The whole intercept system is such BS! They can just take your money without even properly explaining why. I had an intercept for supposedly owing money to some agency I'd never heard of and it took months to prove it was a mistake. Meanwhile I'm trying to pay rent with whatever scraps they left me.

also check if you owe anything to other states, sometimes those show up as intercepts too even if you filed in NY

THE WHOLE SYSTEM IS BROKEN!!! I've been fighting with them for months over my anxiety disorder and they keep asking for more and more paperwork. Even with multiple doctors saying I can't work they still want to drag it out. Don't get your hopes up that this will be easy or quick.

just want to say i hope things get better for you. depression is so hard and it takes courage to recognize when you need help. the unemployment stuff will work out but focus on taking care of yourself first

I've been dealing with NYS Department of Labor for months and honestly it's a nightmare. The website crashes constantly, you can never get through on the phone, and they make you jump through so many hoops just to get money you're entitled to. But yeah, unemployment insurance is supposed to replace part of your income while you look for new work. Just be prepared for a lot of frustration with their system.

Just wanted to add - make sure you apply as soon as possible after losing your job. There's no waiting period in NY, so you can file your claim right away. The sooner you file, the sooner your benefits can start. And don't worry about making mistakes on the application - you can always call to correct information later (though good luck getting through to them on the phone!).

wait so even the partial payments when you work part time count? i thought those might be different since you're still working

Just went through this with my tax preparer. She said the key thing is that ALL unemployment benefits are federally taxable, but you might have state tax differences depending on your situation. The 1099-G from NYS Department of Labor should match what you report on your 1040.

The NYS Department of Labor phone system is impossible to get through to ask about complex situations like this. I spent weeks trying to reach someone about my medical leave situation. Finally found this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that actually got me connected to a real NYS Department of Labor agent who explained my options. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI showing how it works. Saved me so much frustration trying to navigate the bureaucracy myself.

ugh the whole system is so frustrating when you're dealing with medical issues!! like you're already stressed about your health and then you have to jump through all these hoops just to survive financially. i hope you get approved OP because this situation is exactly what unemployment benefits should be for