Can I use Schedule C from self-employment for NY unemployment proof of income?

Yes, Schedule C is absolutely acceptable as proof of income for self-employment. Make sure you submit the complete Schedule C, not just the summary page. Also include your 1040 form so they can see how it all connects. NYSDOL will use this to calculate your benefit rate based on your net earnings. They might also ask for proof that you actually paid taxes on this income, so having your tax transcript ready would be helpful too.

Thanks! That's a relief. Do you know if I should include any bank statements too? Most of my clients paid cash, so I don't have many deposits that match my income exactly.

I did this last yr. Schedule C works but they take FOREVER to process it. I waited 8 weeks and still nothing!!!! Had to keep calling them over and over and nobody would pick up. such a joke

Oh no! Did you eventually get approved? 8 weeks is a really long time to wait...

Yeah finally got thru after like 30 calls. They kept saying \

As someone who went through this exact situation in early 2025, I can confirm Schedule C is acceptable documentation. Here's what I learned:\n\n1. Schedule C shows your self-employment income and expenses\n2. NYSDOL primarily looks at your net profit (line 31)\n3. They may also want to see your 1099s if you received any\n4. Having a record of estimated tax payments helps substantiate your claim\n\nKeep in mind they might request additional documentation depending on the claims examiner. Also, I'd recommend calling to follow up after submission - they're processing thousands of claims and things can slip through cracks.

my brother had a similar thing but they kept asking for more proof even tho he sent his schedule C. did they do that to you too?

Yes, they did ask for additional documentation. I had to provide bank statements showing some business deposits and expense receipts. The more documentation you can provide upfront, the faster the process will go. It seems somewhat arbitrary which claims examiners request additional proof.

I was in your EXACT situation last month! So frustrating trying to get through to NYSDOL. I submitted my Schedule C but was still waiting after 3 weeks with no updates. Seriously was about to lose my mind trying to call them - busy signals, disconnects, the whole nightmare.\n\nFinally I tried this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that got me through to an actual person at NYSDOL in like 20 minutes. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/Rdqa1gKtxuE\n\nThe agent I spoke with confirmed my Schedule C was sufficient but it had been flagged for additional review because my income was all cash. Once I talked to her, she was able to push it through and I got approved within 48 hours. Sometimes you just need to talk to a real person!

That's really helpful, thanks! I'll check out that service if I don't hear anything in a week. Did you have to explain anything specific about your cash income to get it approved?

When I talked to the agent, I just explained that I work in an industry where cash is common (I do home cleaning) and that I reported everything properly on my taxes. She seemed satisfied with that explanation once she saw my Schedule C matched what I claimed on my application. The important thing was getting someone on the phone who could actually look at my file.

Does anyone know what counts as \

Try not to worry too much. Schedule C is a valid proof of income. While waiting, you might want to gather any other documentation that shows you were working - client communications, invoices (even if they paid cash), appointment books, business expense receipts, etc. The more documentation you have, the better your case will be if they request additional information.

Thank you!! I have some text messages from clients and some receipts for supplies I bought. I'll get those ready just in case. Just so stressed about all this!!

yeah schedule c works fine sent mine in february got approved no problem

That's good to hear! Did you have to call them or did it just process automatically?

didnt call just waited about 3 weeks then got the approval email money showed up 2 days after that

My situation was kinda similar last year. I did some gig work and reported it all on Schedule C. When I applied for unemployment they asked for proof and I sent that plus my bank statements showing some deposits. They approved me but took like 5 weeks. The whole time my claim said

Did they eventually backpay you for all the weeks you were waiting? I'm concerned about bills coming up if this drags on too long.

yes they did backpay everything once approved. i had to certify for each week while waiting though. dont forget to do that part!

THE SYSTEM IS RIGGED AGAINST SELF-EMPLOYED PEOPLE!!! I went through this in 2025 and they made it IMPOSSIBLE to prove income. They kept asking for more and more documents even after sending Schedule C. One agent even told me cash income is

While the process can certainly be frustrating, I don't think the system is designed to deny benefits. Self-employment income is simply harder to verify than W-2 employment, which is why they sometimes request additional documentation. In my experience, being persistent and professional when following up generally leads to approval, even if it takes longer than it should.

Easy to say when YOUR claim was approved! Some of us had to fight for MONTHS!! I had to contact my state rep to finally get it fixed. The system IS broken and they DO make it harder for self-employed people on purpose!

Just to add one more important detail - make sure the Schedule C you submit matches what you reported on your unemployment application. If there are significant discrepancies between what you told NYSDOL and what's on your tax forms, that can trigger additional reviews and potentially lead to benefit denials or overpayment notices later.

That's a good point. I was careful to use the same income figures from my tax return when I applied. Just hoping they process it quickly!

my cousin works at nysdol she says schedule c is fine but they look at net income not gross so your benefit might be lower than you expect just fyi

Thanks for the heads up. My net wasn't too much lower than gross since I didn't have many business expenses, but that's good to know!

As a follow-up to my earlier comment, I'd suggest keeping detailed records of all your communications with NYSDOL. Note the date and time of any calls, the name of representatives you speak with, and summaries of what was discussed. This documentation can be invaluable if there are any disputes or delays with your claim. Also, make copies of everything you submit as proof of income.

I'll definitely start keeping better records. So far I've just been submitting things through the online portal without much follow-up. Sounds like I might need to be more proactive.

I'm going through the exact same situation right now! Filed in late March and submitted my Schedule C about 2 weeks ago. Still waiting to hear back from them. Reading through everyone's experiences here is both reassuring and nerve-wracking at the same time. It sounds like Schedule C is definitely accepted, but the processing times seem to vary wildly. I'm trying to stay patient but bills don't wait, you know? Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences - it really helps to know I'm not alone in this process.