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Try certifying really early in the morning like 5 or 6 AM when fewer people are online. That's what I do and never have problems.
I'm having the same issue! Been trying since 8am and keep getting timeout errors. What's frustrating is that I can see my claim status and payment history just fine, but the moment I click on weekly certification the whole thing crashes. I tried using my phone's mobile data instead of wifi in case it was a connection issue on my end, but no luck. Really hoping this gets fixed soon because I can't afford to miss this week either.
The whole system is designed to push people into taking crappy jobs so they can get you off the unemployment rolls. They'll tell you it's about 'suitable work' but really they just want to save money. Document everything and know your rights.
I'm new to this community and just started collecting unemployment myself after being laid off from my marketing job. This is really helpful information - I had no idea about the 80% rule for the first 13 weeks! I'm saving this thread because I'm sure I'll need to reference it. Quick question though - when you document job offers you decline, what's the best way to do that? Should I keep emails, write down details, or is there a specific form NYS DOL wants us to use? Thanks for sharing your experience!
Thank you all so much for the help! I think I understand now - I'll definitely answer YES to returning to work, and I'll track my hours meticulously. Since I'll be working 4 hours each day, 5 days a week, it sounds like I probably won't get any UI benefits, which is disappointing but at least I know what to expect. I'll keep certifying every week anyway to keep my claim active while I look for full-time work. Really appreciate all the explanations!
Just wanted to add something important that might help you and others - make sure you understand the difference between "gross earnings" and "net pay" when reporting. NY DOL wants your GROSS earnings (before any deductions like taxes, insurance, etc.), not what you actually take home. I made this mistake early on and had to correct it later. Also, if your employer gives you any tips or bonuses, those count toward your gross earnings too and need to be reported. Keep all your pay stubs and write down your daily hours immediately - don't try to remember later because DOL is very strict about accuracy!
This is such an important distinction! I almost made that same mistake when I first started reporting. Isabella is absolutely right - they want the gross amount before any deductions. And yes, definitely write down your hours every single day! I tried to reconstruct my hours from memory once and got completely mixed up. Now I keep a little notebook where I jot down my start/end times each day. It's saved me so much stress during weekly certifications. Thanks for mentioning the tips and bonuses too - I hadn't thought about those counting toward gross earnings!
UPDATE: My benefits FINALLY hit my KeyBank account this morning! It took exactly 32 days from when they were released. For anyone else waiting, hang in there - they do eventually come through. I'm definitely switching to direct deposit to my regular bank now though - never going through this stress again!
Wow, what a relief to see this thread! I'm dealing with the exact same nightmare - my benefits were released on 4/20 and it's now 5/16 with absolutely nothing in my KeyBank account. I've been checking obsessively every day thinking maybe I missed something. Reading through all these responses has been incredibly helpful, especially knowing there's an official timeline now (May 24th). I had no idea about the option to switch to direct deposit with my regular bank - that's definitely my next move once this gets sorted out. The stress of not knowing when (or if) the money will show up is almost worse than being unemployed in the first place! Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences and updates. It's nice to know we're not alone in this mess and that the money does eventually come through, even if it takes over a month. Keeping my fingers crossed that mine shows up soon!
Savanna Franklin
Just a heads up - you can also set up quarterly estimated tax payments if you think you'll be on unemployment again this year. That way you won't get hit with a huge bill next tax season.
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Peyton Clarke
For what it's worth, I went through this exact same situation two years ago. I was terrified about owing a huge amount, but it ended up being manageable. If you can't pay the full amount when you file, the IRS has payment plan options available. Don't let the stress keep you from filing on time though - there are penalties for filing late that are worse than just owing money. Also, if you're still job searching, consider having taxes withheld from any future unemployment benefits to avoid this situation again.
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