I'm dealing with this exact situation right now too! Just wanted to add that when I called the NYS Department of Labor claims center yesterday, they told me it's better to report your return to work even a few days early rather than risk being late. The representative said they'd rather process an early notification than deal with overpayment issues later. She also mentioned that if you're having trouble getting through on the phone, the my.ny.gov portal is usually the fastest way to report - it's available 24/7 and you get an immediate confirmation. Make sure to save a screenshot of that confirmation for your records! The whole process took me less than 5 minutes online. Good luck with your new job Andre, and thanks to everyone else for sharing their experiences - this thread has been super helpful for those of us navigating this process!

This thread is so helpful! I'm bookmarking this for future reference. Just to add one more tip - when you report your return to work on my.ny.gov, make sure you have your new employer's information handy (company name, address, etc.) because the system will ask for those details. Also, if you're starting a part-time position instead of full-time, the rules are different - you might still be eligible for partial benefits depending on your hours and wages. But for full-time work like Andre's situation, definitely stop filing claims completely once you start. The peace of mind from reporting it properly is worth way more than any hassle of doing the paperwork!

I went through something similar when I had shoulder surgery and couldn't do my manufacturing job. The NYS Department of Labor approved my claim because I could still do sedentary work - I just had to prove I was actively looking for office positions or remote work within my restrictions. Make sure to get a letter from your doctor clearly stating what types of work you CAN do, not just what you can't. Also apply as soon as possible since there's usually a waiting week before benefits start. The weekly certification process will ask about your work search efforts, so keep a log of every job you apply to that matches your medical limitations.

I'm dealing with a similar situation right now - injured my knee in a slip and fall at work and can't do my retail job that requires standing all day. From what I've learned, the most important thing is being upfront about your limitations when you file. NYS Department of Labor wants to see that you're "able and available" for some type of work, even if it's not your usual job. I've been applying to customer service positions I can do from home and data entry jobs that don't require physical activity. The weekly certifications ask specifically about your job search, so I keep a spreadsheet of every application I submit. One tip - when you register on the job portal, make sure to set up job alerts for remote or office work so you can show consistent search activity. Good luck with your recovery!

I just went through this exact situation two weeks ago! Got my $0.00 deposit from NYSDOL on a Tuesday morning and was absolutely convinced something was wrong with my claim. I spent the entire day refreshing my bank account and checking my online portal obsessively. But then my actual payment of $541 showed up Thursday afternoon - exactly what everyone here has been describing with that 1-3 day window. It's wild how this thread captures literally everyone's experience so perfectly. The test deposit really is just their way of verifying your banking info before they release the real funds. For anyone currently in that anxious waiting period after seeing the $0 deposit, try to stay calm (I know, easier said than done!) - based on all these consistent experiences, your payment should definitely come through within the next few days. The system works, it's just terrible at communicating what's actually happening!

I'm literally going through this right now! Just got my $0.00 deposit from NYSDOL about an hour ago and immediately started panicking that my claim was rejected or something went horribly wrong. Finding this thread is like finding gold - seeing so many people share the exact same experience with such consistent timelines is incredibly reassuring! I've been unemployed for about 2 months now and this will be my first unemployment payment, so the anxiety has been through the roof. It's so frustrating that NYSDOL doesn't explain anywhere what these $0 deposits actually mean - you're just left to wonder if it's good news or bad news. Based on everyone's experiences here, it sounds like this is completely normal and I should expect my actual payment sometime between Thursday and Monday. The waiting is going to be brutal but at least now I know I'm not alone in this! Thank you to everyone who shared their timelines - it makes such a huge difference for newcomers like me trying to navigate this confusing system. I'll definitely update when my payment comes through to add another success story to help future people!

The whole system is so confusing! I'm terrified of making a mistake and having to pay back benefits. Why can't they just give clear guidelines on their website?

For freelance work specifically, @Mei Wong, you'll want to track your hours carefully since freelance doesn't fit neatly into the "4 days" rule. What matters most is your total weekly earnings compared to your benefit amount. I've been doing freelance graphic design while on unemployment and I report every project - even if it's just 2 hours on a Tuesday. The NYS DOL counts any day you do ANY work as a "work day" regardless of hours, so if you freelance across 5 different days in a week (even just 1 hour each day), that could affect your benefits more than doing 20 hours all in one day. Keep detailed records with dates, hours, and earnings for each project.

I'm dealing with a similar situation right now where my employer wants to transfer me 78 miles away. Reading through all these responses has been so helpful and gives me hope that I might actually qualify for unemployment if I refuse. I had no idea that NYS DOL considers commute distance and financial hardship when evaluating claims. The advice about documenting everything and calculating the true cost per mile is really smart - when I do the math, the daily commute would cost me over $100 just in vehicle expenses, not to mention the 3+ hours of driving time. It's reassuring to see so many people who have successfully navigated this situation. Does anyone know if there are any specific NYS DOL resources or guidelines that spell out what they consider "unreasonable" distance for a transfer? I want to make sure I have all the official documentation to support my case.

I'm in a somewhat similar situation but from a different angle - my employer is trying to force me to transfer 65 miles away to avoid laying me off. After reading through everyone's experiences here, I'm realizing I might actually be better off refusing the transfer and filing for unemployment rather than accepting what would essentially be a financial punishment. The daily round trip would be 130 miles, which at $0.65 per mile comes out to $84.50 per day just for vehicle costs, plus nearly 3 hours of my life gone to commuting. That's over $1,600 per month just to get to work! It's really eye-opening to see how many people have successfully gotten unemployment benefits after refusing unreasonable transfers. I thought employers could just force you to take any job they offered, but it sounds like there are actually protections for workers when the new conditions create genuine hardship. Thank you all for sharing your stories - it's giving me the confidence to stand up for myself instead of just accepting a bad situation.