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Just report everything honestly when you do your weekly claim. The online system will calculate your reduced benefit automatically once you enter your work hours and gross pay. It's actually pretty straightforward once you get used to it.
@Andre Lefebvre - You're smart to ask about this upfront! I went through the exact same situation a few months ago. When you do your weekly certification on the NYS Department of Labor website, there's a specific section where they ask if you worked and how much you earned. Just enter your gross earnings for that week (before taxes). The system automatically calculates your reduced benefit. In your case with $270 weekly earnings, you'll still get a decent portion of your $504 benefit. The key is being consistent about reporting it every single week - don't skip even one week thinking "it's just part-time." That's where people get into trouble with overpayments later.
@Paolo Bianchi This is really helpful advice! I m'in a similar boat - just started collecting UI and wondering about taking on some freelance work. When you say gross "earnings do" they mean before all deductions or just before taxes? Like if I do some contract work and have to pay for my own supplies/materials, can I deduct those costs or do I report the full amount the client pays me?
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I went through this exact situation about a year ago. In addition to what others mentioned, definitely check if your county has a "One-Stop" career center - they often have emergency assistance funds and can help with resume writing and job placement. Also, if you have any unpaid wages from your previous employer, you can file a wage claim with NYS Department of Labor even if you were denied UI benefits. That helped me recover about $800 I was owed. Don't give up on the appeal either - bring any pay stubs or W-2s you have to show your work history. The system can be confusing but there are people who want to help you navigate it.
This is really helpful advice! I had no idea about the wage claim option - I think my last employer might actually owe me for some overtime hours they never paid. Do you know how long the wage claim process typically takes? And thanks for mentioning the One-Stop centers, I'll look up where the nearest one is to me.
I'm in a similar situation right now - just got denied last week for the same reason (not enough hours in base period). One thing I learned is that you should also check if you qualify for Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation (PEUC) or any extended benefits if you had any UI claims in the past few years. Also, your local community college might have emergency student aid if you're considering going back to school - some programs are specifically for people who lost jobs. The financial aid office can sometimes help even if you're not enrolled yet. Hang in there - this community has been really helpful for me in figuring out all these different programs I never knew existed.
Thanks for sharing your experience, Sofia! I didn't know about the PEUC option - I'll definitely look into that. The community college emergency aid is also a great idea, especially since I've been thinking about maybe getting some additional training while I'm looking for work. It's really comforting to know others have gone through this and found ways to make it work. This thread has given me so many resources I didn't know existed. Feeling a bit more hopeful now!
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just be honest on your weekly claims about your availability. if you can work around your class schedule most employers will accommodate students anyway. retail and food service jobs are pretty flexible
This is good advice. Document your job search efforts that show you're applying for positions compatible with your schedule. Keep records of applications and any interviews in case NYS Department of Labor requests verification.
I'm in a similar situation - finishing my last semester while collecting benefits. What worked for me was being very specific about my availability when I certify each week. I indicate I'm available Monday, Wednesday, Friday all day, and Tuesday/Thursday after 2pm (after my lab). I've been applying to part-time positions that specifically mention student-friendly schedules or evening/weekend shifts. So far no issues with NYS Department of Labor. The key seems to be showing genuine job search activity and realistic availability rather than claiming you're available 24/7 when you're clearly not due to classes.
This is really helpful! I like your approach of being specific about your actual availability rather than just saying you're available anytime. Did you have to provide any documentation to NYS Department of Labor about your class schedule, or do they just go by what you report during weekly certification? I'm worried they might ask for proof of my course schedule if they audit my claim.
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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.
@Emma Johnson The job search requirements aren t'too bad if you stay organized. You need to make 3 job contacts per week and keep records of where you applied, when, and what type of contact it was online (application, phone call, etc. .)They can ask for proof during your weekly certification, so I kept a simple spreadsheet with company names, dates, and confirmation emails from applications. The key is to apply for jobs that match your skills and experience - they don t'want to see you applying for CEO positions if you re'a warehouse worker, you know? As long as you re'genuinely looking and can document your efforts, you should be fine. I never had any issues during my 12 weeks on unemployment.
Ravi Sharma
UGH this is exactly why I hate dealing with NYS Department of Labor! They make it impossible to get basic information about YOUR OWN MONEY. The fact that you can't easily see your overpayment balance online in 2025 is absolutely ridiculous.
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Henrietta Beasley
I had the same frustrating experience with NYS Department of Labor's overpayment system! What finally worked for me was calling their overpayment unit directly at (518) 457-2635 - it's a separate number from the regular unemployment line so the wait times are usually shorter. When you call, have your SSN and the overpayment notice handy. They can tell you your exact balance including any interest that may have accrued. I also recommend asking them to send you a payment statement by mail so you have it in writing. The online system is honestly broken for tracking these balances.
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Alejandro Castro
•Thank you so much for that direct number! I've been struggling with this for months and had no idea there was a separate overpayment unit. I'm definitely going to try calling (518) 457-2635 tomorrow. Getting a written statement is a great idea too - at least then I'll have some documentation of what I actually owe instead of guessing based on the terrible online system.
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FireflyDreams
•This is super helpful! I had no idea there was a dedicated overpayment unit with their own number. The regular unemployment line is such a nightmare to get through. Do you know if they're open regular business hours or do they have specific times when it's better to call? I'm going to try this tomorrow morning and hopefully finally get a straight answer about my balance.
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