This thread is like finding a goldmine after days of frustration! 🏆 Just spent the last 4 days trying to call Way2Go with absolutely zero success - just endless automated menus and disconnections. Reading through all these actual working solutions has me feeling hopeful again! Already downloaded the app and wow, that secure messaging feature is buried deeper than buried treasure. Just sent my message about a transaction dispute with all the screenshots. Also gonna try that lunch hour timing trick tomorrow if I need to follow up by phone. It's absolutely wild that we had to become customer service archaeologists just to figure out how to contact them, but this community is pure gold for sharing what actually works! Thank you all for doing Way2Go's job better than they do 😅🙏

Just went through this exact nightmare last month! Here's what finally worked for me: Try calling right at 8:00 AM sharp on weekdays - that's when their queue resets and you have the best chance before it gets flooded. Also found out if you press 3 for "report fraudulent charges" it connects you to a priority line with way shorter wait times. I know it sounds sketchy but once you get through just explain your actual issue - they'll transfer you to the right department but at least you're talking to a human! Got through in 15 minutes vs the usual 3+ hour torture. Hope this helps! 🤞

just took contract work last month and it was fine, no issues with reporting it on my weekly claims. the unemployment office doesn't care as long as you're honest about hours and pay

I went through this exact situation a few months ago! The key thing that helped me was keeping really detailed records - I made a simple spreadsheet tracking exactly which days I worked, how many hours each day, and what I earned. When you file your weekly claim, you'll answer "yes" to working during that week and then enter the total gross earnings and hours worked. The system will automatically calculate your reduced benefit amount. One tip: if your contract work spans multiple claim weeks, make sure you're allocating the earnings to the correct weeks based on when you actually performed the work, not when you submitted invoices or got paid. This kept me out of trouble with audits later on.

omg this is exactly what happened to my sister except she didnt report it at first because she thought it was just a one time thing and then they found out somehow and she had to pay back like $1200 😭

I'm dealing with something similar right now! Been on unemployment for about 3 months and just started getting some freelance web development gigs. What I learned is that you need to report the income in the week you actually receive the payment, not when you do the work. So if you complete that $800 project over 2 weeks but get paid all at once in week 3, you report the full $800 in week 3. Also keep detailed records of everything - dates, amounts, what the work was for. The NYS system will calculate your benefit reduction automatically once you enter the earnings. And don't worry about the 1099 aspect affecting your claim status - lots of people do contract work while collecting. Just be honest and report everything!

@Zainab Abdulrahman I went through this exact situation 2 years ago after being laid off from a manufacturing job I'd held for 9 years. With your work history and salary level, you'll definitely qualify for the full 26 weeks of benefits in New York. The weekly amount should be around $400-500 based on your $55K salary. Here's what I wish I'd known from day one: start your job search immediately, set up a tracking system for your required 3 weekly job contacts, and don't be afraid to expand your search beyond just manufacturing. I ended up finding a better position in supply chain management that valued my manufacturing experience but offered more growth potential. The 26-week timeframe feels long at first, but it goes by quickly when you're actively searching. Stay organized, network aggressively, and consider this transition time as an opportunity to potentially level up rather than just replace what you had. You've got solid experience - employers will recognize that value. Keep your head up and start strong from week one!

@Zainab Abdulrahman As someone who works in HR and has helped many employees navigate unemployment after layoffs, I can confirm you'll definitely qualify for the full 26 weeks with your 8 years of work history and $55K salary. Your weekly benefit should be around $400-500. Here's my practical advice: file immediately if you haven't already, and create a simple spreadsheet to track your 3 weekly job contacts (date, company, position, contact method). The NYS Department of Labor can request this documentation anytime. Don't just limit yourself to manufacturing - your 8 years of experience translates well to operations, logistics, quality assurance, and production planning roles that often pay better. Many companies value manufacturing background for these positions. Also, check if your layoff qualifies for Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) if it was due to overseas competition - this can provide additional training funds beyond the 26 weeks. Start networking on LinkedIn immediately and reach out to former colleagues. The job market is competitive but your experience is valuable. Use these 26 weeks strategically and stay consistent with your search efforts from day one. You've got this!

I just had my RESEA meeting last week and wanted to add to all the great advice here! Like everyone said, it really wasn't as scary as I thought it would be. My counselor was actually super helpful and spent time reviewing my job search strategy. One thing I didn't see mentioned yet - they might ask about your availability for work (full-time vs part-time, shift preferences, etc.) so be ready to discuss that. Also, if you've been unemployed for a while, they may ask about any volunteer work or freelance activities you've been doing to stay active. The coolest part was that my counselor actually knew about job openings at specific local companies that weren't posted publicly yet! She gave me contact info for a few hiring managers in my field. I never expected that level of personalized help. Your spreadsheet sounds perfect - that's exactly what they want to see. Just make sure you can speak confidently about your recent applications and what types of roles you're targeting. The fact that you're only 3 weeks in actually works in your favor - they tend to be more focused on helping newer claimants rather than auditing them. You're going to do amazing tomorrow! This community support is so valuable - we're all rooting for you! 🤞

Just wanted to chime in as someone who had their RESEA meeting about 3 weeks ago! I was super nervous too but it ended up being really helpful. My counselor was genuinely nice and spent time going over my resume with me - she actually caught a few typos I had missed and suggested better ways to highlight my skills. The whole thing took about an hour and she walked me through some job search websites I hadn't tried yet. She also asked about my transportation situation and whether I had reliable internet for remote work, which I thought was thoughtful. One tip: have examples ready of how you've been customizing your applications for different jobs. They really want to see that you're putting effort into each application, not just sending the same generic resume everywhere. Honestly, it felt more like getting free career advice than being interrogated. As long as you can show you're actively searching (which your spreadsheet proves), you'll be totally fine. Good luck tomorrow! 🙌