I'm really sorry to hear about your situation, Grace. The restaurant industry has been so unpredictable, and it sounds like you're dealing with exactly what the partial unemployment system was designed to help with. A few additional tips that might help: - When you apply online, make sure you have your employer's federal tax ID number (EIN) ready - sometimes the system can't find your employer without it - If you're getting direct deposit, it usually takes about 2-3 business days after certification for the payment to hit your account - Keep screenshots of your weekly certifications in case there are any issues later Also, don't stress too much about your employer being notified. In my experience, most restaurant managers understand that partial unemployment is just part of the business when hours fluctuate. It's actually better for them too since they can keep trained staff on reduced hours instead of having to completely lay people off and then rehire and retrain later. You're taking the right steps by applying now. Even if your hours pick up again, having that safety net in place is so important in this industry. Good luck with your application!

I went through this exact same situation last year when my hours at a diner got cut from full-time to just weekend shifts. Here's what I learned that might help: The NY unemployment system actually works pretty well for restaurant workers once you understand it. You can definitely get partial benefits with reduced hours - I was getting around $200-250 per week when I was only working 12-15 hours. One thing that really helped me was keeping a simple log of my actual hours worked and tips earned each day. I used the notes app on my phone to track everything because the weekly certification asks for specific numbers. Also, make sure you report your tips honestly - they cross-reference with what your employer reports, and any discrepancies can delay your payments. The employer notification thing stressed me out too, but my manager was actually understanding about it. Most restaurant owners know this is just part of the business cycle. Apply ASAP because there's usually a waiting period before your first payment. The sooner you get in the system, the sooner you'll start getting help with those bills. You've got this!

I feel your pain with the confusing phone system! Just wanted to add that if you do use the 1-888-209-8124 number that Dmitri mentioned, make sure you have your claim confirmation number from your last filing ready too - sometimes the system asks for it. Also, if you get an error message saying the system is busy, try calling back in like 15-20 minutes rather than immediately. The automated system seems to have limits on how many people can use it at once. Hope this helps and you get through soon!

I went through the same exact frustration last month! The key is to call 1-888-209-8124 during your designated filing window (sounds like you figured out yours is Tuesday-Thursday). I found the best time is actually around 6-7 AM on Tuesday mornings - way less traffic on the system. Also pro tip: if the automated system tells you "your call cannot be completed" don't hang up right away, sometimes it still connects you after a few seconds. Make sure you have your SSN, PIN, and last week's confirmation number ready. The whole process takes about 5-10 minutes once you get through. Hang in there - the system is definitely poorly designed but it does work eventually!

For identity verification issues (which is what this sounds like), try calling their fraud department directly instead of the main number. The fraud dept number should be on their website and usually has shorter wait times because fewer people know about it. If it's actually an ID verification issue they can help you just the same as the main line.

I feel your pain! Same exact situation happened to me 3 months ago - got the dreaded "call within 7 days" email and spent literally 6 days straight trying to get through. What finally worked for me was a combination of things: 1) Called at exactly 7:59 AM (before they officially open) and somehow got in queue early, 2) Used redial on my phone so I could call back faster when it disconnected, and 3) Had multiple phones going at once (mine + borrowed my roommate's). I know it sounds extreme but I was desperate. Also document EVERYTHING - screenshots of your call log, the original email, etc. When I finally got through the agent said they see this all the time and they know their phone system is trash. Don't give up! Even if you miss the 7-day thing, keep trying and explain you've been calling nonstop. The agents are usually understanding about it since they deal with these complaints all day. You've got this! 💪

I went through the exact same confusion! Looking at your transcript, the key thing to understand is that your taxable income was already $0 before the unemployment tax exclusion. Even though $10,200 of your unemployment is now tax-free, it doesn't change your bottom line since you weren't paying tax on it anyway due to the standard deduction. The IRS only sends additional refunds if you actually paid tax on unemployment income that's now excluded. In your case, with such low overall income, you were already in the 0% tax bracket. I know it's disappointing when you hear about others getting refunds, but your transcript is actually showing everything is correct - no additional refund is coming because none is owed.

I'm dealing with a similar situation and your transcript actually tells the whole story! Looking at your numbers - AGI of $10,898 with $0 taxable income - you were already below the tax threshold before the unemployment exclusion even existed. The $10,200 exclusion only helps people who actually paid tax on their unemployment benefits. Since you had such low total income, you qualified for the standard deduction which brought your taxable income to zero anyway. It's frustrating because everyone talks about getting these unemployment refunds, but if you weren't paying tax on that income originally, there's nothing to refund. The IRS isn't processing your case because mathematically, you don't qualify for an additional refund. Your situation is actually resolved correctly - no action needed!

This whole system is so messed up! They expect you to take any job but then half the employers want you to jump through ridiculous hoops like drug tests, background checks, credit checks. Meanwhile NYS Department of Labor makes it impossible to actually talk to a human being when you have questions. I've been fighting with them for months over my claim status.

I went through something similar about 6 months ago. From what I learned, the NYS Department of Labor generally considers refusing a pre-employment drug test as withdrawing your application rather than refusing suitable work. The key distinction is that you never actually received a firm job offer - the drug test was a prerequisite TO getting the offer. I ended up calling the unemployment office (took forever to get through) and they confirmed that as long as you're still actively job searching and meeting your weekly requirements, this shouldn't affect your benefits. Just make sure you're documenting all your job search activities in case they ever audit your claim.