UPDATE: I tried again this morning and still nothing. Used a different browser too. I finally broke down and called them. After 2.5 hours on hold (!!!) I finally got through. Turns out there was a "program review" flag on my account that was blocking me from certifying. The agent removed it and I was able to certify right away. She said this is happening to a bunch of people right now because of some internal review process they're doing. So if anyone else runs into this problem, unfortunately you DO need to call. Thanks everyone for your help!

Wow, thanks for the update! This is really helpful to know. I'm dealing with a similar issue right now where my certification option just disappeared even though I have effective days and benefits left. Based on your experience, it sounds like I should probably just bite the bullet and call them directly rather than keep trying different browsers and waiting. Did the agent give you any insight into why these "program reviews" are happening so frequently right now? Just trying to understand if this is something that might happen again in the future.

Keep certifying your weekly claims even while waiting for approval. Once they process your initial claim, you'll get backpay for all the weeks you certified. The key is staying consistent with your weekly filings and job search activities. Document everything in case they ask for proof later.

I'm in a similar situation - filed 7 weeks ago and still waiting. What I've learned is that you can also try contacting your local assemblyperson or state senator's office. They sometimes have dedicated liaisons who can help escalate cases with the Department of Labor. I reached out to mine last week and they said they'd make an inquiry on my behalf. Worth a shot if the phone lines aren't working for you. Also make sure you're keeping records of all your job search activities and any correspondence attempts with DOL.

Just claim whatever you normally claim on your regular job taxes. The unemployment system in NY is confusing enough without overthinking the exemptions part.

Just to add to what everyone else has said - you're absolutely right to be careful about this! When I first filed, I was also worried about messing up my claim. The good news is that the exemptions section is really just about tax withholding, not your benefit calculation. Since you have two kids and are married, you could reasonably claim 2 or 3 exemptions (similar to what you'd claim on a W-4), but keep in mind that unemployment benefits are fully taxable income at both federal and state levels. Some people prefer to claim fewer exemptions or even zero to avoid owing money at tax time, since unemployment income can sometimes push you into a different tax bracket than you expect.

i know someone who got in huge trouble for reporting wrong. they made him pay back like $8000! but that was cuz he didnt report ANY income not cuz he reported wrong type

As someone who's been dealing with self-employment income reporting for a while, I can confirm what others have said - definitely report NET income. I run a small online business and learned this the hard way after initially reporting gross sales. For your Etsy shop, calculate: (Total sales) - (Etsy fees + shipping costs + materials + any other direct business expenses) = Net income to report. Since you've been over-reporting for a while, you're likely owed money from previous weeks. I'd suggest documenting all your actual net income for those past weeks before calling NYSDOL. Having clear numbers will make the adjustment process smoother if you can actually get through to someone. The key is showing them you've been conservative and honest, just using the wrong calculation method. Keep detailed spreadsheets going forward - it'll save you headaches later!

THE WHOLE SYSTEM IS BROKEN! I've been waiting 5 WEEKS for my benefits and they keep giving me the runaround. Every time I call they tell me something different about what documents they need. It's like they don't want to pay anyone.

Restaurant workers sometimes have delays because tips aren't always reported correctly by employers. NYS Department of Labor has to verify your actual wages which can take extra time if there are discrepancies in the wage records.