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Definitely report it on your next weekly claim - there's usually a specific question about starting work where you'll enter your start date. Once you report returning to work, that should be your final claim. Don't stress too much about it, the system is designed to handle this situation and as long as you're honest about your work start date you'll be fine. Good luck with the new job!
This is really helpful, thank you! I was getting worried about doing something wrong but it sounds like the process is pretty straightforward. Just to confirm - I file my weekly claim this week, report Monday as my start date, and then I'm done with unemployment claims after that?
@Carter Holmes Exactly right! You file your weekly claim for this week, report Monday as your return to work date, and that s'your final claim. After that you stop filing. The system will automatically stop your benefits once you report the work start date. Just make sure you re'accurate with the date and you ll'be all set. The process really is more straightforward than it seems at first!
Just went through this same situation last month! You absolutely need to report it when you file your weekly claim. There should be a question asking if you've returned to work - answer yes and put in your Monday start date. That will be your final claim. Don't worry too much about the timing since you got the offer after filing yesterday's claim - just be accurate on your next (and final) certification. The key thing is being honest about when you actually start working. Congrats on the new job!
Thanks for sharing your experience! It's really reassuring to hear from someone who just went through the same thing. I was definitely overthinking it - sounds like as long as I'm honest about the start date on my next weekly claim, everything should work out fine. Really appreciate everyone's help here, this community is so supportive!
The whole unemployment tax system is confusing honestly. Between state and federal rates and all these different wage bases, no wonder HR departments can't explain it properly. At least now I know why the deduction stops partway through the year.
This is really helpful information! I've been wondering about the same thing with my paystub. One thing I'd add is that you can usually find your year-to-date unemployment tax contributions on your paystub too, which helps you track how close you are to that $13,000 wage base limit. Once you hit it, you'll see the deduction disappear completely for the rest of the year. It's actually kind of nice to get that little "raise" when you stop paying into it!
Don't beat yourself up about waiting 6 weeks - I made the same mistake when I lost my retail job last fall. I was so focused on job hunting that I put off filing thinking I'd find something quickly. The key thing is you can still file now and start getting benefits going forward. Just gather up your W-2s, pay stubs, and employment dates from the last 18 months before you start the online application. The my.ny.gov site walks you through it step by step once you create an account. You'll need to certify for benefits every week and show you're actively looking for work, but at least you'll have some income coming in while you continue your job search. Better late than never!
This is really helpful advice! I'm in a similar situation - lost my job 3 weeks ago and keep putting off filing because the whole process seems overwhelming. Good to know it's not too late and that the my.ny.gov site actually guides you through it. Did you run into any issues during the application process that I should watch out for?
@Dmitri Volkov The main thing that tripped me up was having to enter exact employment dates and wages for ALL my jobs in the past 18 months, not just my most recent one. I had to dig through old pay stubs and tax documents to get the precise start/end dates and total earnings. Also, make sure you have your Social Security card handy - the system is pretty strict about matching your info exactly. One tip: if you worked for a big company, sometimes their HR department can give you an employment verification letter with all the dates and wages if you can t'find your records. The whole application took me about 45 minutes because I had to keep stopping to look up information. Just be patient and don t'rush through it or you might make mistakes that delay your claim.
Don't worry Santiago, you definitely haven't missed any hard deadline! I was in a similar situation last year - got laid off from my construction job and waited almost 8 weeks because I kept thinking I'd find something soon. The good news is you can still file now, you'll just miss out on those 6 weeks of potential benefits. New York doesn't have a strict cutoff date for filing, but like others said, benefits only start from when you actually submit your claim. I'd recommend filing this week if possible - even if you find a job next month, at least you'll have some financial cushion while you're still searching. The application process isn't as bad as it seems once you get started. Just make sure you have your employer's information ready, including their unemployment insurance account number if you can find it on old pay stubs.
Thanks Emma! That's reassuring to hear from someone who went through the same thing. I actually do have some old pay stubs saved, so I'll look for that unemployment insurance account number you mentioned. Did you have any trouble with the weekly certification process once your claim got approved? I keep hearing mixed things about how strict they are about the job search requirements.
I went through this exact situation on my H1B about 6 months ago. Yes, you're absolutely eligible! The process was pretty straightforward - I just needed to upload my I-797 approval notice and EAD card like you mentioned. One thing to note is that you'll need to be actively searching for work and available to accept suitable employment, which shouldn't be an issue since you're authorized to work. Also, make sure to file your claim as soon as possible since there's usually a one-week waiting period before benefits start. The weekly benefit amount is based on your previous earnings, so with 2 years of tech salary you should get a decent amount. Don't let the stress get to you - you've been paying into the system and you deserve these benefits!
Thank you so much for sharing your experience! It's really reassuring to hear from someone who went through the same situation recently. I'm definitely going to file as soon as possible - didn't know about the one-week waiting period. Did you have any issues with the job search requirements while on H1B? I'm wondering if there are any restrictions on what types of jobs I can apply to or if I need to stick to positions that match my visa category.
@Fatima Al-Qasimi Great question about job search requirements! From my understanding, as an H1B holder you should be able to apply for any position that matches your skill level and experience, not just jobs that specifically match your visa category. The unemployment system looks at whether you re'genuinely seeking work that you re'qualified for. However, I d'recommend double-checking this with the DOL when you file your claim, since immigration and unemployment rules can interact in complex ways. Also, keep detailed records of your job search activities since you ll'need to report them weekly. Good luck with your claim!
I'm a former immigration paralegal and wanted to add some important details about H1B holders and unemployment benefits. While you are eligible as others have confirmed, there are a few critical things to keep in mind: 1) H1B holders typically have a 60-day grace period to find new employment or change status after job loss, so file your UI claim immediately to maximize your benefit period. 2) Make sure your employer properly notified USCIS of your termination - this affects your legal status timeline. 3) You can receive benefits while searching for work, but if you find a job with a different employer, they'll need to file a new H1B petition (unless it's a cap-exempt position). 4) Keep all your immigration documents updated and readily available since NYS DOL may request them for periodic eligibility reviews. The good news is that receiving unemployment benefits won't negatively impact future immigration applications. Best of luck with your claim!
This is incredibly helpful information, thank you! I had no idea about the 60-day grace period detail - that's definitely something I need to keep track of. Quick question: do you know if the grace period starts from the actual last day of work or from when the employer officially notifies USCIS? My last day was Friday but I'm not sure when HR will submit the termination notification. Also, when you mention "cap-exempt positions," are you referring to positions at universities, research institutions, and nonprofits? I want to make sure I understand all my options while collecting benefits.
Zara Ahmed
I'm going through the same thing right now - filed 2 weeks ago and still no clear status update. One thing that helped me was calling the automated phone system at 888-209-8124 and pressing option 1 then 2 to get claim status info without waiting for an agent. It at least confirmed my claim was received and gave me the effective date. Also check if you have any pending "weekly questions" in your online account - sometimes there are additional eligibility questions you need to answer before processing can continue.
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Gianna Scott
•Thanks for sharing that phone number! I just tried calling 888-209-8124 and the automated system was actually helpful - it confirmed my claim was received and gave me an effective date of last Monday. Still says "under review" but at least now I know it's in the system. I didn't see any weekly questions in my account but I'll keep checking. It's reassuring to know I'm not the only one dealing with this waiting game.
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Toot-n-Mighty
I'm in a similar situation - filed my claim 8 days ago and the waiting is killing me! The automated phone line at 888-209-8124 that Zara mentioned was really helpful. When I called, it told me my claim was received and gave me my effective date, but still shows "pending review." One thing I noticed is that in the "Claim Summary" section of my.ny.gov (under Unemployment Services), there's a small status indicator that says either "Active," "Pending," or "Under Review" - you might need to scroll down to see it. Also, I've been keeping a log of all my weekly certifications just in case there are any issues later. Hang in there - from what everyone is saying, this waiting period seems pretty normal even though it's incredibly stressful when you need the money!
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