been getting unemployment for 8 weeks now and yeah the tax thing confused me too at first!! just go with the 10% its easier trust me you dont want to owe money later

The missing $1 could be a few different things - sometimes there are small administrative fees or rounding adjustments that aren't always clearly explained. I'd definitely call the NYS DOL to get the exact breakdown of your deductions. Also worth double-checking your benefit calculation - make sure your weekly benefit amount is actually $504 and not slightly less, which could account for the difference. You can find your exact benefit details in your payment history on the my.ny.gov portal.

I just wanted to chime in as someone who went through this exact same confusion about 6 weeks ago! That "claim can now be paid" email is definitely their approval notification - I know the wording is super confusing because it doesn't actually say "approved" anywhere. From reading all these responses, it sounds like you're in great shape! One thing I learned that might help future people reading this thread is that you can actually see more detailed status information if you log into your NY.gov account and look under "Claim Summary" - it will show your claim status as "Active" once you're approved, and you can see your weekly benefit amount there too. Also, don't stress if the first payment seems to take forever - mine took 9 days but after that, weekly payments were super consistent and came like clockwork every Tuesday. The waiting is definitely the hardest part, but sounds like you're doing everything right with the weekly certifications!

Just wanted to add my recent experience to this helpful thread! I got the same "claim can now be paid" email about a month ago and was equally confused - it really is NYSDOL's way of saying you're approved, even though the wording is super unclear. My payment took 6 days to appear via direct deposit. One tip I haven't seen mentioned yet: if you have a smartphone, download your bank's mobile app if you haven't already - it usually shows pending deposits before they fully clear, which can give you peace of mind that the payment is on its way. Also, I found it helpful to screenshot that approval email and save it, just in case you ever need proof of your approval date for any reason. Congrats on getting approved - the hardest part is behind you now!

I'm going through the same thing right now - filed 3 weeks ago and still showing "adjudication in progress." From what I've learned lurking in these forums, it seems like reduced hours/constructive dismissal cases often take longer because they have to verify with your employer that the hour reduction was significant enough to qualify you for benefits. The waiting is absolutely nerve-wracking, especially when you're counting on that income. I've been keeping detailed records of my reduced schedule and any communication with my former employer just in case they need additional documentation. Hang in there!

I'm currently dealing with adjudication too - going on week 4 now. What I've learned from calling multiple times is that they're likely verifying your employment details and the circumstances around your hour reduction with your former employer. The DOL has to confirm that the reduction was substantial enough (usually needs to be a reduction of more than 20% of your normal hours) and that it wasn't your fault. They also check if you made reasonable efforts to get more hours before leaving. The frustrating part is they don't give you updates during the process - you just have to wait for the determination letter. Keep filing your weekly claims though, because if approved you'll get backpay for all eligible weeks during adjudication.

My cousin had the same thing happen except it was a knee injury from construction work. He got approved for unemployment after his settlement but it took like 6 weeks for them to process everything. Just make sure you file right away and don't wait around.

I'm in a very similar situation right now - got a workers comp settlement for a wrist injury from my factory job about 3 months ago. The settlement money definitely doesn't count as wages for unemployment purposes. I filed my claim right after getting medical clearance to return to work with restrictions (no repetitive motions). NYS Department of Labor approved me without any issues related to the settlement. The main thing they care about is that you're able to work within your restrictions and actively looking for jobs that accommodate them. I keep a detailed log of all my applications and note when employers can't accommodate my restrictions. It's been a slow process finding work but the UI benefits have been a lifesaver while I search. Don't let the settlement money worry you - focus on documenting your job search efforts within your physical limitations.

I'm going through this transition right now too and wanted to share something that really helped me - I called my former employer's HR department to get a letter confirming my employment dates and the reason for separation (medical disability). Even though they let me go, having that official documentation made my UI application much smoother because it clearly showed I wasn't terminated for misconduct. The DOL representative told me this type of documentation from employers really speeds up the approval process. Also, I started networking with former coworkers and colleagues before my disability ended - some of them gave me heads up about job openings that would work with my restrictions. Don't underestimate how much your professional network can help during this transition, especially people who already know your work quality and might be willing to advocate for reasonable accommodations.

I'm actually in the middle of this transition myself - my disability benefits ended two weeks ago and I just had my first UI payment deposited yesterday! The whole process was much less stressful than I anticipated. A few things that really helped: I filed my UI claim online the exact day my disability ended (didn't wait), had my medical clearance letter scanned and ready to upload, and I'd already started updating my resume and browsing job postings during my last week of disability so I could hit the ground running with work search activities. The DOL online portal is pretty user-friendly and walks you through everything step by step. One thing I wish someone had told me - they ask for your last day of work AND your last day of disability benefits, so make sure you have both dates handy when you apply. Also, if you're worried about the phone lines being busy, I found that calling right when they open at 8 AM gave me the best chance of getting through quickly when I had a follow-up question. You've got this!