dont overthink it just file and be honest about everything. the worst that happens is they tell u to wait a week or two

I went through this same situation a few months ago. The important thing to remember is that vacation pay is allocated to specific time periods - usually the weeks immediately following your last day of work. So if you got laid off on a Friday and have 2 weeks of vacation pay coming, that pay typically covers the next two weeks. During those weeks, you might not be eligible for unemployment benefits (depending on the amount), but after that period ends, your regular benefits should kick in. Definitely file your initial claim right away though - there's usually a waiting period anyway, and you don't want to delay the process. Just be upfront about the vacation pay situation when you do your weekly certifications.

THE WHOLE SYSTEM IS DESIGNED TO KEEP PEOPLE DOWN! How are you supposed to get back on your feet if they take more than half your unemployment? And don't even get me started on how impossible it is to reach anyone at NYS Department of Labor to ask questions about this stuff.

I went through this same situation a couple years ago. The garnishment typically starts automatically once the child support office gets notified by NYS DOL that you're receiving benefits - you don't need to tell them yourself. In my case, they took about 58% of my weekly benefit amount since I had arrears. One thing that helped me was calling the child support enforcement office directly to set up a payment plan that worked better with my reduced income. They were actually more reasonable than I expected and we worked out a temporary modification while I was unemployed. Also keep all your documentation showing the garnishment amounts in case you need to dispute anything later.

I was stuck in this same Okta hell for almost 2 weeks! What finally saved me was a combination of things: cleared all cookies/cache, used Edge browser (I know, weird but it worked when Chrome and Firefox failed), made sure I was on strong wifi, and most importantly - I had to update my phone number format in my profile to match exactly how Okta expected it (with dashes like 555-123-4567 instead of just numbers). Also try logging in super early like 6:30am before the system gets overloaded. The verification texts come through faster in the morning too. If all else fails, that claimyr service people mentioned is legit - my cousin used it last month and got through to an agent same day. Hang in there, you'll get through this! 💪

Just went through this exact same nightmare last month! The Okta verification issue is so common right now. Here's what finally worked after days of trying: 1) Use Safari if you have a Mac (worked better than Chrome/Firefox for me) 2) Turn off any ad blockers or privacy extensions 3) Make sure your cookies are enabled for the NY DOL site 4) Try using your phone's hotspot instead of regular wifi - sometimes the IP routing makes a difference. The most important thing though is to make sure your phone number in your account profile is formatted EXACTLY like this: (555) 123-4567 with parentheses and dash. The system is super picky about that. If you're still stuck after all the browser tricks, honestly the claimyr service others mentioned is worth the $20 if you're desperate - I was skeptical too but it actually works. Don't give up, you'll get through eventually! 🤞

honestly the amount varies SO much depending on what you were making before. my friend who worked retail got like $200 a week but my other friend who worked at a bank got almost $500. it's all about your previous earnings

I'm in a similar situation - just got laid off from my accounting job making $48k. From what I've researched, NY unemployment benefits are calculated at roughly 50% of your average weekly wage from your highest earning quarter during the "base period" (usually the first 4 of the last 5 completed quarters before you file). With your $52k salary, you should qualify for around $400-450 per week, which is actually more manageable than I initially thought. The maximum weekly benefit in NY for 2025 is $504. One tip I learned - file your claim immediately even if you're not sure about all the details, because any delays can cost you money and there's a one-week waiting period before payments start.

I'm in exactly the same situation as you! Just started filing unemployment claims a couple weeks ago and was totally confused about how Christmas week would work. Reading through all these responses has been such a huge relief - sounds like I was way overthinking it. The consistent message seems to be just treat it like any other week: file by Sunday, do job search activities (even if places are closed), and document everything as usual. No special forms or different procedures needed. It's really helpful to hear from so many people who've actually been through holiday weeks on unemployment in NY. Thanks for asking this question - I definitely wouldn't have thought to ask but was stressed about the exact same thing!

I've been collecting unemployment benefits in NY for about 7 months now and can definitely confirm what everyone else is saying - holidays are treated exactly the same as any other week! No extra pay, no special procedures, just file your weekly claim by Sunday like always. The one thing I'd add is that I actually found holiday weeks to be less stressful for job searching because there's less pressure when you know most companies aren't actively reviewing applications. I used Christmas week last year to update my resume, clean up my LinkedIn profile, and research companies I wanted to target in the new year. All of that counts toward your work search requirements and honestly felt more productive than getting frustrated by lack of responses to applications. Don't overthink it - the system is designed to handle holidays automatically, and the NYS DOL understands that hiring slows down during major holidays. Just keep doing what you've been doing and you'll be fine!