Just a heads up - make sure you apply as soon as possible because there's a waiting week before you can start receiving benefits. Also you'll need to file weekly claims every week even if your initial application is still being processed. The NYS Department of Labor website has all the instructions but it can be confusing at first.

I went through this process about 6 months ago when I was laid off. One thing I wish someone had told me is to take screenshots of your confirmation pages after you submit everything - the system can be glitchy sometimes and it's good to have proof you filed on time. Also, if you worked for multiple employers in the past 18 months, gather all that info before you start because the application will time out if you take too long looking things up. Good luck with your application!

Same thing happened to my neighbor - turned out she forgot to report some cash tips from her waitressing job. NYS Department of Labor just made her pay it back over time, no criminal charges. As long as you cooperate and don't try to hide anything, you should be okay.

I went through something similar with NYS DOL last year - got an overpayment notice for $3,400 and was absolutely terrified about the fraud investigation part. Turns out I had been miscalculating my gross vs net earnings when reporting part-time work. The key thing that helped me was gathering ALL my pay stubs and employment records before my hearing. I also wrote a detailed letter explaining exactly how I calculated my earnings each week and where I think the confusion happened. The hearing officer could see it was an honest mistake and they waived the fraud penalties, though I still had to repay the overpayment. Don't panic - focus on documenting everything and being completely transparent about what happened.

I'm in a similar boat but just moved from NY to Florida to help with family stuff. Been on NY unemployment since losing my restaurant job in June. The stress of not knowing if I could keep my benefits was eating me alive until I called and confirmed - you're totally fine to keep claiming as long as you worked in NY originally. Just make sure you update your address ASAP and keep doing your 3 weekly job searches. I've been documenting everything in a Google doc just in case they audit me later. Hope your parent recovers quickly! 🙏

Just wanted to chime in as someone who went through this exact situation! I moved from NY to North Carolina last year while on unemployment and was terrified I'd lose my benefits. Called the unemployment office (after being on hold for literally 3 hours) and they confirmed you can absolutely keep claiming NY benefits while living out of state. The key things are: 1) Update your address in the system immediately, 2) Keep doing your required work searches (NY requires 3 per week), 3) Be available to work/willing to accept a job in NY if offered, and 4) Document EVERYTHING for potential audits. I ended up being on NY unemployment for about 4 months while living in NC with zero issues. The interstate thing really isn't a problem as long as you follow all the other rules. Good luck with everything and hope your parent recovers well! ❤️

The whole system is ridiculous anyway. Whether you're federal, state, or private sector, NYS Department of Labor takes forever to process anything and you can never reach anyone on the phone. Good luck OP, hope your experience is better than most of us have had with their so-called customer service.

Just wanted to add that when you file your UCFE claim through NYS Department of Labor, make sure you select "Federal Government" as your employer type in the application. This helps them route your claim correctly for processing. Also, don't be surprised if your monetary determination letter shows wages from "United States of America" instead of "USPS" - that's normal for federal employee claims. The benefit calculation works the same way as regular unemployment, just sourced from federal wages.

Y'all are making this so complicated. Just certify for this week on Sunday like normal. Then on Tuesday (after Labor Day) file a new claim. Then keep certifying each week. If payments stop, THAT'S when you need to call.

I went through this exact same situation with my BYE falling on July 4th last year. Here's what worked for me: certify this Sunday as normal, then file your new claim on Tuesday September 5th (the day after Labor Day). The holiday doesn't change the basic process, but it might delay processing times since offices are closed Monday. Keep all your documentation ready - especially any part-time work records since you mentioned freelancing. The key is to not skip any certifications during the transition. If your payments get held up (which honestly happens to most people), you'll need to call, but at least you won't lose any weeks by following the normal schedule. Good luck!