I'm also dealing with this same confusion! Started filing in February and nobody told me about any of these changes. I worked 9 hours last week and was stressed about whether to report 0 or 1 day. Reading through all these comments is such a relief - sounds like 9 hours = 0 days under the new system. It's crazy how they just change things without proper notification. I've been keeping detailed records of my hours just in case, which seems like a good idea based on what people are saying here. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences!

This is such an important thread! I've been filing unemployment since late 2024 and honestly had no idea about this hours reporting change until I read through all these comments. I worked 6 hours last week and reported 1 day based on what I thought was the old system, but now I'm wondering if I should have reported 0 days instead. Should I be concerned about this discrepancy? I don't want to accidentally trigger a fraud investigation over an honest mistake. It's really frustrating that NYSDOL doesn't send clear notifications about these policy changes - seems like we're all just figuring it out through trial and error or community forums like this one.

One more thing - if your employer is disputing the claim, you can request an expedited hearing by calling the hearings division directly. That number is separate from the main NYS Department of Labor line and sometimes you can get through easier. If there's a legitimate dispute, a hearing might actually be faster than waiting for adjudication to complete.

I'm going through the exact same thing right now - 5 weeks in adjudication with zero communication from NYS DOL. What's really frustrating is that they don't even tell you what specific issue triggered the review. I've tried the callback system but it never actually calls back. Has anyone had success contacting their local state assembly member's office? I heard they sometimes have staff who can reach out to the department on your behalf when constituents are facing hardship due to delays.

I'm dealing with this exact situation right now too! Just wanted to add that when I called the NYS Department of Labor claims center yesterday, they told me it's better to report your return to work even a few days early rather than risk being late. The representative said they'd rather process an early notification than deal with overpayment issues later. She also mentioned that if you're having trouble getting through on the phone, the my.ny.gov portal is usually the fastest way to report - it's available 24/7 and you get an immediate confirmation. Make sure to save a screenshot of that confirmation for your records! The whole process took me less than 5 minutes online. Good luck with your new job Andre, and thanks to everyone else for sharing their experiences - this thread has been super helpful for those of us navigating this process!

This thread is so helpful! I'm bookmarking this for future reference. Just to add one more tip - when you report your return to work on my.ny.gov, make sure you have your new employer's information handy (company name, address, etc.) because the system will ask for those details. Also, if you're starting a part-time position instead of full-time, the rules are different - you might still be eligible for partial benefits depending on your hours and wages. But for full-time work like Andre's situation, definitely stop filing claims completely once you start. The peace of mind from reporting it properly is worth way more than any hassle of doing the paperwork!

same boat here, filed twice in 18 months and no problems. just make sure you file within the right timeframe after getting laid off

I was in a similar situation - filed my first claim in early 2023, then got rehired for about 6 months before being laid off again. The key thing is making sure you earned enough wages between claims to establish a new benefit year. NYS DOL will automatically calculate whether you qualify based on your work history. Don't worry about being "flagged" - layoffs are unfortunately common and they understand people may need to file multiple legitimate claims. Just be honest about your work dates and wages on the application.

I'm in almost the exact same situation with my freelance web development business - no income since late December and really struggling to make ends meet. This thread has been incredibly helpful in understanding the process. Based on everyone's experiences, it sounds like the key is being able to prove you're "totally unemployed" rather than just having slow business. I've been keeping my business technically open hoping things would turn around, but I think it's time to face reality and file. One question I have that I haven't seen addressed - has anyone dealt with the situation where you have outstanding invoices from before your income stopped? I have about $2,000 in unpaid invoices from November/December clients. If those payments eventually come through while I'm collecting unemployment, how does that affect the claim? Do I need to report it as income even though it's for work performed before I became unemployed? I want to make sure I handle this correctly from the start. Thanks to everyone who's shared their experiences - it's really reassuring to know I'm not alone in this situation.

I've been following this thread closely as someone who just went through this process successfully. My freelance photography business dried up in October and I filed for unemployment in November. After about 8 weeks, my claim was approved and I've been receiving benefits since January. A few things that helped me: 1) I kept detailed records of my last client interactions and payments, 2) I completely stopped all business activities including social media marketing and networking, and 3) I started actively applying for part-time jobs to show genuine job search efforts. Regarding outstanding invoices - yes, you need to report any payments received during your benefit weeks even if the work was done before filing. I had one late payment come through in December and reported it on my weekly certification. It reduced that week's benefit but didn't affect my overall eligibility. The adjudication process was stressful but the investigator was actually quite understanding once I explained my situation clearly. My advice is don't wait too long to file if you're genuinely unemployed - the sooner you start the process, the sooner you can get financial relief while you figure out your next steps.