good luck with the system... it's a nightmare to navigate and they make you jump through hoops constantly. at least you qualify though, that's the main thing

I went through this process last year after a layoff. One thing I wish I had known earlier - make sure you file your weekly certification by the deadline (usually Sunday night) or you'll miss that week's payment entirely. Also, keep copies of everything you submit because the system sometimes glitches and loses information. The good news is that once you get into the routine, it becomes pretty straightforward. Just stay on top of the weekly requirements and document everything!

One more important thing - if you're doing freelance or gig work, you need to report that income in the week you performed the work, not when you got paid. This trips up a lot of people with unemployment claims.

Just want to add that if you're consistently earning close to or over your benefit amount, it might be worth considering whether to pause your unemployment claim temporarily. I had a few good weeks where I was making decent money from freelance work, and it made more sense to just not certify for those weeks rather than deal with the reduced benefits and potential complications. You can always resume your claim later as long as you're still within your benefit year. Just make sure to understand the rules about when you need to reopen vs. continue your existing claim.

One more thing to add - make sure you're consistent with how you report your availability to work. If you mark that you're available Monday-Friday but then later mention in a phone interview that you can only work certain days due to childcare, that inconsistency can flag their system. Also, be careful about social media posts during your claim period. I know it sounds paranoid, but some states do monitor social media for signs that claimants might be working unreported jobs or not actually looking for work. Just something to keep in mind while you're collecting benefits.

As someone who went through a fraud investigation scare last year, I can tell you that documentation is absolutely everything. Keep screenshots of every job application you submit, save confirmation emails, and maintain a spreadsheet with dates, company names, and job titles. I also recommend taking screenshots of your weekly certification submissions right after you complete them - this saved me when there was a discrepancy about when I filed one week. The investigation process is stressful, but if you're being honest and can prove it with documentation, you'll be fine. Just remember that their systems are designed to catch patterns that look suspicious, not to punish honest people for minor mistakes.

Just went through this exact situation last month! Got let go during my 90-day probation at a retail job and was able to reopen my claim no problem. The key things that helped me: 1. I stopped certifying the week I started work (super important!) 2. When I got terminated, I immediately went online and reopened my claim 3. Had to do a phone interview where they asked about why I was let go - just be honest 4. They asked for my start/end dates and final pay info Since it was just "not a good fit" and not misconduct, they approved me to continue with my remaining benefits. The whole process took about 2 weeks from reopening to getting my first payment back. Pro tip: if you need to talk to someone, don't waste time calling - use one of those callback services. Worth every penny to avoid the hold times!

Been in a similar spot before - the good news is you can definitely return to your remaining benefits if things don't work out during probation. Just make sure you're documenting everything from day one at the new job (emails, performance feedback, etc.) in case you need it later. And definitely stop certifying for benefits the moment you start working! That's crucial. If you do get let go, you can reopen your claim online pretty easily as long as it wasn't for misconduct. The probation period thing actually works in your favor since most terminations during that time are just "not a good fit" rather than misconduct.

The whole system is designed to screw you over!! They make it SO confusing on purpose and then act like it's your fault when something goes wrong. I know people who got overpayment notices for stupid technicalities and NYS Department of Labor just shrugs and says pay up. It's criminal how they treat people who are already struggling.

keep all your documentation!! job search logs, any correspondence with employers, everything. if they do come after you for overpayment you'll need proof that you followed all the rules