You can also set up text notifications through your my.ny.gov account settings - I found this really helpful since I don't always remember to check the website daily. Go to your profile settings and look for notification preferences. It won't replace checking your online messages but at least you'll get a heads up when something new is posted to your account.

Just wanted to add that while they don't send regular emails, you might get one if there's an issue with your weekly certification or if your claim gets flagged for review. I got an email once when I missed my weekly filing deadline - it was pretty generic but did direct me to log into my account to resolve the issue. The key thing is definitely checking your online messages frequently since that's where all the real communication happens.

Just went through this last month! Got my first payment exactly 3 business days after completing my waiting week. Make sure you're checking both your bank account AND the payment history section on the DOL website - sometimes there's a delay between when it shows as processed vs when it actually hits your account. Also double check that your direct deposit info is correct in your profile, that can cause major delays if it's wrong.

Been waiting 6 days now since my waiting week ended and still nothing 😩 Direct deposit is set up correctly and I've been certifying every week. Starting to get worried something went wrong with my claim. Might have to try that claimyr thing everyone's mentioning if it doesn't show up by tomorrow

I understand you're scared, but you need to act quickly. Contact the NYS DOL fraud hotline at 1-888-598-2077 or report online through their website. Be completely honest about all the unreported work - dates, amounts, who paid you. Yes, you'll likely owe money back plus penalties, but voluntary disclosure almost always keeps it civil rather than criminal. The key is acting before they discover it themselves. Also, stop any unreported work immediately. Document everything and consider consulting with an employment attorney if the amounts get significant. The sooner you come forward, the better your outcome will be.

I went through something similar last year and want to share what I learned. First, take a deep breath - while this is serious, it's not the end of the world if you handle it correctly. The $400 over several months puts you in a much better position than someone who was working full-time while collecting. Here's what you should do: 1) Call the fraud hotline immediately at 1-888-598-2077 as others mentioned, 2) Gather all documentation about the cash work (dates, amounts, who paid you), 3) Be completely honest when you report - they can tell when people are still hiding things, and 4) Stop any unreported work right now. In my case, voluntary disclosure resulted in repaying the overpayment plus a 15% penalty, but no criminal charges. The key is acting before they find out through other means like tax records or employer reports. Yes, it's stressful and expensive, but it's much better than the alternative of them discovering it during an audit.

Just file the claim online through the my.ny.gov portal and answer all the questions honestly about why you left your job. NYS Department of Labor will make the determination based on your specific circumstances. The application process will walk you through everything you need to know.

For what it's worth, a reduction from 40 hours to 8 hours per week (an 80% cut) would almost certainly qualify as "good cause" under NYS Department of Labor guidelines. That's essentially forcing you to quit by making the job financially unsustainable. When you file your claim, make sure to emphasize that the hour reduction made it impossible to meet your basic living expenses and that you had no choice but to seek other employment. Document everything - old schedules, pay stubs showing the difference, any communication about the hour cuts. The key is showing that a reasonable person in your situation would have had to quit.

If you're having trouble reaching the NYS Department of Labor to ask questions about the appeal process, there's a service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that can help you get through to an actual agent. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI showing how it works. I used it when my employer appealed and I needed to understand the hearing procedures.

Just wanted to say good luck! The fact that you were approved initially is a good sign. Document everything and don't let them intimidate you.