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I'm going through this exact same situation right now! My severance runs out in March and I've been researching this non-stop. Based on everything I've read here and from the NYS Department of Labor website, you can definitely file once your severance payments end. What I've learned is that timing is crucial - you want to file your initial claim the day after your last severance payment to avoid any gaps in coverage. I've already started gathering all my documents (termination letter, severance agreement, recent pay stubs) and set up my my.ny.gov account so I'm ready to go immediately when March hits. One thing that's been helpful is keeping a detailed calendar of when each severance payment comes in so I know exactly when to file. Also started documenting potential job opportunities now even though I haven't officially started my search yet - figured it's better to be over-prepared for those work search requirements. The peace of mind from planning ahead has been worth it!
@Natalie Adams Your approach of keeping a detailed calendar of severance payments is so smart! I wish I had thought of that when I was going through this process. It really does help to know exactly when that last payment hits so you can file immediately. I m'curious - when you say you re'documenting potential job opportunities now, are you actually applying to positions or just researching and saving job postings? I m'trying to figure out the best way to prepare for those work search requirements without jumping the gun on applications while I m'still technically receiving severance pay.
I just went through this process a few months ago and can definitely confirm you can file once your severance ends! Here's what worked for me: I filed my claim on February 1st (the day after my last severance payment on January 31st) and had my first unemployment payment within 3 weeks. A few practical tips that really helped - first, make sure you have your termination paperwork, severance agreement, and last few pay stubs ready because the online application asks for specific dates and dollar amounts. Second, create your my.ny.gov account now if you haven't already since it takes a few days to verify. Third, start keeping a simple spreadsheet of job search activities even before you file - NYS requires documentation from week one and it's easier to be prepared. The whole process was much more straightforward than I expected, especially since you have a clear layoff situation rather than termination for cause. Don't stress too much about the gap between severance ending and benefits starting - as long as you file promptly, you should be covered. Good luck!
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I went through something very similar last year and want to reassure you that this is more common than you think. The key is being proactive like others have mentioned. When I called NYS Department of Labor to report my mistake, the representative was actually pretty understanding and walked me through the process. They classified it as an "inadvertent overpayment" rather than fraud since I came forward voluntarily. I did have to pay back the overpayment amount, but they let me set up a payment plan that deducted a portion from my future benefits rather than requiring a lump sum. The whole experience was stressful but much less scary than I had imagined. Just make sure you have all your employment records and pay stubs ready when you call - they'll need the exact dates and amounts you earned during those 8 weeks.
This is really helpful to hear from someone who actually went through it! The fact that they worked with you on a payment plan makes me feel much more hopeful. I've been gathering all my pay stubs and employment paperwork since I posted this, so I'll have everything organized when I call. Did they ask you for any other specific documentation besides the pay stubs and dates? And roughly how long did the whole process take to get resolved once you contacted them?
I'm in a similar situation right now - working about 12 hours a week at a retail job while collecting unemployment benefits. After reading your post I'm realizing I might have made the same mistake by not reporting my part-time earnings. The whole process is really intimidating when you're already stressed about finances. Has anyone here actually had experience with how they calculate the partial benefit reduction? Like if I'm earning $150 a week from part-time work, how much would that typically reduce my weekly unemployment benefit? I want to understand what to expect before I call to report my situation.
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This thread has been incredibly valuable! I'm actually facing a potential layoff situation myself in the coming weeks, and reading through everyone's experiences has given me so much clarity on what to expect. The distinction between "wages in lieu of notice" vs true severance payments seems absolutely critical - that could completely change when benefits start. I'm also going to make sure to ask about any work restrictions in the severance agreement since that "available for work" requirement is so important for UI eligibility. One thing I'm curious about that hasn't been mentioned yet - has anyone dealt with severance packages that require you to sign a release of claims or non-disclosure agreement? I'm wondering if those types of legal requirements could impact unemployment benefits in any way, or if they're completely separate issues. Planning to file my claim immediately when the separation happens and document everything along the way. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences - this community is such a lifesaver when navigating these stressful situations!
@Angelica Smith That s'a great question about NDAs and release agreements! From my understanding, those are typically separate legal documents that shouldn t'directly impact your unemployment eligibility - they re'more about protecting the company from potential lawsuits rather than restricting your ability to work elsewhere. However, it s'definitely worth reading the fine print carefully to make sure there aren t'any unusual clauses that could affect your job search activities. I ve'heard that most standard severance releases just prevent you from suing the company but don t'restrict your ability to find new employment or collect unemployment benefits. Still, if there s'anything unclear in the language, it might be worth having an employment attorney review it before signing. The peace of mind could be worth the consultation fee, especially when you re'already dealing with the stress of a layoff situation.
Wow, this thread has been incredibly thorough and helpful! I'm also potentially facing a layoff situation in the next month or two, and reading through everyone's experiences has been like getting a masterclass in severance and unemployment benefits. The key takeaways I'm getting are: 1) Ask HR specifically about "wages in lieu of notice" vs true severance, 2) Check for any work restrictions during severance period, 3) Consider lump sum vs payment plan implications, 4) File unemployment claim immediately regardless of severance timing, and 5) Document absolutely everything. One aspect I haven't seen discussed yet is whether the size of your severance package affects your unemployment benefit amount at all. I know the weekly benefit calculation is based on your previous earnings, but I'm wondering if getting a large severance somehow impacts that calculation or if it's completely separate. Also planning to look into that Claimyr service mentioned by @Layla Mendes since it sounds like getting through to an actual person at the DOL is nearly impossible through normal channels. This community is such a valuable resource - thank you to everyone who shared their real-world experiences!
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Just adding another voice to the chorus here - I went through this same situation last fall when my sister got married in Portugal while my claim was still pending from April. I was absolutely terrified about the whole thing but used claimyr.com to get through to DOL (best $20 I ever spent honestly) and the agent was amazing. She walked me through exactly what to do: report all travel dates upfront, DO NOT certify while overseas under any circumstances, and be prepared for benefits to pause during travel. My claim was put on hold for the 10 days I was gone, but literally the day after I got back and recertified that I was available for work, everything resumed normally. The agent emphasized that they have zero tolerance for people trying to hide international travel or use VPNs to certify from other countries - that's automatic fraud territory. But she said family weddings happen and they totally understand when people are honest about it. Don't let unemployment anxiety rob you of celebrating your family! Be transparent, follow their rules, and you'll be fine. The temporary pause is such a small price to pay for being at such an important moment. Portugal wedding was absolutely magical and I have zero regrets! 🇵🇹💍
@Elijah Jackson This is incredible! Portugal wedding sounds absolutely amazing 🇵🇹 I m'so glad you shared your story because it s'exactly what I needed to hear. The consistency across everyone s'experiences here is really convincing me that being upfront with DOL is definitely the right move. 10 days pause for a once-in-a-lifetime family celebration seems like such a reasonable trade-off. I was getting so worked up about this but reading all these real success stories has totally changed my perspective. Definitely using claimyr to get through and being completely honest about my travel dates. Thank you for taking the time to share such detailed advice - this community is amazing! Time to book that flight and celebrate properly! ✈️💒
Wow, reading through all these experiences is so reassuring! I was in a similar panic mode about potentially missing my best friend's destination wedding in Costa Rica while my claim has been pending since February. Everyone's consistent advice about being upfront with DOL and using claimyr.com to actually get through to someone is exactly what I needed to hear. It's amazing how reasonable they actually are about family situations when you're honest versus all the horror stories you read online about people trying to hide travel. Definitely going to call them this week and report my travel dates properly. Thank you all for sharing your real experiences - this community is literally saving my sanity right now! Sometimes you just need to hear from people who've actually been through it rather than speculation. Family celebrations are so important and it sounds like DOL totally gets that when you follow the rules. 🇨🇷💕
Abigail bergen
Congrats on getting it sorted! This thread is going to be super helpful for others dealing with the same issue. I bookmarked this whole conversation because I know I'll probably need to reference it someday. The NY unemployment system can be such a maze to navigate, so having all these different methods in one place is gold!
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Levi Parker
•Totally agree! This thread should be pinned or something. I'm dealing with a similar situation right now where I need benefit verification for a rental application, and reading through all these different approaches gives me hope that there's actually a way to get through the system. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences - it's so helpful to know what actually works versus what's just outdated info on government websites.
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Ella Russell
Just wanted to add another tip for anyone still struggling with this - if you're having trouble finding the "Request Official Records" section that others mentioned, try clearing your browser cache first. I had the same issue where certain menu options weren't showing up properly on the NY.gov site. After clearing cache and logging back in, everything appeared correctly. Also, make sure you're using Chrome or Firefox - I've noticed the site doesn't work as well with Safari or Edge browsers. Hope this saves someone else the headache I went through!
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CosmicCruiser
•This is such a helpful tip! I was actually having the same browser issue earlier when trying to navigate the NY.gov site - some of the dropdown menus weren't working properly. Switching to Chrome made all the difference. It's frustrating that government websites aren't optimized for all browsers, but at least now I know what to do if I run into similar issues with other state services. Thanks for sharing this!
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