Just want to say thanks for posting this because I think a lot of people don't realize how serious this stuff is. The unemployment office definitely has ways of finding out about unreported income and the penalties are no joke.

I went through something similar a few years ago and I know how overwhelming it feels right now. The most important thing is to respond to everything they send you immediately and be completely honest going forward. In my case, I owed about $3,800 in overpayments plus penalties. I was able to set up a payment plan for $150/month which made it manageable. The criminal prosecution threat is scary but from what I've seen, they usually only pursue that for much larger amounts or repeat offenders. You might also want to check if you qualify for a waiver - sometimes they'll reduce penalties if you can show financial hardship or that the overpayment wasn't entirely your fault. Document everything and keep copies of all correspondence. This too shall pass, even though it doesn't feel like it right now.

The NYS Department of Labor benefit calculator used to be easier to find on their website but they moved everything around. Your benefit rate also depends on having enough wages in your base period to qualify, not just the weekly amount calculation. If you haven't worked consistently or had gaps in employment it might affect your eligibility too.

I just went through this process a few months ago after getting laid off from my construction job. You're right that you can't get the exact amount until you file, but I found a rough way to estimate it. Look at your pay stubs from your highest-earning quarter (usually your most recent full quarter before layoff) and add up the gross wages. Then divide by 26 - that gives you a ballpark figure, though it'll be capped at the maximum weekly benefit amount. With your salary plus the part-time work, you'll probably hit or get close to the maximum. The good news is NYS Department of Labor processes claims pretty quickly once you file, so you won't be waiting weeks to find out your actual rate.

Restaurant closures usually process faster than other claim types since there's no question about the reason for separation. Make sure you have your last pay stub and any closure notice from your employer ready in case they ask for documentation. Also double-check that your SSN and address are exactly right in your application - small errors can cause delays.

I went through this exact same situation last year when my restaurant job ended due to closure. It took about 2.5 weeks for my initial claim to get approved, which was nerve-wracking when bills were piling up. One thing that helped me was setting up direct deposit if you haven't already - it speeds up payment once you're approved. Also, start documenting your job search activities now even while waiting, because once approved you'll need to show you're actively looking for work. The good news is restaurant industry layoffs due to closure are usually pretty straightforward for them to process since there's no dispute about eligibility.

DETAILED GUIDE FOR GETTING THROUGH: After dealing with this for months, here's what I learned: 1. Regular phone lines are overwhelmed, especially midday 2. Using claimyr.com is honestly the fastest way - they handle the hold time for you 3. Have your claim info ready when you get through 4. Be super nice to the rep, they're dealing with angry people all day 5. Take detailed notes during your call I know paying $20 seems annoying but its better than wasting days trying to get through. The service at claimyr.com is legit and they guarantee you'll get through or money back. Good luck everyone!

Just wanted to say thank you to everyone who mentioned claimyr.com - I was skeptical at first but decided to give it a shot after reading all the positive feedback here. Used it yesterday and actually got through to a rep in about 90 minutes! Finally got my claim sorted out after being stuck for 3 weeks. The $20 fee felt steep but honestly it was so worth it compared to the stress and time I was wasting calling dozens of times a day. For anyone still on the fence, I'd definitely recommend giving it a try - the peace of mind alone is worth it when you're dealing with bills piling up.

The whole NYS Department of Labor appeal system is a joke honestly. They side with employers like 90% of the time no matter what evidence you have. I filed an appeal last year for wrongful termination and even with a hostile work environment documented they still denied me. But you should still try because occasionally they do the right thing.

I just went through the appeal process successfully a few months ago! One thing that really helped me was writing a detailed timeline of events leading up to my termination. Include dates, times, and any witnesses present when you reported the unsafe conditions. Also, if you have any photos or documentation of the unsafe conditions, definitely include those. The Administrative Law Judge seemed really interested in the fact that I had tried to address the issues internally first before being terminated. Don't give up - retaliation for reporting safety issues is taken seriously in these hearings. Make sure to emphasize that the "poor performance" claims only came up after you complained about safety.