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Sounds like you're dealing with the Treasury Offset Program. They can take up to 25% of your benefits to pay federal debts. The most common reasons are tax debts, defaulted student loans, or child support. Call the Treasury Offset Program directly at 1-800-304-3107 to find out what debt they're collecting. It's usually faster than trying to reach unemployment.
This exact same thing happened to my brother last year! He was getting his full $487 weekly and then boom - suddenly only $365 with "offset" showing up. Turned out it was for unpaid state taxes from 2020 that he had completely forgotten about. The frustrating part is they gave him zero warning - just started taking the money. He had to use one of those callback services (I think it was claimyr too) to actually reach someone and find out what was going on. Once he knew what it was for, he was able to set up a payment plan with the tax department to reduce the offset amount. Definitely call that Treasury Offset number someone mentioned - that's probably your fastest route to getting answers!
The most comprehensive resource I've found on NY unemployment issues is actually their handbook. Check page 31 for the section on returning to work. Says you must report when you start working: https://dol.ny.gov/unemployment-insurance-claimant-handbook
People who don't want to get hit with fraud charges or overpayment notices... just saying 🤷‍♂️
Just wanted to add my experience - I was in the exact same situation 6 months ago. You definitely need to do one final certification and report your work days. When I started my new job, I was nervous about messing something up too, but the process is actually pretty straightforward. Just be honest about your work status on the weekly certification form. The system will automatically close your claim once you report full-time employment. Better to follow the proper procedure than risk any issues down the road. Good luck with your new job!
If your claim is pending this long you need to call them asap! Try early morning or use claimyr.com to get through. Waiting since May isn't normal, something might be wrong with your claim
facts! had the same issue and turns out they needed additional docs
@Andre Rousseau definitely keep calling or try that claimyr service people mentioned! Being pending since May is way too long - there's probably a specific issue holding up your claim that needs to be resolved. In the meantime, the formula is pretty straightforward: find your highest earning quarter in your base period, divide by 26, and that's roughly your weekly amount (max $504). But honestly getting your claim approved should be the priority right now!
The unemployment system in this state is ridiculous. You pay into it your whole working life and then when you actually need it they make it impossible to get help. Half the time the website doesn't work and good luck ever reaching a human on the phone. But yeah OP you should definitely file - just be prepared for potential headaches with the process.
Hey Chloe, definitely file right away! I'm a union electrician and go through this every winter. Getting laid off absolutely qualifies you for unemployment - it's not your fault and that's exactly what the system is designed for. Don't wait to see if they call you back because you could be missing out on weeks of benefits. You can apply online at labor.ny.gov and you'll need your SSN, driver's license, and info about your employer and wages from the last 18 months. The process takes about 30 minutes online and is way easier than calling. Construction seasonal layoffs are super common so they're used to processing these claims. Just make sure to file your weekly certifications on time once you're approved.
Isabella Silva
Just file it when you remember to during your window. I've been doing mine Tuesday mornings for months and never had an issue. The exact time doesn't affect your payment processing.
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Fatima Al-Rashid
I usually file mine on Sunday evenings too and it's always worked fine! The key thing is just staying within your filing window based on your SSN. I've noticed the system can be a bit slow on Monday mornings (probably everyone rushing to file), so Sunday evenings or later in the week tend to be smoother. As long as you're consistent and file within your designated timeframe, you should be all set.
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