I went through this same confusion when I got laid off from my teaching job earlier this year! Your calculation is exactly right - $14,820 ÷ $495 = about 30 weeks, which is actually better than the standard 26 weeks most NY claimants get. That maximum amount is your total "unemployment fund" for your entire benefit year (12 months from when you first filed). Once it's exhausted, you can't get more benefits until you work enough to qualify for a completely new claim. The part-time work question is really important - if you pick up shifts and they reduce your weekly payment to say $300, your maximum amount stays at $14,820, so you're essentially stretching your benefits over more weeks. I actually did this with substitute teaching and it helped me make my benefits last longer while I searched for a permanent position. Just make sure to report all income honestly - the penalties for unreported earnings are way worse than the temporary reduction in weekly payments. The system is definitely confusing but you've got the right understanding of how it works!

I just went through this exact same situation when I got laid off from my warehouse job a couple months ago! You're absolutely right with your math - that $14,820 is your total benefit "allowance" for the entire year, and at $495/week you'll get about 30 weeks which is actually pretty good compared to the standard 26 weeks. Once you burn through that maximum amount, you're completely done until you can work enough hours to qualify for a brand new claim. The part-time income thing really threw me off too at first - if you pick up some restaurant shifts and they dock your weekly payment down to like $350, your total maximum stays the same at $14,820, so you're just making your benefits last longer. I ended up doing some weekend work which helped stretch my benefits out while I job hunted. Definitely report everything though - the overpayment stuff is a nightmare if they catch unreported income later. The whole system is confusing as hell but sounds like you've got it figured out!

Just to add - the 10% federal withholding might not be enough depending on your total income for the year and tax bracket. If you had a good job before unemployment you might want to consider making quarterly payments instead of just relying on the 10% withholding option.

ugh the whole tax thing with unemployment is so confusing, why can't they just make it simple like regular payroll taxes

This entire thread should be required reading for anyone dealing with NYSDOL! I came here completely lost after spending two days trying to update my direct deposit info, and now I have a clear action plan. What strikes me most is how this community has collectively documented every possible failure point and workaround - from system timing issues to browser conflicts to account status dependencies. It's honestly better documentation than anything NYSDOL provides. I'm going to try the incognito browser approach during off-peak hours tonight, and I feel way more confident knowing what to expect thanks to everyone's shared experiences. Special shoutout to @Mateo Perez for asking the original question and following up with his success - it's so helpful when people close the loop and confirm what actually worked! This is community problem-solving at its finest.

Welcome to the community @Caleb Stark! This thread really has become the unofficial NYSDOL direct deposit troubleshooting bible. I love seeing how everyone's individual struggles turned into this comprehensive solution guide. One small tip I'd add to your 10pm attempt tonight - after you successfully update your info in incognito mode, take a screenshot of the confirmation page like @Malik Davis suggested. I learned this the hard way when I had to prove to an agent that I had actually made the change correctly. Also, don't be discouraged if the first attempt doesn't work - sometimes it takes 2-3 tries even with all the right conditions. The system truly is that finicky! Looking forward to hearing your success story tomorrow. Good luck tonight!

Just to add - make sure you're not just applying online. The NYS Department of Labor likes to see variety in your search methods. I include networking events (even virtual ones), checking with former colleagues, and visiting businesses in person when possible. Mix it up and document all of it.

I went through this same confusion when I started my claim. The 3 per week is the unofficial standard most people follow, but I learned that networking activities and job fairs count too. What really helped me was setting up job alerts on multiple sites (Indeed, LinkedIn, company websites) so I wasn't scrambling each week to find applications. For retail management, I also reached out to former colleagues and suppliers - sometimes they know about openings before they're posted. Keep everything organized in a spreadsheet with screenshots of your applications. The documentation is crucial if they do audit you.

I work in records management and deal with retention schedules all the time. For unemployment records in NY, the 3-year rule is solid advice - that aligns with the statute of limitations for most benefit-related issues. One thing to add though is if you ever had an overpayment situation or appeal, keep those records indefinitely until it's fully resolved plus 3 years after resolution. Also worth noting that if you're self-employed now or might be in the future, those old job search records can actually be helpful to show your work history and professional network development. I've seen people use them years later when applying for business loans or professional licensing.

I went through something similar when I moved last year - had filing cabinets full of unemployment paperwork from multiple claims going back to 2017. After reading through all the NYS DOL materials I could find, I ended up keeping everything in a systematic way: 1099-G forms go with tax records for 7 years, weekly certifications and job search logs for 3 years from claim end date, and any correspondence about overpayments or appeals indefinitely. The peace of mind is worth the small amount of storage space, especially after reading about people getting audited years later. I also started scanning recent documents as I receive them so I don't end up with another paper mountain in the future.