Just to add some clarity on the 25% rule that Liam mentioned - it's actually 25% of your weekly benefit rate OR $100, whichever is LESS. So if your weekly benefit is $400, you'd get $100 (25% of $400). But if your weekly benefit is $300, you'd only get $75 (25% of $300). After that threshold, it's dollar-for-dollar reduction. I found this out the hard way when I assumed it was always $100. Also, make sure you're reporting gross earnings before any expenses or fees that Uber takes out - NYS Department of Labor wants the total amount you earned, not what you actually received after their cuts.

One thing I haven't seen mentioned yet is that you should also keep track of your vehicle expenses if you're driving for Uber Eats - gas, wear and tear, etc. While you still have to report the gross earnings to NYS Department of Labor, you can deduct those business expenses when you file your taxes next year since you'll be getting a 1099 from Uber. It won't help with your weekly unemployment calculation, but it'll save you money at tax time. Also, definitely download a mileage tracking app like MileIQ or Stride - the IRS standard mileage deduction is pretty generous for delivery drivers and can add up to significant savings.

Just wanted to update everyone - I finally got through using the dedicated direct deposit line that Miguel mentioned! It took some digging on the website but I found it under "Payment Services" section. The wait was only about 15 minutes which was amazing compared to what I was expecting. The agent was super helpful and knew exactly what I needed when I said I wanted to "update security question responses for direct deposit verification." They had me verify my SSN, claim number, and a few previous addresses, then walked me through resetting my mother's maiden name. The whole process took about 20 minutes and I got an email confirmation right after. My direct deposit should be working for my next payment. Thanks everyone for all the helpful advice - this community is awesome! 🙏

This thread has been so helpful! I'm actually dealing with a similar issue but with my security questions for regular claim certification. Based on all the advice here, I'm definitely going to try calling that dedicated direct deposit line first to see if they can help with security question updates in general. The tip about calling right when they open and having all documents ready is clutch. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences - it's so much better getting real advice from people who've actually been through this rather than trying to navigate their confusing website! 🙌

The whole system is designed to make it as difficult as possible to get help when you need it most. I've been trying to figure out how to apply for more unemployment benefits for weeks and every NYS Department of Labor rep gives me different information.

I went through this exact same situation a few months ago! After my 26 weeks ran out, I was able to file a new claim because I had worked enough during my benefit year. The key thing to know is that NY looks at your wages earned AFTER your original claim start date. I had to wait until my full benefit year ended (365 days from my first claim) before I could apply for the new claim. When I finally did apply through my.ny.gov, it took about 2-3 weeks to get approved. Just make sure you have all your employment records ready from any work you did during your previous claim period, even if it was part-time or temporary work.

Welcome to the community @Caleb Stark! This thread really has become the unofficial NYSDOL direct deposit troubleshooting bible. I love seeing how everyone's individual struggles turned into this comprehensive solution guide. One small tip I'd add to your 10pm attempt tonight - after you successfully update your info in incognito mode, take a screenshot of the confirmation page like @Malik Davis suggested. I learned this the hard way when I had to prove to an agent that I had actually made the change correctly. Also, don't be discouraged if the first attempt doesn't work - sometimes it takes 2-3 tries even with all the right conditions. The system truly is that finicky! Looking forward to hearing your success story tomorrow. Good luck tonight!

As someone who just went through this nightmare process last month, I can confirm that this thread is absolutely the most comprehensive guide available anywhere! I tried literally everything mentioned here and what finally worked for me was the incognito browser method combined with trying around 11:30pm on a weeknight. The key insight that saved me was realizing that even though I could see the "Update Payment Method" option during the day, the actual form submission would fail until I tried during true off-peak hours. Also want to emphasize what @Carmen Ortiz mentioned about the 7-10 day verification period - my first payment came as a paper check exactly 8 days after I updated my info, which would have freaked me out if I hadn't read about it here first. One additional tip: if you're using a credit union like I am, make sure you're using the correct routing number for direct deposits (not wire transfers) - they're sometimes different and the system will reject wire routing numbers. This community has basically created the definitive troubleshooting manual that NYSDOL should have provided from day one. Huge thanks to everyone who shared their experiences!

As someone who went through this recently, I can confirm what others have said about the 26-week limit and notifications. What I found really helpful was setting up a simple spreadsheet to track my weeks - just the date I filed each claim and a running count. That way I knew exactly where I stood without having to dig through the NYS Department of Labor website every time. Also, don't wait until the last minute to start preparing for when benefits end - I wish I had started looking into other resources and assistance programs earlier in the process rather than scrambling at week 24!

I went through this exact same anxiety when I was approaching my benefit limit last year. The NYS Department of Labor does send notifications, but I found it really helpful to also call the automated phone system (1-888-209-8124) where you can check your remaining benefit balance 24/7 without waiting on hold. Just have your PIN ready. The automated system will tell you exactly how many weeks and dollars you have left. I started checking this weekly once I hit week 20 just to stay on top of it. Also, start documenting all your job search activities really carefully now - if you do qualify for any extensions or need to appeal anything later, having detailed records of your job search efforts is super important.