This whole system is so confusing! I declined a retail job last week because it was part-time minimum wage and I have 15 years of management experience. Now I'm worried I should have taken it just to be safe. These rules keep me up at night.

I went through something similar about 6 months ago. The key thing to understand is that "suitable work" has specific criteria - it's not just any job offer. For the first 13 weeks, you can generally refuse work that pays less than 80% of your previous weekly benefit rate or your previous wage (whichever is lower). After that, the threshold drops. Since you mentioned the pay is "way below" what you were making and it's outside your field, you likely have valid grounds to refuse. Just make sure to report the offer when you file your weekly claim and document your reasons. I kept a simple log with date, company name, position offered, salary, and reason for declining. Never had any issues with NYS DOL, and being upfront about it actually showed I was actively job searching.

ugh this is exactly what I'm worried about happening to me, I had to quit my job too because they kept cutting my schedule

I went through something similar and was able to file a late appeal after missing the initial deadline. You'll want to gather evidence showing your hours were substantially reduced - pay stubs from before and after the cuts, any emails or texts about schedule changes, even coworker testimony if possible. The key is proving it was essentially constructive dismissal rather than voluntary quit. I'd recommend calling the appeals office directly to ask about late filing procedures - they sometimes have more flexibility than the initial claims process. Don't give up, reduced hours cases often have better success rates on appeal.

I went through something similar when I first started collecting unemployment. The key thing to remember is that rental income is passive income, not earned income from employment. NYS Department of Labor distinguishes between these types of income. You should definitely report it on your next weekly claim - there's usually a section for "other income" where you can include it. Don't panic about not reporting it initially - just be transparent going forward. The worst thing you can do is continue not reporting it now that you're aware of it.

I'm dealing with a similar situation - I have a duplex and live in one unit while renting out the other. From what I've learned, as long as you're not actively managing the property (like doing maintenance, advertising, showing units), the rental income is considered passive and shouldn't affect your unemployment benefits. However, I'd still recommend calling NYS DOL to clarify your specific situation since every case can be different. The peace of mind is worth the wait time on hold. Also, when you do report it, make sure to specify that it's rental income from a property you own, not income from employment or self-employment activities.

Cash App processing times >>> regular bank accounts frfr

Just got approved for benefits yesterday! This timeline gives me hope that I might see my first payment soon. Quick question though - can you use any digital wallet like Venmo or PayPal for direct deposit, or is Cash App the only one that works fast? Also, what exactly do you mean by "answer certification questions correctly"? Are there specific things to watch out for? Thanks for sharing your experience, really helpful for us newbies! 🙏

Just want to add that you should still try to make all your regular payments on time even while on unemployment. The benefit amount is usually less than your full salary, so budget carefully to avoid late payments that WOULD hurt your credit.

Great question and I'm glad you asked before filing! Everyone else is absolutely right - unemployment benefits won't show up on your credit report or affect your score. I went through the same worry when I was laid off from my tech job last year. Filed my claim right away and my credit score actually went UP a few points during those months (probably just normal fluctuation). The key is keeping up with your existing payments as others mentioned. NYS unemployment maxes out at $504/week so definitely budget accordingly if you're used to a higher income.