I've been through a NYS Department of Labor job search audit and here's what I learned: they typically give you 10-21 days to submit your documentation once requested. The most important things to track are employer name, contact person/HR department, job title, date of application, and method of contact (online portal, email, in-person, etc.). For online applications, try to save confirmation emails or take screenshots of the "application submitted" pages. If you're missing some early records, you can try to reconstruct them by checking your email for application confirmations, looking at your browser history, or contacting employers directly for confirmation. The auditors understand that perfect records from day one aren't always possible, but they want to see genuine effort to document your search activities.

I've been wondering about this exact same thing! I'm about 4 weeks into my claim and have been keeping a basic log, but reading these responses has me realizing I probably need to be way more detailed. It's honestly pretty stressful not knowing if what you're doing is "enough" until potentially getting that audit letter months later. Has anyone here found any official NYS Department of Labor guidance on exactly what level of detail they expect in job search records? Like, is there a checklist or template they recommend? I feel like I'm flying blind and just hoping my documentation will pass if they ever check it.

I'm going through something similar - my claim has been pending since November and I can't get any real answers either. From what I've researched, there have been some class action suits filed against NYS DOL in the past few years, but they're hard to find info about. Try searching for "unemployment class action New York" on legal websites or contact the New York State Bar Association's lawyer referral service. They might be able to point you toward attorneys who are actively working on these cases. Also document everything - dates you called, screenshots of your online account, any correspondence. That paper trail will be crucial whether you go the legal route or keep fighting through appeals.

I'm dealing with a very similar situation - my claim has been stuck since December with zero communication from NYS DOL. From what I've found, there are a few law firms that have handled unemployment class actions against NYS DOL, including Legal Aid Society and some private employment attorneys. You might want to check out the website for New York Legal Assistance Group (NYLAG) - they sometimes take on systemic unemployment cases. Also, try reaching out to your state assembly member's office - sometimes they can help cut through the bureaucratic mess when individual appeals aren't working. The whole system seems designed to wear people down until they give up, which is exactly what we can't let happen. Keep fighting and definitely keep documenting everything like others have suggested.

I was in the exact same situation a few months ago and totally understand your anxiety about this! You absolutely answer YES to "did you return to work" - I know it sounds counterintuitive when you're still actively job searching, but that question is really asking "did you do ANY work this week" not "did you find your permanent career job." Here's what worked for me with a similar part-time schedule: - Answer YES every week you work, even if it's just one shift - Report your gross earnings (before any taxes or deductions) - Count any day you worked at all as a "full day" - so if you work 4 hours on Tuesday, that's 1 full day - Keep a simple log of when you work and what you earn - I just use my phone's notes app Your 22 hours spread across 3 days or less should keep you well under the limits for partial benefits. I actually ended up making more money combining part-time wages with partial unemployment than I was getting from just unemployment alone, which was a pleasant surprise! Fair warning - when I first started reporting part-time work, my payments got held for "review" for about 2-3 weeks. Don't panic if this happens, just keep certifying every week and it'll get sorted out. The back pay came through once they finished reviewing. Take the job! Having some guaranteed income while dealing with NY's painfully slow system is definitely worth it, and it won't hurt your claim at all.

I'm in almost the exact same situation right now! Just got offered a 20-hour/week position while still job hunting and have been stressing about the certification questions. Reading through all these responses has been so helpful - it's clear that answering YES to "return to work" is correct even though the wording makes it sound like you're ending your job search. The consensus seems to be: answer YES, report gross earnings, count any work day (even 1 hour) as a full day, and keep detailed records. The fact that so many people have made this work successfully is really reassuring. I was worried about accidentally messing up my claim, but it sounds like the system is actually designed for this exact situation. Quick question for those who've been through this - is there any benefit to calling them ahead of time to let them know you're starting part-time work, or is just reporting it on the weekly certification sufficient? I've seen conflicting advice on this thread and want to make sure I don't trigger any unnecessary reviews. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences - this community is a lifesaver for navigating NY's confusing system!

I've been collecting unemployment from NYS DOL for about 8 months now and here's what I've noticed with holiday schedules: they typically post updates on their website about a week before major holidays explaining any payment delays. For most federal holidays, if your normal payment day falls on the holiday, they'll process it the business day before. So if Wednesday is a holiday, you'd usually get paid Tuesday instead. The key thing is that they follow the Federal Reserve's holiday schedule for ACH processing, not just whether their offices are open. I'd suggest bookmarking their payment schedule page and checking it the week before any major holiday - they're actually pretty good about posting these updates there even if their other communication isn't always reliable.

I've been on unemployment for about 6 months and what really helps me during holiday weeks is setting up direct deposit alerts through my bank app. Most banks will send you a notification as soon as any deposit is initiated, even before it fully processes. This way you know immediately when NYS DOL sends your payment, regardless of whether it's early or delayed due to the holiday. Also, I keep a small buffer in my checking account specifically for these holiday timing issues - maybe $50-100 if possible - because those 1-2 day delays can really mess up automatic bill payments. It's not always feasible but it's saved me from overdraft fees more than once during holiday weeks.

I just want to add that if you're still having trouble after trying all the great suggestions here, don't panic about your certification deadline! You can usually file your weekly claim by phone if the online system isn't working. The automated phone system is available 24/7 at 1-888-581-5812. It's not as convenient as online, but it's a good backup option when you're pressed for time. I've had to use it a few times when the website was down for maintenance. You'll need the same information - your SSN and PIN - but at least you can get your certification done while you work on getting the online access sorted out. Just wanted to mention this since I saw you're worried about today's deadline!

Just wanted to share my recent experience since I see so many helpful responses here! I had the exact same login issues last week and what finally worked was a combination of several suggestions mentioned here. First, I cleared my browser cache completely, then went directly to my.ny.gov (not through any search results), made sure I was using Chrome instead of Safari, and entered my PIN without any dashes or spaces. The key thing for me was also making sure I had both my Social Security number AND the confirmation number from my initial filing ready - the system prompted me for both during the verification process. It took me about 3 tries over 2 days, but I finally got in. One more tip - if you get a "session timeout" error, don't immediately try again. I waited about 15 minutes and then it worked perfectly. The system seems to lock you out temporarily if you make too many failed attempts in a row. Hang in there, everyone - once you're in the first time, it really does get much easier!