Wait, I thought there was something called extended benefits? Or is that only in certain situations? I'm confused about what happens after regular UI ends.

I'm so sorry you're going through this stress - it's absolutely exhausting when you're doing everything right but the system just isn't working. Have you looked into whether you might qualify for any training programs through the Department of Labor? Sometimes they have WIOA (Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act) funding that can provide income support while you're in approved training for in-demand jobs. It's not the same as unemployment but could be a lifeline. Also, if you haven't already, register with your local One-Stop Career Center - they sometimes know about job openings that aren't posted publicly and can help with resume review or interview prep. Hang in there, this market is brutal but you're not alone in this struggle.

Same thing here - got the scary letter but it was just their computer system being dumb. As long as you've been honest about your work and reporting everything on your weekly claims you should be fine.

I went through this exact same thing last year! The "potential overpayment" notice scared me too but it really is just their standard review process. In my case, it was because I had reported some freelance work but the timing of when I got paid versus when I reported it on my weekly certification got mixed up in their system. I gathered all my documentation - pay stubs, bank statements showing deposit dates, and screenshots of my weekly claim submissions - and sent everything in before the deadline. Took about 6 weeks but they eventually cleared it and I didn't owe anything. The key is responding promptly with all your records. Don't let it stress you out too much, these automated reviews happen all the time and most get resolved in the claimant's favor when they've been reporting honestly like you have.

Congrats on getting that resolved and getting your extra $504! This thread has been super helpful - I'm definitely going to check my old account now to see if there's anything pending. It's crazy how many people this system audit has affected. Really glad you used that Claimyr service too since it sounds like getting through to NYSDOL directly is nearly impossible these days.

This is such a relief to read! I was getting really anxious about whether to activate mine or not. The fact that so many people are experiencing this and it's turning out to be legitimate backpay makes me feel much better. I got a similar KeyBank card last Friday with no explanation and have been paranoid about scams. Going to check my payment history and determinations section right now. Thanks for updating us with your resolution - knowing it was worth $504 definitely motivates me to investigate mine further!

ugh the whole system is so unfair. here we are paying taxes on our unemployment benefits but then can't use that same income to qualify for basic things like housing. makes no sense!

I went through something similar last year. One thing that really helped was getting a letter from NYS Department of Labor showing my remaining benefit balance and duration. Some lenders want to see that you have at least 12 months of benefits left. Also, if you have any part-time work or side income, document that too - it shows additional stability. The market is tough but don't give up! Your credit score and down payment savings put you in a decent position.

Try looking in your text messages if you provided a phone number when applying - NYS DOL sometimes sends confirmation texts with your claim number. Also, if you remember any part of your SSN or personal info used during application, the "forgot username/password" option on the login page might help you recover access to see your full claim details online.

If you can't find your unemployment insurance number anywhere, you can also try creating a new my.ny.gov account using the same SSN and personal info you used originally. The system should recognize you already have a claim and link you to your existing account automatically. This happened to me when I forgot my login details - it pulled up my claim info right away without needing to remember the specific UI number.