Just to add - FUTA tax rate is currently 6% but employers get credits for paying state unemployment taxes, so most end up paying around 0.6%. This doesn't come out of your paycheck as an employee, it's entirely paid by employers. The money goes into trust funds that help states pay unemployment benefits when people lose their jobs.

Thanks everyone for the detailed explanations! I was really confused when I first saw FUTA mentioned in my NYS Department of Labor paperwork, but now I understand it's just the federal framework that enables the state program. It's reassuring to know that my benefits are calculated based on New York state rules and my work history here, not some federal formula I don't understand. Really appreciate this community helping newcomers like me navigate the system!

The whole system is so unnecessarily complicated imo. Why can't they just give you a simple chart that shows exactly what you'll get based on what you earn? Instead we have to do math every week and hope we're understanding their 'allowance' calculations correctly.

This is really helpful info everyone! I'm in a similar situation working part-time while on unemployment. One thing I'd add is that the earnings allowance calculation happens automatically when you file your weekly certification - you don't have to do the math yourself. When you report your gross earnings for the week, the system calculates the 25% allowance and any deductions for you. You can see the breakdown in your payment history on the NY.gov portal. Just make sure you're reporting gross earnings (before taxes) not your take-home pay, since that's what they base the calculation on.

Just be honest about everything!! I know someone who tried to hide a side job and they not only had to pay everything back but also got disqualified from future benefits. The stress isn't worth it.

I went through this exact same situation last year! The NYS Department of Labor definitely has ways to track employment - they get wage reports from employers and cross-reference with other databases. But here's the thing - you can absolutely work part-time and still collect partial unemployment benefits. When you file your weekly claim, just report exactly what you earned that week. They'll calculate a reduced benefit amount based on their formula. I was working about 20 hours a week at $15/hour and still got about 60% of my full unemployment benefit. The key is being completely honest on your weekly certification. Don't stress about it - the system is actually designed to encourage people to take part-time work while job searching!

I had such a mess with this exact situation last year. Said I was returning to work, but then the job fell through after 2 days. Tried to restart my benefits and got stuck in verification hell for 3 months. Had to call over 200 times before I got through. The system is broken.

Congrats on the new job! Just wanted to add one more thing that helped me - when you do your final certification and report returning to work, make sure you have your exact start date ready. The system will ask for the specific date, not just "this week" or "next week." I made that mistake and had to call back to correct it (which was a nightmare). Also, if you're starting mid-week like November 17th (which is a Sunday if we're talking about this year), you'll still certify for that partial week but report your earnings from the new job. The system will calculate your partial benefit automatically. Good luck with the new position!

honestly the whole system is messed up. they expect you to be available 24/7 but real life doesn't work that way especially with kids. just keep filing your weekly claims and hope for the best

I went through this same situation a few months ago with my 3-year-old. What really helped was being proactive about documenting my childcare constraints from the start. I created a simple spreadsheet tracking every job application I submitted for evening/weekend positions, including the job posting details and when I applied. When NYS Department of Labor did eventually review my case, having that documentation made all the difference. Also, don't forget that you can include positions where you'd be able to arrange childcare if hired - like jobs that start a few weeks out, giving you time to find new arrangements. The key is showing you're genuinely seeking work within your realistic availability, not just sitting back. Good luck!