I'm in a similar situation and just went through this process! As an independent contractor, your eligibility really depends on whether you have ANY W2 income in your base period. Since you mentioned having a part-time W2 job about a year ago, definitely check if that falls within your base period (first 4 of last 5 completed calendar quarters). Even if you're not sure, apply anyway - the worst they can say is no, and you might be surprised. Also, with your current $170/week from remaining clients, you'd likely qualify for partial benefits if you do have that W2 history. The key is being completely honest about all your income when you certify weekly. Don't let the confusing website discourage you - many people think they won't qualify but end up getting benefits. Good luck!

I was in almost the exact same situation last year! Independent contractor for about 8 months, lost my main client, still had some small work coming in. Here's what I learned: definitely apply even if you're unsure about qualifying. The system is confusing but there are more pathways than you'd think. Since you had that W2 job a year ago, calculate your base period carefully - it might still count. I ended up qualifying for partial benefits even while doing some freelance work. The key is reporting everything honestly during weekly certifications. Also, don't get discouraged if the initial application seems overwhelming - I almost gave up halfway through but I'm so glad I didn't. You've got nothing to lose by applying and potentially a lot to gain. The worst case scenario is they say no, but at least you'll know for sure rather than wondering "what if.

I had issues getting through to NYS Department of Labor when I had questions about garnishments on my account. If you need to talk to someone about this stuff, I found this service called Claimyr that helped me get through to an actual agent. Check out claimyr.com - they have a video demo at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI that shows how it works. Way easier than sitting on hold for hours.

Just make sure you keep paying your current support while on unemployment. The court doesn't care if you're unemployed, they still expect the payments. If you can't afford it, you need to petition for a modification BEFORE you fall behind.

omg yes file anyway!! my sister thought she couldnt get anything cause her boss said they were too small but turns out he was lying and just trying to avoid paying taxes

Just to add some clarity here - the threshold for employer coverage in NY is actually quite low. Employers must pay unemployment insurance if they pay $300 or more in wages in any calendar quarter, OR if they employ one or more workers for some portion of a day in each of 20 different calendar weeks. So most legitimate employers should be covered. If your friend's employer is claiming they don't participate, it's worth having her file a claim anyway because NYS Department of Labor will investigate and determine if the employer was actually required to be paying in. Don't take the employer's word for it!

Anyone else find it insane that we're required by law to report this income but they make it nearly impossible to get the forms we need? Make it make sense!

I'm dealing with the exact same situation right now! Collected unemployment starting March 2020 and the 2020 1099-G is nowhere to be found online. From reading all these responses, it sounds like claimyr.com might be worth trying since so many people have had success with it. Has anyone tried the workforce center option that was mentioned? There's one near me and if I can avoid the phone nightmare that might be easier. Also really appreciate the tip about contacting your assemblyperson - never would have thought of that! This whole system is so frustrating when you're just trying to file your taxes correctly.

This happened to me too! After 6 days of no deposit, I called my bank (Bank of America) and they said the payment was there but flagged for manual review because of the large amount. They released it within an hour once I confirmed it was legit. Definitely call your bank first - saved me from dealing with the DOL phone maze! 🏦✨

Check with your bank ASAP! Same thing happened to my sister - payment showed released for a week but her credit union was holding it for fraud review because of the large backpay amount. Once she called and verified it was legitimate unemployment, they released it same day. Banks often flag big government payments automatically. Way easier than trying to get through to DOL! 💰