yeah they definitely take it out automatically. happened to my brother when he was on unemployment last year. just be glad you're still getting something after support is taken out!

Just wanted to add that you can also check with your local Child Support Enforcement office to confirm the exact timing and amount of deductions. Sometimes there can be delays or discrepancies, and they can give you a clearer timeline than DOL. Also, if your financial situation has changed significantly due to unemployment, you might be able to request a modification of your support order - though that's a separate legal process from the unemployment benefits. Keep all your payment records organized in case you need them later.

As someone who just went through this nightmare process last month, I can confirm that this thread is absolutely the most comprehensive guide available anywhere! I tried literally everything mentioned here and what finally worked for me was the incognito browser method combined with trying around 11:30pm on a weeknight. The key insight that saved me was realizing that even though I could see the "Update Payment Method" option during the day, the actual form submission would fail until I tried during true off-peak hours. Also want to emphasize what @Carmen Ortiz mentioned about the 7-10 day verification period - my first payment came as a paper check exactly 8 days after I updated my info, which would have freaked me out if I hadn't read about it here first. One additional tip: if you're using a credit union like I am, make sure you're using the correct routing number for direct deposits (not wire transfers) - they're sometimes different and the system will reject wire routing numbers. This community has basically created the definitive troubleshooting manual that NYSDOL should have provided from day one. Huge thanks to everyone who shared their experiences!

I'm amazed by how this thread has evolved into the most comprehensive NYSDOL direct deposit troubleshooting guide I've ever seen! As someone who's been helping family members navigate these government systems, I can't believe how much practical wisdom has been shared here. The combination of timing strategies (off-peak hours), technical workarounds (incognito mode), system quirks (pending certifications blocking updates), and banking details (credit union routing differences) creates a complete troubleshooting toolkit. What really stands out is how @Mateo Perez's original frustration sparked this incredible knowledge-sharing chain where everyone contributed their hard-won solutions. From @Aisha Rahman's step-by-step guidance to @CosmicCrusader's timing discoveries to @Fatima Al-Rashid's browser tricks - this community has essentially reverse-engineered a broken system and made it workable for everyone. I'm bookmarking this entire conversation because it's more useful than anything in NYSDOL's official documentation. This is exactly why community forums matter - real people solving real problems when official channels fail us!

I'm a current nursing student who just finished my first year, and I want to echo what others have said about exploring all the healthcare-specific financial options available to nursing students. The regular unemployment route is definitely challenging, but there are so many nursing-specific resources that people don't know about! One thing I haven't seen mentioned yet is **clinical site scholarships** - many of the hospitals and healthcare facilities where you'll do your clinical rotations offer small scholarships ($500-2000) specifically for students rotating through their units. Ask your clinical coordinator about these opportunities as you progress through your rotations. Also, check with your local **American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN)** chapter and other nursing specialty organizations - they often have emergency grants for students facing financial hardship. I received a $1,500 emergency grant from my local AACN chapter last year that I never would have known about without asking. The **National Student Nurses' Association (NSNA)** also has scholarship opportunities throughout the year, not just the typical fall deadlines. Their foundation offers several "second chance" scholarships for students who missed earlier deadlines or are facing unexpected financial challenges. You made the absolute right choice switching to nursing - the job market is incredible right now and the financial stability after graduation will be worth this temporary struggle. Don't give up on exploring all these options! The nursing community is incredibly supportive of students, especially those who are career changers bringing valuable life experience to the profession.

I'm a nursing program advisor and wanted to add one more resource that's often overlooked - **state workforce development grants**. Since you mentioned you worked in restaurants for 3+ years, you might qualify for New York's **Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA)** funding, which can provide financial support specifically for people transitioning from lower-wage industries into high-demand healthcare careers like nursing. Unlike unemployment benefits, WIOA funding is designed exactly for situations like yours - career changers entering training programs for in-demand occupations. You'd need to apply through your local **One-Stop Career Center** (you can find yours on the NY Department of Labor website), but they can sometimes provide tuition assistance, living stipends during training, and even help with books/supplies. The application process can take a few weeks, but I've seen students receive substantial support through this program. Since nursing is considered a high-priority occupation in NY due to the shortage, your application would likely be viewed favorably. Also, many nursing programs have **peer mentorship programs** where current students are paired with recent graduates who can share job leads and insider tips about financial resources. Ask your student services office if they have something like this - the networking alone can be incredibly valuable for finding flexible healthcare work that accommodates your school schedule. You absolutely made the right choice entering nursing - the long-term career prospects and financial stability will far outweigh this temporary challenge!

I'm dealing with a very similar situation right now! I've been working as a "freelance" graphic designer for a company for almost a year, but they provided all my software, required me to use their templates and brand guidelines, set my daily schedule, and even had me attend their weekly team meetings. When I saw your post, it made me realize I should probably look into this misclassification thing too. The advice about documenting everything is spot on - I just went through my emails and found tons of messages where they dictated exactly how and when I should complete projects. It's so frustrating that companies do this to avoid paying into unemployment insurance and then leave us hanging when they end our contracts. Definitely start that determination process ASAP, and don't let them get away with treating you like an employee while calling you a contractor!

I just wanted to add that you should also keep records of any communications where they gave you feedback on HOW to do your work, not just what deliverables they expected. Things like "use this approach for client outreach" or "follow our company process for project management" can really strengthen your case since true independent contractors typically have freedom to choose their own methods. Also, if they ever referred to you as part of their "team" in emails or meetings, that's another red flag for misclassification. I went through something similar with a consulting contract and those types of details really helped my case with the department. The whole process is stressful but you're absolutely right to pursue it - companies shouldn't be able to have it both ways!

I'm dealing with a very similar situation and this thread has been a lifesaver! Just wanted to share what I learned from finally getting through to NYS Department of Labor yesterday after trying the Monday 8 AM tip. The agent confirmed everything people are saying here about partial benefits - you can absolutely collect with ongoing contract work as long as your weekly earnings are below your benefit amount. She walked me through the calculation: you can earn up to $50 without any reduction to benefits, then they deduct 25% of anything above that from your weekly payment. So if your benefit is $400/week and you earn $200 from contracts, you'd get $400 - ($200-$50 x 0.25) = $362.50. The agent also stressed that you MUST report income for the week you performed the work, not when you get paid - this seems to be the #1 thing that trips people up. She said to keep detailed records of work dates and be completely honest on weekly certifications. Having prior W-2 employment definitely helps establish your claim. I ended up qualifying and just received my first partial payment. Don't let small contract income stop you from applying - the system is literally designed for situations like ours where we're underemployed but still working. Hope this helps!

I'm in a very similar situation and this thread has been incredibly informative! I lost my main web development client three weeks ago and have been surviving on a small maintenance contract that only pays about $180/week. I was completely lost about whether I could even apply for unemployment with ongoing contract income, but reading everyone's experiences here has been eye-opening. The detailed breakdown of the partial benefits formula from @Amara Eze is exactly what I needed - knowing that you can earn up to $50 without any benefit reduction and then only lose 25% of earnings above that threshold makes this so much more viable than I thought. I've been tracking my work carefully since reading about the "when work is performed vs when paid" rule that keeps coming up. I also have W-2 employment history from before going freelance, so hopefully that will help establish my claim. Planning to try the Monday 8 AM call strategy next week and apply online at labor.ny.gov. This community has provided more useful information than hours of trying to decode the official NYS Department of Labor documentation. Thanks to everyone for sharing their real-world experiences - it's given me the confidence to actually move forward with applying instead of just struggling in silence!