I went through the exact same confusion! Looking at your transcript, the key thing to understand is that your taxable income was already $0 before the unemployment tax exclusion. Even though $10,200 of your unemployment is now tax-free, it doesn't change your bottom line since you weren't paying tax on it anyway due to the standard deduction. The IRS only sends additional refunds if you actually paid tax on unemployment income that's now excluded. In your case, with such low overall income, you were already in the 0% tax bracket. I know it's disappointing when you hear about others getting refunds, but your transcript is actually showing everything is correct - no additional refund is coming because none is owed.

I'm dealing with a similar situation and your transcript actually tells the whole story! Looking at your numbers - AGI of $10,898 with $0 taxable income - you were already below the tax threshold before the unemployment exclusion even existed. The $10,200 exclusion only helps people who actually paid tax on their unemployment benefits. Since you had such low total income, you qualified for the standard deduction which brought your taxable income to zero anyway. It's frustrating because everyone talks about getting these unemployment refunds, but if you weren't paying tax on that income originally, there's nothing to refund. The IRS isn't processing your case because mathematically, you don't qualify for an additional refund. Your situation is actually resolved correctly - no action needed!

I work in recruiting and see this question all the time on applications. The reason we ask is mainly practical - we want to understand your timeline and motivation. Someone collecting benefits might have different urgency levels or salary expectations compared to someone who's been out of work without any income support. It's not meant to be discriminatory. In fact, many of our best hires have been people who were receiving NYS Department of Labor benefits while job searching. What impresses us more is when candidates are transparent and can clearly articulate why they're interested in our specific role beyond just needing any job. My advice: be honest about receiving benefits, but focus your energy on demonstrating genuine interest in the company and role. That's what really matters in hiring decisions.

I've been through this process recently and can add some perspective. Yes, it's completely legal for employers to ask about unemployment benefits, and I've found that being honest actually helps build trust from the start. What I learned is that the question isn't really about judging you - it's about logistics and timing. Employers want to know if you can start right away, if you're genuinely motivated to work (since you could theoretically stay on benefits longer), and sometimes they need to understand your current financial pressures for salary negotiations. I actually had one employer tell me they appreciated my honesty because it showed integrity. The key is to pair your honest answer with enthusiasm about the specific role. Instead of just saying "yes, I'm on unemployment," try something like "I'm currently receiving benefits while actively searching for the right opportunity, and I'm really excited about this position because..." That way you're being truthful while also showing you're selective and serious about finding meaningful work, not just any job.

THE SYSTEM IS DESIGNED TO SCREW US OVER! They don't tell you about these rules upfront and then penalize you for not knowing. Two months of lost benefits is thousands of dollars down the drain because NYS Department of Labor can't be bothered to make their rules clear.

Don't beat yourself up too much about waiting - a lot of people don't realize they can file right away after job loss. The important thing is you're doing it now! When you file, make sure you have all your employment info ready (dates, employer details, reason for separation) to speed up the process. Also be prepared that your first payment might take a few weeks to arrive, so if you have any emergency assistance programs in your area, might be worth looking into those while you wait for UI benefits to kick in.

Been doing this for 2 months now and haven't had any issues. Just stay consistent with your weekly claims and job searches and you'll be fine.

One thing I'd add is to make sure you're actively looking for work in your field or related fields. NYS DOL expects you to accept "suitable work" which generally means jobs that match your skills and pay at least 80% of your previous wage (after the first few weeks). Also, if you get called for an interview, you MUST go - turning down interviews without good cause can disqualify you from benefits. Keep track of all your activities in a spreadsheet or notebook with dates, company names, and what type of contact you made. It really helps to stay organized from the start rather than trying to recreate everything later if they ask for your records.

i just wanna add that i was in the same boat last year and honestly what worked for me was just showing up at the OTDA office in person with all my paperwork. they dont like to admit it but the squeaky wheel gets the grease with these programs. good luck!

I've been dealing with ERAP for months too and it's incredibly frustrating! One thing that helped me was creating a paper trail - I started sending emails to erap@otda.ny.gov with my application number in the subject line every week asking for status updates. Even though they rarely respond, it creates documentation that you've been trying to get information. Also, if you're really close to eviction, make sure you have documentation of your ERAP application when you go to housing court. Judges are usually willing to postpone proceedings if you can show you have a pending ERAP application. Bring your confirmation email and any correspondence you've received. The waiting is awful but don't give up - I know people who waited 4+ months and then suddenly got approved and had everything back-paid. Keep pushing through all the channels people mentioned above!