UPDATE: Finally got through to someone today! Turns out I had a small overpayment from the beginning of my claim because my employer reported different dates than I did for my last week of work. The rep said they sent a notice on the 15th but it's not in my online inbox and I never got anything in the mail. She said the offset will continue for about 7 more weeks until the overpayment is recouped. So frustrating they don't notify you properly before taking money!

@profile6 Yes, they said it'll be the same $74 each week until it's paid off. The rep also mentioned I could've set up a repayment plan if I had known about it beforehand, which might have been easier on my budget. Too late now I guess. Just wish they'd make sure people actually RECEIVE notifications before they start deducting money!

I'm in week 4 of my benefits and stumbling across this thread feels like finding a lifeline I didn't even know I needed. Like absolutely everyone else here, I was completely clueless about the qualifying wages requirement and genuinely believed I could just reapply after hitting the 26-week mark. Reading through all these experiences has been both shocking and incredibly grateful - I have 22 weeks to actually prepare instead of getting blindsided. The resource compilation here is unreal - SNAP, HEAP, workforce development programs, the 599 Training Program, Claimyr service, library job services, community college placement programs. I'm creating a master plan to tackle all of these systematically over the next few months instead of waiting until I'm desperate. I'm in restaurant management and wondering if there are any hospitality or business management training programs that might qualify for the 599 program. The food service industry has been absolutely decimated and maybe this could be my chance to transition into something more stable while still having some support. What really hits me is how this community has had to create its own support network because the official systems provide basically zero useful information. It's infuriating that we're all having to become amateur experts on navigating these programs just to survive, but I'm incredibly grateful for everyone who's shared their real experiences here. For anyone else who's early in their benefit period - this thread is pure gold. Use whatever time you have left to start preparing now. The people here have created something way more valuable than any government resource I've encountered.

I'm in week 3 of my benefits and finding this thread has been absolutely life-changing - I can't believe I almost went through this entire process completely blind to what actually happens at week 26. Like everyone else here, I had zero understanding of the qualifying wages requirement and was totally unprepared for the reality that you can't just reapply after exhausting benefits. Having 23 weeks left now feels like such a gift after reading how many people discovered this information with just days or weeks remaining. I'm going to use every single week to prepare systematically - starting SNAP/HEAP applications early, connecting with workforce development programs, researching the 599 Training Program, and trying that Claimyr service to actually speak to someone at NYSDOL. I'm in retail management and hoping there might be approved training programs for supply chain management or e-commerce that could help me transition to something more stable. The retail industry has been rough and this could be an opportunity to pivot while maintaining support. What's really striking me is how this community has essentially had to build its own information network because the official systems provide virtually nothing useful. It's both frustrating and amazing - frustrating that we have to crowdsource basic information about our own benefits, but amazing how generous everyone has been with sharing real experiences and practical resources. For anyone else who's very early in their benefit period and just discovering this reality - start preparing immediately. This thread contains more actionable information than anything I've found through official channels. We're all in this together, and having time to plan makes all the difference.

did u try 2 stay at the job longer? sometimes if u quit too early they say its ur fault

I went through something similar last year! The good news is that with your steady employment through November 2024, you should definitely qualify for a new claim with a decent benefit amount. A few tips from my experience: 1) File online as soon as possible - don't wait, 2) Have all your employment documentation ready including your separation notice from the 3-week job, 3) Be prepared for the ID.me verification again (it's annoying but faster the second time), and 4) When you get to the employment history section, list ALL your jobs including that 3-week position. The system will automatically calculate your base period wages from your longer employment history. With a $62k salary through November, you're likely looking at a much better benefit rate than you'd expect from just 3 weeks of work. Hang in there - you've got this!

One more tip - screenshot or save a copy of your completed weekly claim before you submit it. If there's ever a technical glitch or question about what you reported, having that record can save you a huge headache with NYS Department of Labor. I learned this after the site crashed right as I was submitting and I couldn't remember exactly what I had entered for my work search activities.

As someone who just went through the initial claims process last month, I want to emphasize something that really helped me - when you're filling out your weekly claim, take your time and read each question carefully. Don't rush through it even if you're anxious about missing the deadline. For the work search activities, I keep a simple spreadsheet with columns for date, company name, position applied for, and method (online application, networking, etc.). This makes it super easy to reference when filling out the weekly claim. Also, for that $75 freelance work - definitely report it as gross earnings for the week you performed the work. The system will automatically calculate the reduction to your benefits, but being upfront about it protects you from any potential overpayment issues down the road. You've got this!

This system has always frustrated me because it creates this adversarial relationship between workers and employers when it comes to unemployment claims. Employers have a financial incentive to deny legitimate claims, which is why so many people have to go through the whole appeals process with NYS Department of Labor even when they clearly qualify. It would make more sense if employees contributed something too so employers wouldn't have such a strong motivation to fight every claim.

Thanks everyone for explaining this! I had the same misconception as the original poster. It's actually pretty interesting how the system works - employers essentially "pre-pay" for potential unemployment claims through their ongoing tax contributions. I'm curious though, does anyone know what the current wage base is in NY? Like up to what salary amount do employers pay the SUTA tax on?