I was in a similar situation a few months ago! I had a 4-week contract job come up while I was collecting unemployment. I called NYS Department of Labor directly to ask about this and they confirmed what others are saying here - you just stop filing weekly claims for the weeks you're working full-time, then resume when the work ends. The agent told me there's no need to formally notify them beforehand. Just make sure to keep good records of your work dates and any earnings so you can report accurately when you start filing again. My claim stayed active the whole time and I had no issues resuming benefits after the contract ended.

I went through this same situation about 8 months ago! You definitely don't need to "pause" anything officially - just stop filing your weekly claims during the weeks you're working full-time. NYS Department of Labor's system is designed to handle this. Your benefit year stays active and you can resume filing as soon as the temporary work ends. I actually found it less stressful than I expected - no phone calls needed, no forms to fill out. Just keep good records of when you worked and any wages earned so you can report accurately when you file again. The temporary work actually helped me in the long run because it showed continued work search efforts when I eventually found my permanent job. Good luck with the opportunity!

I've been on NY unemployment for about a month and this thread has been incredibly helpful! I'm in healthcare administration and have been taking Coursera courses on healthcare data analytics and project management. Based on all the excellent advice here, I've been spending about 1.5 hours per session, 2-3 times a week, and keeping detailed documentation. What I wanted to add is that I've found it really helpful to look at the "skills you'll gain" section of each Coursera course before starting and then document how those specific skills align with job postings I've seen. For example, when I completed a course on healthcare quality improvement, I noted how it directly related to three different quality analyst positions I had applied for that week. I also started creating a "skills inventory" document where I list all the new competencies I've gained from Coursera and cross-reference them with common requirements in my target job postings. This has been super useful for interview prep and would probably be great evidence if I get audited. One question for those who have been through audits: Did they ask about the relevance of your courses to your previous work experience, or were they more focused on how it related to jobs you were seeking? I'm wondering if transitioning to a slightly different role within healthcare (from general admin to data-focused roles) might raise any questions. Thanks again to everyone who shared their experiences - this community has been more valuable than any official DOL guidance!

I've been on NY unemployment for about 3 weeks and just started incorporating Coursera into my work search activities after reading through all these amazing experiences and advice! This thread has been more helpful than anything I could find on the official DOL website. I'm in marketing and have been taking courses on digital marketing analytics and social media strategy. Based on everyone's recommendations here, I've been spending 1-2 hours per session when I count it as a work search activity and keeping detailed logs with dates, course names, completed modules, time spent, and how each relates to jobs I'm applying for. One thing that's really stood out to me from reading all these responses is how important it is to treat this as genuine professional development rather than just checking a box. I've started taking notes during courses and actually applying what I learn - like using new analytics techniques to improve my own LinkedIn profile and portfolio website. The documentation strategies shared here have been invaluable, especially the advice about taking screenshots of completed modules and saving certificates. I'm also following the suggestion about referencing specific courses in cover letters when they're relevant to the position. Has anyone had success using Coursera's peer-reviewed assignments as additional documentation? Some of my marketing courses include projects where other students review your work, and I'm wondering if those peer feedback screenshots would be useful evidence of engagement beyond just watching videos. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences, especially those who went through audits. It's so reassuring to have real-world guidance on something that can feel pretty ambiguous from the official requirements!

I'm in a similar boat and was worried about this too. From what I've researched, the NYS Department of Labor website actually has a section on "other income" that mentions selling personal property usually doesn't count as wages if it's stuff you already owned. The tricky part is they want you to report ANY income over $405 per week, but selling your own belongings typically falls under "liquidating assets" not "earning income." I'd suggest keeping receipts showing what you originally paid for items if you have them, just to prove you're not making a profit. Also maybe don't sell everything at once - spread it out over a few weeks to avoid any red flags.

I went through this exact situation a few months ago! Sold my old gaming console, some books, and kitchen appliances I wasn't using. The key thing I learned is that NYS considers it "liquidating personal assets" rather than income as long as you're selling items you already owned before filing for unemployment. I kept a simple list of what I sold and roughly what I originally paid for each item (didn't need exact receipts for everything). The $200-300 range you're talking about shouldn't be an issue at all - I sold about $400 worth of stuff over 2 months with no problems. Just avoid making it look like a regular business activity and you should be fine. The stress of worrying about it was way worse than actually doing it!

I'm a case worker who helps people navigate unemployment benefits, and I want to reassure you that 2 weeks is still very much in the normal range for NYS DOL processing. What you're experiencing is typical, especially during busy periods. A few practical tips while you wait: 1) Keep filing those weekly certifications religiously - this is crucial and you're already doing it right, 2) Document everything - save confirmation numbers, screenshots of your claim status, etc., 3) If you're really concerned about timing, you can try reaching out to your local assembly member's office - they sometimes have staff who can help constituents navigate state agency issues. For immediate financial relief while waiting, look into local emergency assistance programs, food pantries, and see if your utility companies offer hardship deferrals. The waiting is stressful, but you're doing everything correctly and the back pay will cover all the weeks you've been filing once approved. Hang in there!

I'm in week 3 of waiting for my NYS DOL claim approval and wanted to share what I've learned from calling around. If your claim goes beyond 3 weeks, you can also try contacting your local One-Stop Career Center - they have direct lines to DOL and can sometimes help check on claim status. I finally got through last week and found out my delay was because they needed additional verification from my previous employer. The representative told me that retail job separations sometimes take longer because they have to verify the reason for separation (layoff vs termination). Since you mentioned you were laid off from retail, this might be relevant. Also, if you're really struggling financially, check if you qualify for emergency SNAP benefits while waiting - the application is much faster than unemployment and can help with food costs. Keep hanging in there, the system is slow but it does work eventually!

I'm going through this exact same timeline right now! Completed ID verification last Thursday (so about a week ago) and have been stuck on "adjudication in progress" ever since. Reading through everyone's experiences here is really reassuring - sounds like the 1-3 week wait after ID verification is pretty standard. The most frustrating part is not knowing if there's an issue or if it's just normal processing time. I've been continuing to certify weekly even though everything shows $0, and I set up the text alerts someone mentioned to avoid obsessively checking my account. Based on all the timelines shared here, it sounds like we should both see movement in the next week or so. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences - it really helps to know this waiting period is normal and that the back payments do eventually come through!

I'm dealing with the exact same situation right now - completed ID verification 6 days ago and still showing "adjudication in progress" with $0 weekly claims. Reading through everyone's timelines here is incredibly helpful and reassuring. It sounds like the 10-21 day range after ID verification is pretty typical, with most people seeing their status change around the 2-week mark. The hardest part is definitely not knowing if it's normal processing or if there's some issue lurking. I've been continuing to certify weekly and just set up those text alerts someone mentioned to stop myself from constantly refreshing the portal. Based on all these shared experiences, it seems like patience is really the only option, but at least we know the system does eventually work and those back payments will be worth the wait. Thanks to everyone for sharing their timelines - it makes this stressful process feel much more manageable knowing we're all in this together!