UPDATE: I finally got through to someone on the phone! The agent confirmed that my certification DID go through on their end, even though the website wasn't showing it correctly. She said they're aware of the display issue affecting some accounts and are working to fix it. My payment should process normally despite the website glitch. Such a relief! Thanks everyone for your help and suggestions.

So glad you got this resolved @Harold Oh! I've been following this thread because I'm dealing with something similar right now. My certification from Sunday isn't showing up either and I was starting to panic. Your experience gives me hope that it's just a display issue and not actually lost in the system. I'm going to try calling tomorrow morning armed with all the advice from this thread. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences - this community is such a lifesaver when dealing with these system glitches!

Other qualifying separations include being fired for reasons other than misconduct, layoffs, plant closures, or leaving due to domestic violence. The key is proving you didn't quit without good cause. Your hour reduction sounds like it would qualify but be prepared for them to contact your employer during the investigation.

I went through this exact situation last year with NYS Department of Labor. A reduction from 40 to 15 hours is definitely substantial enough to qualify as good cause for leaving - that's over a 60% cut in your income! When you file your claim, make sure to select "reduction in hours/wages" as your reason for separation. The department will likely schedule a phone interview to get more details about your situation. Be prepared to explain that the reduced hours made it impossible to meet your basic living expenses and that your employer couldn't provide a timeline for when hours would be restored. I'd also recommend documenting any job search efforts you made while still employed at reduced hours, as this shows you tried to mitigate the situation before leaving.

Just to add another perspective - I work in HR and have seen this confusion a lot. The key thing to understand is that "furlough" and "standby status" are two different things in NY's system. If your employer just told you verbally they'll call you back, that's typically just a furlough and you need to do work searches. Standby status requires specific paperwork filed by your employer with the Department of Labor stating they expect to recall you within 4 weeks (and can be extended). Without that official filing, the system treats you as any other unemployed person. I'd recommend calling your employer's HR department to ask if they filed standby paperwork - if they did, you should have received notification from NYS DOL about it.

I'm dealing with something similar right now - got furloughed from my restaurant job two weeks ago. After reading all these responses, I called my employer to ask about the standby status paperwork that @Beth Ford mentioned. Turns out they had no idea that was even an option! They just assumed telling us "we'll call you back when things pick up" was enough. So now I'm definitely doing my work searches to be safe. It's frustrating because I really do want to go back to my job, but at least now I understand why the system works this way. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences - this thread has been way more helpful than anything I found on the official NYS DOL website!

Bottom line - you pay back unemployment if NYS Department of Labor says you weren't entitled to specific payments you already received. Getting a new job just means you stop collecting going forward. The key is being totally honest on your weekly certifications about any work or earnings.

Thanks everyone for clarifying this! I was getting really stressed thinking I'd have to pay everything back just for getting a job. So to confirm - as long as I report my part-time earnings accurately on my weekly certification, NYS Department of Labor will just adjust my benefit amount accordingly? And I only risk having to pay money back if I don't report income or if there's some other eligibility issue they discover later? This is such a relief because that part-time job would really help me transition back to full-time work eventually.

just put 00-0000000 if you dont know it, they'll figure it out later

If your small restaurant employer isn't responding to calls, you might also try checking if they have a business license posted somewhere visible - sometimes the FEIN is listed there. Another option is to look at any old paystubs you might have saved, as some employers include it. If all else fails, you can also try searching for the business on the IRS's online EIN database or contact the NYS Department of Labor's employer services division - they might be able to help you locate the FEIN using the business name and address.