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The NYS Department of Labor system is so confusing! I filed right away when I got laid off but then had to do all this job search stuff and prove I was looking for work. Make sure you understand the requirements before you start getting benefits or they'll hit you with an overpayment later.
Also want to mention - when you file your claim, be completely honest about the circumstances of your termination. The DOL will contact your former employer to verify details, and any inconsistencies can cause major delays or even disqualification. Even if you were fired for performance issues (not misconduct), you may still be eligible. The key difference is that misconduct involves intentional wrongdoing, while poor performance is usually not considered misconduct under NY unemployment law.
This is really important advice! I was actually fired for attendance issues (had some health problems that made me late frequently), but it wasn't intentional misconduct. Should I explain the full situation when I file, or just stick to the basic facts? I don't want to hurt my case but I also don't want to seem like I'm hiding anything.
also make sure you check your messages in the my.ny.gov system regularly!! sometimes they send requests for additional documents or information there and if you miss them it can delay your claim processing even more
Pro tip: set up notifications in your my.ny.gov account so you get alerts when there are updates to your claim or new messages. I missed a document request for almost a week because I wasn't checking regularly enough. Also, if you're having trouble with the website, try accessing it early in the morning (like 6-7 AM) when there's less traffic - the system seems to work better then. Keep all your documents ready to upload as PDFs because they'll likely ask for multiple things throughout the process.
This is really helpful advice! I had no idea you could set up notifications - that would have saved me so much stress. The early morning tip is gold too, I've been trying to access the site during lunch breaks and it's always slow. Quick question though - when you say keep documents ready as PDFs, do you know what the file size limits are? I have some pay stubs that are pretty large scanned files and I'm worried they might not upload properly.
I believe the file size limit for uploads in the NY.gov system is 10MB per file, but I'd recommend keeping them under 5MB to be safe since the system can be finicky. If your scanned pay stubs are too large, try using a PDF compressor tool online or scan them at a lower resolution. Also make sure the text is still readable after compression - they might reject blurry documents. I learned this the hard way when my first upload got rejected for being "illegible" even though it looked fine to me!
Thanks to everyone who shared updates! I just logged in and checked - mine is available too under My Online Forms > Tax Documents > 2024. The amounts look correct and match my records. Really appreciate all the helpful navigation tips and timeline info from everyone. It's great to see NY DOL getting these out early this year instead of making us wait until the deadline. Now I can finally get my taxes filed!
This is such great news! I was dreading having to wait until the end of January like usual. Just logged in myself and found mine under the same path - My Online Forms > Tax Documents > 2024. Everything looks accurate on mine too. It's so nice to see NY DOL actually getting ahead of the deadline for once instead of scrambling at the last minute. Really appreciate everyone sharing their updates and navigation tips throughout this thread!
Just wanted to add my experience for anyone still waiting - I checked my account this morning and my 2024 1099-G is also available! Following the path everyone mentioned (My Online Forms > Tax Documents > 2024), I was able to download it immediately. The amounts match perfectly with my weekly benefit records. It's really encouraging to see NY DOL getting these out so much earlier than their January 31st deadline. For anyone who hasn't checked yet, definitely log in and look - seems like they're releasing them in waves but most people are getting them now. Thanks to everyone who shared updates and navigation tips!
honestly the whole system is rigged against working people anyway. they want you to stay unemployed but then punish you for trying to get back on your feet. meanwhile it takes them forever to process claims but they can catch you working in no time
I went through this exact situation last year. The key thing to understand is that partial unemployment benefits exist for a reason - you're supposed to report work and they'll calculate what you still qualify for. In my case, I was earning about $300/week part-time and still received around $200 in unemployment benefits. The formula basically allows you to earn up to a certain amount before they start reducing your benefits dollar-for-dollar. As for detection, they caught my friend who didn't report within about 2 months through the quarterly wage matching system. My advice: report it now, even if you missed a week or two. You can often backdate corrections and it's way better than dealing with fraud charges later.
This is really helpful, thanks for sharing your experience! Can you explain more about how the partial benefits calculation works? Like if I'm making $400/week at my part-time job, would I still get anything from unemployment? Also, when you say you can backdate corrections - did you have to pay any penalties for the weeks you initially didn't report, or do they waive that if you come forward voluntarily?
Andre Moreau
@PixelPrincess One more thing to consider - if you're receiving unemployment benefits, you should also look into other assistance programs you might be eligible for while you're between jobs. Things like SNAP (food assistance), reduced-cost internet programs, utility assistance, and even some local food banks don't require you to be completely without income to qualify. Some community organizations also offer job training programs or networking events specifically for people receiving unemployment benefits. These resources can help stretch your benefits further during those 26 weeks and potentially help you find work faster. The NY Department of Social Services website has a good overview of what programs might be available based on your situation.
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Malik Jackson
•@Andre Moreau This is such valuable advice! I hadn t'even considered looking into other assistance programs while on unemployment. I just assumed I wouldn t'qualify for things like SNAP since I m'receiving benefits, but it sounds like that s'not necessarily the case. Do you happen to know if there s'a specific income threshold for SNAP eligibility when you re'receiving unemployment, or does it vary? I m'definitely going to check out the NY Department of Social Services website you mentioned. It would be great to have some additional support during these 26 weeks, especially since unemployment benefits don t'cover nearly as much as my previous salary did.
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Freya Collins
@PixelPrincess Welcome to the unemployment journey! The 26 weeks others mentioned is correct, and I'd recommend downloading the NY DOL mobile app if you haven't already - it makes filing weekly claims much easier than using the website. One thing I wish someone had told me early on is to start networking and applying for jobs right away, even if you think you have plenty of time. The job market can be unpredictable, and you want to maximize your chances of finding something before those 26 weeks are up. Also, keep detailed records of all your job search activities in case DOL ever audits your claim. Good luck with your first weekly filing tomorrow!
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CosmicCruiser
•@Freya Collins Thanks for the welcome and the practical tips! I definitely need to download that mobile app - sounds like it ll'save me some headaches with the weekly filings. Your point about starting the job search immediately really hits home. I think I was mentally giving myself a few weeks to decompress "from" my last job, but you re'absolutely right that I should treat this like a full-time job from day one. Do you have any recommendations for the best job search platforms or networking events in the NY area? I want to make sure I m'casting a wide net and not just relying on the big job boards everyone uses.
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