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Just make sure you report everything accurately because they will find out about your other job through wage records anyway. Better to be upfront than deal with an overpayment notice later.
I went through this exact same situation about 6 months ago when I lost my full-time office job but kept my part-time evening gig at a bookstore. The application process was actually pretty straightforward - you definitely need to report both jobs during the initial filing, including wages from both for the base period they ask about. They'll calculate your weekly benefit rate based on your total earnings history, then subtract your part-time wages each week when you certify. In my case, I was earning about $150/week from the bookstore and still qualified for a decent partial benefit. The main thing is to be completely honest about all income sources from day one. Good luck!
This is really reassuring to hear from someone who's been through the exact same situation! I'm actually in a very similar spot - lost my main job but still have weekend work. Your point about being honest from day one is so important. I've been worried about how to report everything correctly, but it sounds like as long as you're upfront about both jobs and all your earnings, the system is designed to handle partial unemployment situations. Did you find the weekly certification process complicated when you had to report your bookstore earnings each week?
Same situation here! Started my claim two weeks ago and was confused about the timing. Got my first payment yesterday and it was exactly what the NYS Department of Labor calculator said I'd get.
The weekly schedule is pretty straightforward once you get used to it. I've been on unemployment for about 6 weeks now and here's what I've learned: You certify every Sunday (I usually do it Sunday morning to get it out of the way), and then the payment shows up in my account every Wednesday around 9 AM. The amount stays consistent as long as you don't have any earnings to report. One tip - set up direct deposit if you haven't already because it's much faster than waiting for a debit card to arrive in the mail. Also keep track of your work search activities because you'll need to report those when you certify each week.
Thanks for the detailed breakdown @Freya Johansen! That's super helpful. I'm still waiting on my direct deposit setup to go through - do you know how long that usually takes? And for the work search activities, do you just keep a simple list or is there a specific format NYS Department of Labor wants?
I'm so sorry you're going through this - the stress of having benefits suspended during an investigation is absolutely brutal. I went through a similar situation about 18 months ago and it took roughly 6 weeks to resolve. What I learned is that being proactive really helps, even though the waiting is still agonizing. I'd recommend gathering ALL your documentation now - job search logs, bank statements, termination paperwork, any correspondence with employers - and send it certified mail even if they haven't specifically requested it yet. Also, if you haven't already, try to get through to someone on the phone to at least confirm what triggered the investigation. Like others mentioned, calling right at 8 AM seems to be the best time to actually reach a human. The system is frustrating but hang in there - legitimate claims do get cleared up, it just takes way longer than it should. Keep detailed records of every interaction and don't let them make you feel guilty for following up regularly. You deserve to know what's happening with your case.
Salim, thank you so much for the detailed advice and encouragement - it really helps to hear from someone who made it through this process. 6 weeks feels manageable compared to some of the longer timelines people have shared. I'm definitely going to take your advice about sending documentation proactively via certified mail. Better to have everything on file rather than waiting for them to request it piece by piece. The part about not feeling guilty for following up regularly really resonates with me - I keep second-guessing myself about whether I'm being too pushy by calling, but you're right that I deserve to know what's happening. I'll start the 8 AM calling schedule this week and put together my documentation packet this weekend. Thanks for reminding me that legitimate claims do get resolved eventually, even when the system feels completely broken.
I'm dealing with a fraud investigation right now too - just hit the 5 week mark yesterday. The uncertainty is absolutely crushing, especially when you know you did everything by the book. What's helped me mentally is setting up a routine around it rather than letting the anxiety consume me randomly throughout the day. I call every Tuesday and Friday at 8 AM sharp (seems to be the magic hour based on what everyone's saying), keep a spreadsheet tracking every interaction, and I've already sent them a comprehensive evidence packet via certified mail. The financial stress is real - I've had to ask family for help with rent which is humiliating when this whole thing shouldn't even be happening. But reading through all these experiences gives me hope that most legitimate cases do get resolved, even if it takes way longer than any reasonable person would expect. Stay strong and keep documenting everything - we'll get through this bureaucratic nightmare eventually.
Good luck with your appeal! The system is designed to discourage people but don't give up. Document everything and stay organized with your paperwork.
I went through a similar situation with NYS Department of Labor about 8 months ago. My advice: request all your personnel records from HR immediately if you haven't already. Also, if your company had any WARN notices or announcements about layoffs, those are gold for your case. The administrative law judge will want to see clear evidence that this was an economic layoff, not a performance issue. Don't wait - start gathering everything now since you're working against that 30-day deadline.
This is really helpful advice! I hadn't thought about WARN notices - my company did send out some communications about restructuring before the layoffs happened. I should definitely request those from HR along with my personnel file. Did you represent yourself at the hearing or did you end up getting legal help? And how long did the whole appeal process take from start to finish?
Eduardo Silva
just started a new job last month and still getting partial benefits. make sure you keep track of your hours and wages because they might audit you later. also your job search requirements change once you start working - you don't have to do as many job contacts per week
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Mei Lin
Just went through this exact situation a few months ago! When you file your weekly certification, there's a specific question about whether you worked during that week. You'll need to report the exact number of hours worked and your gross earnings (before taxes). The system automatically calculates if you're eligible for partial benefits. At 20 hours per week, you'll likely still qualify for some benefits as long as your weekly earnings don't exceed your weekly benefit amount plus $50. Don't stress too much - the online system walks you through it step by step, and as long as you're honest about your hours and wages, you'll be fine. Good luck with the new job!
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Rachel Clark
•This is really helpful! I'm in a similar situation and was wondering - do you know if they make you pay back any benefits if you accidentally report something wrong the first time? I'm nervous about making a mistake on my first certification after starting work.
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