I'm also a per diem worker (radiology tech) and have been stressing about this exact same thing! Reading through everyone's experiences here has been SO helpful. I've been answering NO to refusing work when I just don't pick up shifts from our scheduling app, but I was always second-guessing myself. The way the lawyer @Sofia Ramirez explained the legal distinction really cleared things up - there's a big difference between shifts being posted for anyone to claim vs. someone specifically calling you with an offer. It's frustrating that the NY unemployment system makes this so confusing for per diem workers when we're such a huge part of the healthcare workforce. I'm going to keep answering the same way and document everything just in case. Thanks everyone for sharing - it's reassuring to know we're all dealing with the same struggle!

I'm also a per diem worker (occupational therapist) and this thread is exactly what I needed! I've been having panic attacks every Sunday when I have to do my weekly certification because I was never sure if I was answering correctly. Like so many of you, I work through an app where shifts are posted and we can claim them - but some weeks I just don't pick any up (especially after really busy periods when I need to recharge). The explanation from @Sofia Ramirez about the legal distinction between "available shifts" and "direct offers" finally makes sense of this whole mess. I've been answering NO to refusing work when I just don't claim shifts from the portal, and it sounds like that's correct. It's honestly insane that NY doesn't have clearer guidance for per diem workers - we're everywhere in healthcare! This thread should be stickied or something because I guarantee thousands of other per diem workers are dealing with this same confusion every week.

I'm going through this exact same nightmare right now! Just spent 2 hours trying to create a NY.gov ID account and keep getting that same "different username" error when I KNOW I've never used their system before. Reading through this thread has been such a relief - I was starting to think I was losing my mind! The detective work everyone has done here is absolutely incredible. @Kiara Greene's discovery about the three partial records and the "cross-system database conflicts" magic phrase is pure gold. I'm now realizing my issue might be connected to when I registered to vote after moving last year, or maybe from when I helped my mom research Medicare supplement plans on a NY state website. I'm definitely going to try the 8 AM call strategy tomorrow armed with all my info variations - old addresses, different email formats, and even family connections who might have listed me as an emergency contact. It's completely bonkers that we need to become database archaeologists just to access basic government services, but this thread has given me actual hope instead of just frustration. This community is amazing for sharing real solutions instead of just venting. Thank you all for turning this bureaucratic disaster into a collaborative troubleshooting masterpiece! I'll report back with my results 🤞

Just wanted to add my experience to this incredible thread! I was dealing with the same "different username" error for almost a week and was about to give up when I found this goldmine of troubleshooting advice. After reading through everyone's detective work, I realized my issue might be connected to when I helped my elderly neighbor set up her heating assistance application online a few years ago using my laptop. I also registered as a poll worker back in 2022, which probably created another data fragment in their system. I tried the 8 AM call strategy this morning using the "cross-system database conflicts" phrase that @Kiara Greene discovered, and it worked! The rep found TWO partial records - one from the poll worker registration and another from when I was listed as a backup contact on my brother's unemployment claim during COVID (which I had completely forgotten about). It took about 35 minutes on the phone, but she was able to merge the records and clear the conflicts. Finally have my NY.gov ID working! For anyone still fighting this battle: definitely try calling right at 8 AM, use that magic phrase, and have ALL your info ready - old addresses, different email formats, family member names who might have listed you as a contact for anything NY state-related. The key is being persistent and not letting them brush you off with "try again later." This thread has been absolutely invaluable - thank you all for sharing your real experiences and creating the unofficial troubleshooting guide that should exist on their website but doesn't! 🙌

I went through something very similar with NYS DOL about a year ago - $2,300 overpayment from reporting confusion when I was working split shifts at a restaurant. The fear about criminal charges was paralyzing, but I want to reassure you that jail time simply doesn't happen for cases like yours. Criminal prosecution in NY requires proving deliberate, systematic fraud - we're talking about people using fake identities or stealing thousands while fully employed, not honest workers confused about complex reporting rules. What helped me was realizing this is a civil administrative issue that NYS DOL handles routinely. I gathered all my pay stubs and work schedules from that period and submitted an appeal explaining exactly where the reporting instructions were unclear to me. The hearing officer could easily tell I was making good faith efforts to comply with confusing requirements rather than trying to cheat the system. They reduced my overpayment to about $700 with a reasonable payment plan. The most important advice I can give you is to respond to their notice before the deadline and focus on documenting your honest confusion about the reporting process. The anxiety is definitely the worst part - once you start taking concrete steps to address it properly, everything becomes much more manageable. You're going to be okay.

I completely understand your terror right now - I went through this exact situation with NYS DOL about 13 months ago over a $2,450 overpayment from confused reporting while juggling two part-time jobs with different pay schedules. The panic about criminal charges was absolutely overwhelming and I lost weeks of sleep over it, but I want to give you some real peace of mind: you are not going to jail over this. What I learned through the entire process is that criminal prosecution for unemployment fraud in NY requires proving deliberate, systematic intent to defraud the state - we're talking about cases involving fake identities, completely fabricated work history, or organized schemes stealing tens of thousands of dollars. Your $2,800 overpayment from honest confusion about part-time work reporting falls into the civil administrative category that NYS DOL handles thousands of times per year. The breakthrough for me came when I stopped catastrophizing and started treating this like any other bureaucratic process. I gathered every piece of documentation I could find from that period - pay stubs, work schedules, bank statements, even screenshots of the confusing parts of their online portal - and wrote a detailed explanation of exactly where I was confused about the reporting requirements. The administrative hearing was much less scary than I expected. The officer could clearly distinguish between my legitimate confusion about overlapping pay periods and someone trying to game the system. They reduced my overpayment by about 70% after determining it was an honest error and set up a payment plan I could actually manage. The most important thing you can do right now is respond to their notice before the deadline and focus your energy on building your appeal case rather than spiraling about consequences that simply won't happen in your situation. The anxiety is definitely the worst part of this whole experience - once you start taking concrete action, everything becomes much more manageable. Trust me, you're going to get through this and you're definitely not going to jail.

Hey! Just wanted to share my experience since I literally went through this exact same thing about 2 weeks ago. The waiting period after seeing "Questionnaire Complete" is definitely the most stressful part because you have no idea what's happening! My timeline: Got my monetary determination letter with PIN exactly 19 days after submitting. The letter comes in a pretty official NYS Department of Labor envelope - definitely don't toss it thinking it's junk mail! A few things I wish I had known: **Start your work search log TODAY** - even if you have to recreate the past week from memory. You'll need 3 documented activities per week once you start certifying. I used a simple spreadsheet: Date | Company | Position | Application Method (Indeed, LinkedIn, company website, etc.) **Save everything** - Take screenshots of every page during the process and save all confirmation emails. The system can be glitchy and having documentation saved me when I had questions later. **Backdating works** - You can claim benefits back to your actual last day of work, even weeks before you applied. I was unemployed for 8 days before I even knew I could file, and got paid for all of it. **Certification timing** - Once you get your PIN, certify early Sunday morning (like 7-8am). The website gets super slow later in the day and sometimes crashes. The initial setup when you first log in with your PIN will have you certify for ALL weeks since your last day of work, so be ready with your work search activities for each week. Hang in there - the waiting is the worst part but once you're in the system it becomes much more routine! 🙏

Just went through this same process a few weeks ago! The wait for your PIN is definitely nerve-wracking but here's what helped me get through it: **Timeline**: Mine took about 2.5 weeks to arrive, but I've seen people get it anywhere from 10 days to a month depending on their current backlog. **Important while waiting**: Start documenting your job search activities NOW! You'll need to report 3 per week once you start certifying. I kept a simple log with date, company name, position applied for, and where I applied (LinkedIn, Indeed, company site, etc.). Trust me, trying to remember weeks later is impossible. **About the PIN**: It comes in an official NYS DOL envelope with your monetary determination letter. Don't accidentally toss it as junk mail! The letter will have your weekly benefit amount and the 4-digit PIN you need. **Backdating**: Good news - you can claim benefits back to your actual last day of work, even if you applied later. When you first log in with your PIN, the system will have you certify for ALL missed weeks since you became unemployed. **Weekly certification**: You can do it any day but Sunday-Thursday works best. I certify Sunday mornings around 8am to avoid website crashes later in the day. The waiting is honestly the hardest part! Once you get your PIN and start the weekly routine, it becomes much more manageable. Keep your chin up - you're doing everything right! 👍

As someone who just completed my first season doing holiday retail and is now facing my first off-season period, this entire discussion has been incredibly reassuring and educational! I had been losing sleep worrying about how I'd make it through the next few months financially. Reading about everyone's successful experiences with NYS DOL unemployment benefits for seasonal workers has completely changed my perspective. I'm particularly grateful for all the practical advice about documentation, the base period calculations, and being honest about the seasonal nature of our work. It's amazing to discover there's actually a system in place to support people like us during transition periods. I'm planning to file my claim early next week and start that job search spreadsheet everyone keeps mentioning. Thank you all for creating such a supportive space where seasonal workers can share real experiences and practical guidance - it makes this whole process feel so much less intimidating!

I'm completely new to seasonal work and just started lurking in this community after finishing my first seasonal job at a local farm stand that ran through the fall harvest season. This entire thread has been absolutely mind-blowing - I genuinely had no clue that seasonal workers could even be eligible for unemployment benefits! I was basically resigned to draining my savings account until spring planting season starts up again. Reading through everyone's detailed experiences and success stories has given me so much hope and confidence. The practical advice about wage requirements, documentation, and the application process is exactly what I needed to hear. I'm especially relieved to learn that NYS DOL actually recognizes and accommodates seasonal employment patterns rather than penalizing us for it. Planning to gather all my employment documents this week and file my first claim. This community is such an amazing resource - thank you all for sharing your knowledge so generously with newcomers like me!