to being ready and able to work each day - which it sounds like you can since you're staying available for remote interviews. Bring your laptop, keep applying to jobs, and enjoy your time with your family! You're definitely overthinking this (I was too). Have a safe trip to Nevada! 🌟

I feel you on this struggle. One thing that might help is checking if any of your gig work involved working for companies that have been reclassified in New York. Some delivery companies have had to reclassify drivers as employees rather than contractors due to recent labor law changes. Also, even if you don't qualify for regular UI, you might want to look into other programs - like SNAP or temporary assistance - while you're job hunting. The application process can be really frustrating, but don't give up. Document everything from your restaurant job since that seems like your best shot at establishing a claim.

As someone who recently went through this process, I wanted to share what I learned. The key is really that restaurant job you mentioned - that's likely your ticket to benefits. When I applied, I had to provide my base period wages (usually the first 4 quarters of the last 5 completed quarters before you file). Make sure you have your W-2 or final pay stub from the restaurant ready. The NYS DOL will calculate your weekly benefit based on those covered wages, not your gig income. One heads up though - when you file your weekly claims, you'll need to report any gig work earnings, and they might reduce your benefit dollar-for-dollar depending on how much you make. But having some income is better than none! I'd recommend applying online through the NY.gov website rather than trying to call - the online system walks you through everything step by step.

ugh the whole system is so frustrating! I've been trying to get through to someone at NYS Department of Labor for weeks about my own attendance-related firing and their phone lines are always busy. Does anyone know a better way to actually talk to a real person there?

Been there! Got canned for attendance at my retail job in 2023 and NYS Department of Labor approved my claim after about 3 weeks. The main thing is being honest about why you were fired and having some proof that your absences weren't just you being lazy or irresponsible.

ugh the whole system is so confusing! I went through this last year and even after getting approved I still wasn't sure if I was getting the right amount. The NYS Department of Labor really needs to make their calculations clearer for regular people.

I went through a similar situation a few months ago - lost my job at a tech startup in Rochester making about $48k. The base period calculation that CaptainAwesome mentioned is spot on, but here's what really helped me: I gathered all my pay stubs from the relevant quarters before calling or using the online calculator. Having your exact quarterly earnings makes the whole process way clearer. Also, don't stress too much about the exact amount beforehand - once you file, they'll send you a monetary determination letter that breaks down exactly how they calculated your benefits. The important thing is to file as soon as possible since you can't get benefits for weeks before you apply. Good luck with the job search!