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I went through something similar last year and want to share what worked for me. I called NYSDOL at 8:30 AM on a Tuesday (seems like early mornings on weekdays work best) and was honest about forgetting to include a part-time job from my base period. The agent was actually really understanding and walked me through the monetary redetermination process right over the phone. They had me email copies of my W-2 and final pay stub to a specific address they gave me, along with a brief letter explaining the oversight. The whole thing was resolved in about 2-3 weeks. In my case, adding the job actually increased my weekly benefit amount slightly, so they sent me a small back payment for the difference. The key things that helped: 1) I called them instead of waiting for them to find it, 2) I had all my documentation ready, and 3) I was completely upfront that it was an honest mistake. Don't stress too much about it - they really do see this kind of thing regularly!
This is incredibly helpful! Thank you for sharing your experience step by step. I'm going to try calling first thing Tuesday morning and have all my paperwork ready like you suggested. It's such a relief to hear that they actually increased your benefits - I was worried it would only cause problems. Did they give you a specific timeline when you first called, or did you just have to wait and see?
I actually work for a benefits consulting firm and see these situations frequently. The good news is that NYSDOL is generally reasonable about genuine oversights, especially when you self-report. A few practical tips: 1) When you call, ask specifically for a "monetary redetermination due to unreported base period wages" - using this exact language will get you to the right department faster. 2) Have your Social Security number, original claim confirmation number, and the employer's name/EIN ready before calling. 3) They'll likely ask you to estimate your total earnings from that job, so calculate that beforehand. The process typically takes 2-4 weeks once they receive your documentation, and you'll get a written determination in the mail explaining any changes to your benefit amount. Don't worry about fraud allegations - those are reserved for cases involving intentional deception or patterns of non-disclosure.
This is exactly the kind of professional insight I was hoping to find! Thank you for the specific language to use - "monetary redetermination due to unreported base period wages" - I'm writing that down. I have all my documentation organized already, including the EIN from my W-2. One quick question: when they ask for total earnings estimate, should I include just the wages or also any tips/bonuses if there were any? I want to make sure I give them the complete picture from the start.
I just went through this exact same situation about 3 weeks ago! That 11/30/0002 date is definitely their system glitching out when processing offsets - it's like their computers are stuck in time travel mode lol. The $130.88 is being taken FROM your benefits, not added to them. So you'll get your regular $219.74 direct deposit on 11/21/2022, but they're keeping that $130.88 for whatever debt they think you owe. Here's what happened with mine: turned out to be an overpayment from way back in 2020 that I had completely forgotten about. They sent me a letter about 2 weeks after the offset explaining everything. The crazy part is they're supposed to give you advance notice before taking money, but if your address isn't updated in their system, they'll just do it anyway after trying to reach you. Definitely log into your account and check under "Messages" or "Correspondence" - sometimes they post notices there first before mailing. And yeah, that forfeit week is probably from missing a certification deadline or answering something wrong, but it won't affect your current payments. If you don't get an explanation letter within 10 business days, I'd definitely call them or try that claimyr service people mentioned. You have the right to know what they're taking money for! Keep screenshots of everything because their system is notorious for "losing" records.
@Aisha Mahmood this is so reassuring to hear from someone who just went through the same thing! I was totally freaking out when I saw that random year 0002 date - like what even is that?? 😂 It s'wild that they can just take money without proper notice if your address isn t'updated. I m'definitely going to check my correspondence section right now and make sure all my info is current. Really appreciate you sharing your experience, makes me feel way less alone in dealing with this crazy system!
Hey! I just had this exact same thing happen to me last month and I was totally panicking too. That weird 11/30/0002 date is just their ancient system having a breakdown when processing offsets - it's not a real date lol. The $130.88 is definitely being taken from what they owe you (not added), but the good news is you'll still get your regular $219.74 direct deposit on the normal release date. The offset is probably for some old debt - could be taxes, child support, or even an unemployment overpayment from years ago that you might not even remember. I'd definitely check your online account under "Messages" or "Correspondence" first before calling - sometimes they post the explanation there before mailing letters. And make sure your address is updated because if they can't reach you with notices, they'll just take the money anyway after trying. The forfeit week won't affect your current payments but double-check you're certifying correctly going forward. If you don't get an explanation letter within 2 weeks, definitely try calling or use that claimyr service others mentioned. Document everything because NY's system loves to "lose" records! You got this! 💪
I went through something similar a few months ago - got fired for attendance due to public transit delays that were completely out of my control. NYS DOL approved my claim after about 3 weeks of review. The key things that helped me were: 1) I documented every incident with timestamps and photos of delayed train notifications, 2) I showed I had notified my supervisor each time I was going to be late, and 3) I had a generally good work record otherwise. Since you mentioned car troubles, definitely gather those mechanic receipts and any texts/emails you sent to your boss about the situation. The fact that you worked there for 2 years with no other issues will definitely work in your favor. Good luck!
This is really helpful, thank you! I did text my supervisor a few times when my car wouldn't start but I'm not sure if I saved all those messages. Do you think screenshots of text conversations would be enough documentation, or do they need something more official? Also, did you have to wait the full 3 weeks before getting any updates, or did they give you status updates along the way?
I was in almost the exact same situation last year - fired from a retail job for attendance issues due to my babysitter constantly canceling last minute. NYS DOL initially seemed like they were going to deny me, but I gathered every piece of documentation I could find (text messages with the babysitter, my work schedule, emails to my manager explaining the situation) and they ended up approving my claim after about 4 weeks. The caseworker told me that what really helped was showing I had communicated with my employer and tried to find solutions rather than just not showing up. Since you have those mechanic receipts and worked there for 2 years with a clean record, I think you have a strong case. Don't let the fear of denial stop you from filing - you've paid into the system and deserve a fair review of your situation.
Make sure she understands the weekly claim requirement too! Even after the initial application is approved, you have to file every week to actually receive payments. I know someone who got approved but didn't realize they had to keep filing weekly and missed out on several weeks of benefits.
One thing I'd add is to make sure your neighbor has her most recent pay stub and any termination paperwork from her employer ready. The system will ask for her last day of work and final wages, so having those exact dates and amounts will make the process smoother. Also, if she was laid off due to lack of work (not fired for cause), that makes her eligible right away. The initial application usually takes 2-3 weeks to process, but she should start filing weekly claims immediately after applying even before getting approved - those weeks can be paid retroactively once she's approved.
Esmeralda Gómez
I'm dealing with the exact same issue right now - filed 3 weeks ago and still showing $0.00. Really appreciate everyone sharing their experiences here! @Esteban Tate your advice about checking the Messages section is super helpful, gonna do that right now. It's so frustrating not being able to get through on the phone but sounds like persistence is key. At least knowing I'm not alone in this makes me feel a bit better 😅
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Ethan Scott
•@Esmeralda Gómez you re'definitely not alone! I m'on week 5 of the same thing. The messages section tip from @Esteban Tate is gold - I found stuff in there I never got email notifications for. Also try calling right at 8am when they open, sometimes you can get through faster then. We got this! 💪
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Ava Williams
Ugh, this is so relatable! I've been stuck at $0.00 for 2 weeks now and it's driving me crazy. Really helpful to see all the advice here - definitely going to check my Messages section like @Esteban Tate suggested since I might have missed something important. Also considering that claimyr service @Natasha Volkova mentioned since I'm getting nowhere with regular calling. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences, makes me feel less alone in this mess! 🤞
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