Congrats on the new job! I went through this same situation about 3 months ago and definitely echo what everyone else is saying - do that final certification this Sunday. When you certify, you'll see questions about returning to work and you'll answer yes, then report your earnings for the days you worked that week. Even though you probably won't get benefits since you're working full-time, that certification officially closes your claim properly. I initially considered just stopping like some people do, but after reading horror stories about "abandoned claim" issues, I'm really glad I did the final cert. It literally took like 5 minutes and saved me potential headaches months later. The system handled everything automatically after that - no calls or follow-up needed. Just be accurate with your start date, work days, and earnings and you'll be golden!

Congratulations on your new job! I just wanted to add my voice to the chorus here - definitely do that final certification this Sunday. I went through this exact same situation about 5 months ago and was so torn between just stopping certifications (which seemed easier) versus doing the "proper" final one. After reading similar advice in forums like this, I decided to do the final certification and I'm so glad I did. When you certify, you'll answer yes to returning to work and report your earnings for the days worked that week. Even though I didn't receive benefits that final week since I was working full-time, having that official record of properly closing my claim gave me such peace of mind. No surprise letters, no abandoned claim issues, nothing. Just a clean transition off benefits. It really is worth those few extra minutes to do it right!

Make sure you're also staying current on your disability insurance payments if you have employees. That's separate from unemployment tax but also goes through NYS Department of Labor reporting.

For what it's worth, I just went through this process myself as a new business owner. The key is to make sure you register for your employer account first if you haven't already - you'll need your Federal EIN and some basic business info. Once you're in the system, the quarterly deadlines are April 30, July 31, October 31, and January 31. Don't wait until the last minute because the system tends to be slower on due dates. Also keep good records of all your payments - the confirmation numbers are important if there are any disputes later.

Good point about job searches. You need to be doing at least 3 job search activities per week and keeping detailed records. This includes applying for jobs, networking activities, attending job fairs, etc. The NYS Department of Labor can audit your job search log at any time so keep good documentation.

I went through something similar with attendance issues and car problems. The key thing that helped my case was that I had documentation - text messages to my supervisor about the car trouble, repair receipts showing when it was in the shop, and proof I was trying to find alternative transportation. NYS DOL looks at whether you made a good faith effort to maintain your job despite the circumstances. If you have any records of communicating with your manager about the car issues or trying to arrange rides/alternative transportation, gather all of that. It shows the absences weren't just careless but due to legitimate transportation barriers.

I went through something similar in 2024 and had to appeal my benefit amount. The key thing to check is your base period - it's usually the first 4 of the last 5 completed calendar quarters before you filed. So if you filed late in 2024, make sure they're using the right quarters and all your W-2 wages are included. I found out one of my part-time jobs wasn't reporting correctly to NYS Department of Labor. You can request a wage transcript from the department to verify what they have on file versus what you actually earned. Don't give up - you're entitled to the correct amount based on your actual wages.

I had a very similar experience with NYS Department of Labor in 2024! My weekly benefit was also lower than expected and it turned out to be a base period issue. The $420 you're getting does seem low for your income level. One thing that helped me was filing an online inquiry through the NYS DOL website - sometimes it's faster than calling. Also make sure to check if you had any employers who might have been classified as independent contractor work that should have been W-2 wages. The department sometimes misses those or they get reported late. If you do find missing wages, you can request a redetermination and they'll recalculate your benefit amount retroactively. It's definitely worth pursuing since you could be missing out on significant money over the life of your claim.

I'm new to this community but dealing with a very similar situation right now! I'm about 4 weeks into unemployment and just received a job offer that's $12/hour less than my previous position, requires a completely different skill set, and would involve a 45-minute commute each way. Reading through all these responses has been incredibly helpful - especially learning about the specific factors NYS Department of Labor considers for "suitable work." I had no idea they took into account things like length of unemployment and prospects in your usual field. It sounds like documenting everything is key, so I'm going to start keeping detailed records of the offer, my previous salary, commute costs, and why it's not suitable. Has anyone here ever had NYS Department of Labor actually follow up with questions after reporting a refused job offer, or do they typically just accept your explanation if it's reasonable?

I'm also relatively new here but have been following this thread closely since I'm in a somewhat similar situation. What strikes me about all these responses is how consistent the advice is - document everything, know your rights regarding "suitable work," and don't be afraid to refuse offers that clearly don't meet the criteria. I'm currently 3 weeks into unemployment and have been worried about this exact scenario. It's really reassuring to see that NYS Department of Labor does have reasonable protections in place and that people have successfully refused unsuitable offers without losing their benefits. For anyone else reading this thread, it seems like the key takeaways are: 1) Substantial pay cuts, especially early in unemployment, are grounds for refusal 2) Jobs requiring skills you don't have can be refused 3) Excessive commutes are a valid concern 4) Document everything thoroughly 5) Continue your active job search in your field. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences - this has been incredibly educational!