I've been dealing with partial unemployment for about 6 months now and honestly the earnings disregard calculation still trips me up sometimes. One thing I learned the hard way is that if you have any deductions from your pay (like union dues or health insurance premiums), you report your GROSS earnings, not what you actually take home. I was reporting my net pay for the first few weeks and it messed up my benefit calculations until I realized my mistake. Also, if you work for multiple employers in the same week, you have to add up ALL your earnings from that week - you can't treat each job separately. The NYS Department of Labor system will automatically apply the earnings disregard to your total combined income for that week.

This thread has been incredibly helpful! I'm in a similar situation earning around $150/week part-time while on unemployment. One question I haven't seen addressed - does the earnings disregard calculation change if you're receiving any other benefits like SNAP or Medicaid? I've heard conflicting information about whether working part-time while on unemployment affects eligibility for other assistance programs. Also, for those tracking their earnings in spreadsheets, do you include any tips or bonuses in your weekly reporting? I sometimes get small cash tips at my job and want to make sure I'm reporting everything correctly to avoid any issues down the road.

Had this exact same issue happen to me back in October! I know how stressful it is when you see that denial message, but don't panic - it's totally fixable. Here's what I learned from my experience: - Call as early as possible (8 AM sharp when they open) - Have your claim number and the exact week you need corrected ready - Be direct: "I need to correct a certification error where I accidentally reported earnings I didn't actually make" - If the first agent seems unsure, ask for a supervisor or the corrections department The whole thing took me about a week to resolve once I finally got through. The agent was actually really understanding - apparently they see this mistake all the time, especially with how confusing the online form can be. One thing that helped me was writing down exactly what I was going to say before calling, so I didn't get nervous and ramble. They just need the facts: which week, what you reported vs what you actually earned, and that it was an honest mistake. You'll get your money! Just stay persistent with the calling and don't give up after a few busy signals. The system sucks but the people on the other end usually want to help once you reach them.

This happened to me too about a month ago! I was rushing through the certification and accidentally selected the wrong earnings amount. I totally understand the panic when you see that denial message. Here's what worked for me: I called right at 8 AM using the 1-2-1-3 button sequence someone mentioned earlier to skip the intro. Took about 45 minutes on hold but I got through. The agent was super helpful and fixed it immediately once I explained it was an input error. The key things that helped: - Being very specific about the week and the mistake - Having my claim number ready - Staying calm and polite (even though I was stressed) They corrected it on the spot and I got my payment 3 days later. Don't beat yourself up about the mistake - the agent told me they handle these certification errors multiple times every day. It's way more common than you think! Just keep calling and don't give up. Once you get the right person, it's a 5-minute fix. You've got this! 💪

I went through this exact situation about a year ago! Got laid off in January and accepted an offer in February, but couldn't start until April due to their extensive background check and security clearance process. NYS DOL was completely understanding about the 8-week gap. The key things that helped me: 1) I was completely honest about the pending offer during my initial filing, 2) I genuinely continued looking for other immediate opportunities since clearances can be denied or delayed indefinitely, and 3) I documented 4-5 job applications per week during my certifications. The rep I eventually spoke with explained that you're unemployed until you're actually working and earning a paycheck - future offers don't change your current status. I collected benefits for the full 8 weeks without any issues and transitioned smoothly into the new role. The income during that waiting period was a lifesaver since I had no idea if the clearance would even go through. Don't hesitate to file - this is exactly the kind of situation unemployment benefits are designed for!

I'm currently in almost the exact same situation! Got laid off 4 weeks ago and just accepted an offer yesterday, but my start date isn't until February 18th due to their background check process and training schedule. This entire thread has been incredibly helpful - I was really worried about filing for benefits with a future job already lined up, but seeing so many successful experiences with NYS DOL has given me the confidence I needed. The consistent message about being transparent during the application process while maintaining genuine availability for other immediate work makes perfect sense. I especially appreciate everyone mentioning specific details like application frequencies (3-5 per week seems to be the sweet spot) and the importance of documenting everything. With a 6+ week gap ahead of me, I'm definitely filing my claim this week. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences - this thread should be required reading for anyone in this situation!

wait im confused about the quarters too... so if i filed in january 2025 what quarters would they use?? i worked at walmart from march 2024 to november 2024 and made like $18000 total

The whole quarterly system is so unnecessarily complicated! Why can't they just use your last year of earnings like a normal person would think? I spent hours trying to figure this out when I got laid off and the NYS Department of Labor website explains it terribly.

Been through this exact thing. File with NY since that's where your wages were earned. Just make sure you have all your employment info ready when you file - dates, employer info, reason for separation, etc. The NYS Department of Labor system will walk you through it.

Just want to add that when you file with NYS Department of Labor, make sure you have your Social Security number and all your employment details from the NY job ready. The system is pretty straightforward once you get started. I was in a similar situation (lived in PA, worked in NY) and it was actually easier than I expected. The key thing is that your employer was paying into the NY unemployment system, so that's definitely where your claim needs to go. Don't overthink it - you've got this!