been there! just keep your job search records updated and ready because they might ask for them during the new claim review process

I went through this exact same situation about 3 months ago and it was definitely stressful at first! The key thing is to file your new claim as soon as possible - don't wait. When you file the new claim, they'll look at your wages from the past 15 months to determine eligibility, so any work you did while collecting benefits should count toward your new base period. One tip: gather all your employment documentation beforehand including any 1099s or W-2s from temporary or part-time work during your benefit year. The process took about 10 days for me to get approved and start receiving benefits again. Hang in there - you're not alone in dealing with this confusing system!

THE SYSTEM IS SO MESSED UP!!! They make these rules so complicated that honest people like you end up in trouble just for not understanding their bureaucratic nonsense. Meanwhile people who actually commit fraud probably get away with it. I hope you get this sorted out without too much hassle.

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.

I work in IT (not for NY unemployment lol) but these account lockouts are pretty standard security features. The 24 hour thing is annoying but it's actually protecting your account. What's MORE annoying is that some government sites count CAPS LOCK as a failed password attempt even if you type the right password. So maybe check that next time? Just a thought.

To add to what others have said, once you get back into your account, I strongly recommend setting up two-factor authentication if you haven't already. NY unemployment started offering this in January 2025, and it's much better than just relying on a password. With 2FA enabled, even if you forget your password, you can still get in using the verification code they send to your phone.

ugh the whole NYS Department of Labor system is such a mess. took them 3 weeks to get my claim sorted out and then another week before i could even see it online. meanwhile bills dont stop coming just because their computer system sucks

I'm dealing with this exact same issue right now! Filed my claim 6 days ago and nothing is showing up in my account either. It's so stressful not knowing if everything went through properly. Reading these comments makes me feel a bit better knowing it's normal for there to be a delay. I guess I'll keep checking daily and hope it appears soon. The waiting is the worst part when you're already stressed about being unemployed.

Just make sure you report all your circumstances accurately when you file. NYS Department of Labor will want to know about your employment status, when your leave ended, and when you became available for work. Don't try to file while you're still on active PFL - wait until you're genuinely able and available to accept employment.

I went through something very similar when I had my daughter two years ago. The key thing to understand is timing - you absolutely cannot collect unemployment benefits while you're still receiving paid family leave payments, even if you know your job is being eliminated. NYS Department of Labor considers you "not available for work" while on PFL. You have to wait until your family leave period officially ends and you're ready to return to work before filing your UI claim. When you do file, make sure to clearly explain the sequence of events - that you were employed, went on PFL, then became unemployed due to layoffs after your leave period. The department will verify your base period wages separately from any PFL payments you received.