


Ask the community...
Make sure you organize your evidence chronologically! I made the mistake of just throwing all my documents together and it made my case confusing. Create a simple chart showing: Date of work, Hours worked, Amount earned, Date you certified, Hours you reported. This visual comparison will make it obvious if there are any discrepancies (and hopefully prove there aren't any). Also keep copies of EVERYTHING you submit - the appeal process can take months.
Wait, are you sure you reported your gross earnings and not your net pay? That's a common mistake that leads to overpayments. NYS Department of Labor wants to know your total earnings before taxes, not what you actually took home. Double check your weekly certifications against your pay stubs to make sure you used the right numbers.
Oh wow, I never thought about that! Let me go back and check. I think I did report gross but now I'm second-guessing myself. If I made that mistake, can I still appeal or should I just pay it back?
THE SYSTEM IS DESIGNED TO CONFUSE PEOPLE!!! They make it so complicated with all these formulas and exceptions that honest people like you panic while the real cheaters know exactly how to game it. I reported everything correctly for months and still got audited. Took 3 months to clear up even though I had all my documentation. NYS Department of Labor needs to fix their communication!
Wait, I'm confused now. I thought if you worked ANY hours you couldn't claim that week? I've been skipping my weekly claims whenever I pick up shifts at my retail job. Have I been losing money I was entitled to?
The whole system is so backwards! Why can't they just show you exactly how they calculated it instead of making us guess? I had to call three times before someone could explain why my benefits were lower than expected.
Also remember that your total benefit amount is 26 times your weekly rate, so that's the maximum you can collect during your benefit year. And you have to meet the work search requirements - 3 contacts per week unless you're on standby with your employer.
honestly just put down anyone who knows you're unemployed and looking for work... they probably won't even call unless there's an issue with your claim
StardustSeeker
Don't beat yourself up about waiting three weeks, happens to everyone. The important thing is you're filing now. Make sure you keep track of all your job search activities from this point forward because NYS Department of Labor requires you to search for work and keep records. You'll need to certify that you're looking for work when you file your weekly claims.
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AstroAdventurer
To give you the complete picture: file your initial claim as soon as possible after losing your job, request backdating for any weeks you qualify for within the 4-week window, and make sure you understand that your waiting week still applies. Even if you backdate, you typically won't get paid for the first week of unemployment - that's just how the system works. The important thing is getting your claim in the system so you can start the weekly certification process.
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