Can you claim unemployment until your first paycheck from new job?

No, you need to stop filing weekly claims as soon as you start working, even before your first paycheck arrives. The NYS Department of Labor considers you employed from your first day of work, not when you get paid. If you continue claiming after starting work, you could face an overpayment notice later.

yeah i made this mistake when i started my job last year, kept filing for like 3 weeks until my first check came and then got hit with a $1,200 overpayment demand from nysdol. definitely not worth it

The rule is clear - you must report work and earnings for the week you start working, regardless of when you receive payment. However, if you're working part-time hours initially, you might still be eligible for partial benefits. Check your weekly claim certification carefully and answer honestly about hours worked and wages earned (even if not yet received).

I'm dealing with something similar but my new job doesn't start until next week. This whole system is so confusing! What if I work just one day in a week - do I still lose the whole week of benefits?

I had trouble getting through to NYS Department of Labor when I had questions about this exact situation. If you need to talk to someone directly about your specific case, I recently discovered this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that helps you actually reach a live agent. They have a demo video at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI showing how it works. Saved me hours of busy signals and dropped calls.

Congratulations on the new job! Yeah the timing sucks but better to be honest on your claims than deal with overpayment headaches later.

I went through this exact same situation a few months ago and it really is frustrating! The gap between your last unemployment payment and first paycheck is rough, but definitely don't risk the overpayment. I ended up having to borrow some money from family to get through those two weeks. One thing that helped was reaching out to local food banks and seeing if my utility companies had any hardship programs to defer payments. It's not ideal but it's temporary - hang in there!

This is such a common and stressful situation! I went through the same thing about 6 months ago. The financial gap is really tough, but everyone here is right - you have to stop claiming as soon as you start working. One thing that helped me was asking my new employer if they offered any kind of advance on my first paycheck or if they had a shorter pay cycle for new employees. Some companies are understanding about this situation. Also, if you have any credit cards with cash advance options or apps like Earnin that let you access wages early, those might be worth looking into as a bridge. The most important thing is don't risk the overpayment - I've seen people get hit with those demands months later and it's way worse than a couple weeks of tight budgeting.

I'm in a very similar boat right now - just accepted a job offer and start Monday, but won't see my first check until the end of the month. Reading through everyone's experiences here is both helpful and nerve-wracking! It sounds like the consensus is clear: stop filing immediately when work starts, even though the financial gap is brutal. I'm definitely going to look into some of the suggestions mentioned here like asking about paycheck advances and checking out local assistance programs. Has anyone had luck negotiating with their new employer about getting paid weekly instead of bi-weekly for the first month or so? Seems like it might be worth asking HR about during onboarding.

I'm going through this exact situation right now too! Just started a new position this week and won't get paid for another 10 days. It's such a catch-22 - you need the job but there's this awful financial gap. After reading everyone's advice here, I'm definitely not going to risk filing any more claims, even though it means surviving on basically nothing for over a week. I managed to get a small emergency loan from my credit union which helped bridge part of the gap. Also found out my local community center has a food pantry that's open twice a week, which takes some pressure off the grocery budget. It's stressful but temporary - and way better than dealing with overpayment issues down the road. Hang in there everyone dealing with this!

This thread has been incredibly helpful! I'm starting a new job next Monday and was really stressing about this exact situation. The financial gap is going to be tough - I'm looking at almost 3 weeks between my last unemployment check and first paycheck. But after reading everyone's experiences, especially the overpayment horror stories, I know I need to stop filing immediately when I start work. I'm going to try some of the suggestions mentioned here - checking with HR about paycheck advances, looking into local food banks, and maybe seeing if my bank offers any short-term emergency assistance. It's scary but I'd rather deal with a few tough weeks than get hit with an overpayment demand later. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences - it really helps to know others have made it through this transition successfully!

I'm actually facing this exact situation in about two weeks when I start my new job! Reading through everyone's experiences here has been both reassuring and nerve-wracking. The consensus is definitely clear - stop filing immediately when work starts, no matter how tough the financial gap. I've been unemployed for 4 months and the thought of going from unemployment checks to zero income for potentially 2-3 weeks is honestly keeping me up at night. But seeing how many people have successfully navigated this transition gives me hope. I'm definitely going to try the suggestions about asking HR for a paycheck advance and looking into local assistance programs. Has anyone had experience with gig work or odd jobs during this gap period? I'm wondering if doing something like DoorDash or TaskRabbit for a few days would complicate things with unemployment reporting, even though I'd already be stopping my claims anyway.

I went through this exact situation about 8 months ago and it was definitely stressful! The financial gap is brutal but you absolutely have to stop filing once you start working - no exceptions. What helped me get through those two weeks was setting up a small personal loan through my bank beforehand (like a $500-1000 line of credit) just to cover essentials. I also meal prepped really cheap but filling foods like rice, beans, and pasta to stretch my grocery budget. One thing I wish I'd done was ask my new employer during the interview process about their pay schedule - some companies will work with new hires on timing if you explain the situation professionally. The good news is it's temporary and once you get that first paycheck, you'll be back on stable ground. Hang in there!