ugh the whole system is so confusing!! why cant they just make it simple - if you worked somewhere and got laid off you should get benefits period

I completely understand your confusion! I went through the same thing when I got laid off from a youth mentoring nonprofit last year. Like others have said, most nonprofits in NY do pay into unemployment insurance. What helped me was gathering all my pay stubs before filing - they show the various deductions including unemployment insurance contributions. Also, don't let the website's generic questions throw you off - just fill it out exactly like you would for any other employer. The nonprofit status won't affect your eligibility as long as you meet the standard work history and wage requirements. You've got this!

File anyway!! The worst they can say is no and then at least you'll have started the process. I thought I wouldn't qualify because of irregular work but ended up getting benefits. NYS Department of Labor adjudication process will review your whole work history.

I'm sorry for your loss, Carmen. Caring for elderly parents is such important work even though it doesn't count toward traditional employment records. From what others have shared, it sounds like your 8 months of work might actually be enough if the wages were sufficient during the right quarters. NYS Department of Labor also has provisions for people who had to leave work for family caregiving situations. When you do file, make sure to explain your caregiving situation - they may have additional programs or considerations for people in your circumstances. The online application walks you through everything step by step, so even if you're unsure, it's worth starting the process.

I used that Claimyr service someone mentioned above and got through in about 30 minutes! Otherwise I think I would still be trying. The agent was really helpful and confirmed it was exactly what you all suggested - a tax adjustment for my unemployment benefits from 2024.

This is exactly what happened to me last year! I was so confused when I saw that IRS TREAS 310 deposit randomly appear. It turned out to be a tax adjustment for unemployment benefits I had received the previous year. The IRS apparently reviews these automatically and sends refunds when they determine you overpaid taxes on your unemployment income. The whole process is pretty confusing because they don't give you much advance notice, but it's legitimate. You should definitely verify it through the IRS website or by calling them, but chances are it's exactly what everyone else is saying - a tax refund related to your unemployment benefits.

Just make sure you don't wait until the last minute on Saturday! I almost missed my deadline once because the system was down for maintenance.

Pro tip from someone who's been claiming for a while - I always set a Sunday morning alarm for 6 AM to file my weekly claim. The system is super fast at that time and you get it done early in the week so you don't stress about forgetting. Also, keep all your work search records organized because they can ask for them at any time. The NYS Department of Labor takes that stuff seriously.

Don't forget about the waiting week! Even if you qualify you won't get paid for the first week. Also if you have any vacation pay or severance that could delay your benefits too.

I went through something similar and it's so frustrating when they don't give you clear details! One thing that helped me was requesting my full claim file through my.ny.gov - you can see exactly what your employer reported and what NYS Department of Labor based their decision on. Since you mentioned going from full hours to just 15 hours a week, that definitely sounds like constructive dismissal which should qualify you. Make sure you have documentation of your original schedule vs the reduced hours. Also, don't sleep on the appeal deadline - you only have 30 days from the determination date. I'd definitely recommend appealing and requesting a phone hearing where you can explain your side directly to a judge.