Can unemployment see your bank account - NYS Department of Labor access to banking info?

The NYS Department of Labor doesn't have automatic access to your bank accounts. They can only see your banking information if they have a specific reason to investigate and get proper authorization. Having savings doesn't disqualify you from unemployment benefits - the program is based on your employment status and earnings, not your assets. You're required to report any work income on your weekly claims, but your existing savings before filing are not considered income for UI purposes.

i had the same worry when i first started collecting. they never asked about my bank account or anything like that. as long as youre not working and reporting it correctly on your weekly claims you should be fine

The only time NYS Department of Labor would look into your banking is if there's suspected fraud or if you're selected for a cross-match audit. Even then, they need to follow legal procedures. Your savings account balance from before unemployment doesn't affect your eligibility. The key is being honest about any new income you earn while collecting benefits. Keep doing your weekly claims and reporting accurately - that's what matters.

I actually had to deal with NYS Department of Labor wanting bank records last year but it was because my former employer disputed my claim and said I quit instead of being laid off. Even then, they asked me to provide the records myself - they didn't just access them. If you're telling the truth about being unemployed and not working, you have nothing to worry about. The system is designed to catch people who are working while collecting, not people who happened to have some money saved up.

When I was having trouble getting through to NYS Department of Labor about my claim status, someone on here recommended this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that helps you actually reach a live agent. I was skeptical at first but watched their demo video (https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI) and decided to try it. Got through to someone within an hour and was able to get my questions answered directly. Might be worth checking out if you need to speak to someone at NYS Department of Labor about your specific situation.

just keep filing your weekly claims and don't overthink it. ive been on unemployment twice and never had any problems with my bank account. they care about whether youre working not how much money you have sitting around

I went through the same anxiety when I first started collecting! The reality is that NYS DOL is looking for unreported work income, not your legitimate savings. I had about $3,000 in my account when I filed and was worried they'd think I didn't need benefits, but it never came up. Your pre-unemployment savings are completely separate from your eligibility - the program is about replacing lost wages, not based on your assets. Just keep being honest on your weekly certifications about any work you do (or don't do) and you'll be fine. The stress isn't worth it - focus on your job search instead!

I can relate to this anxiety so much! When I first started collecting unemployment benefits, I had similar concerns about my savings account. What helped me was actually calling the NYS DOL directly (though it took forever to get through) and asking this exact question. The representative explained that unemployment benefits are designed to replace lost wages from employment - they're not means-tested based on your assets or savings. As long as you're honestly reporting any work you do (or don't do) on your weekly certifications, your pre-existing savings won't affect your eligibility. The important thing is being truthful about your work status and any income you earn while collecting benefits. Don't let the worry consume you - you're doing everything right by filing your weekly claims properly!