Do I have to pay back my unemployment benefits after getting hired?
I just got a job offer and I'm supposed to start next Monday. I've been collecting unemployment for about 6 weeks now through NYS Department of Labor. My cousin told me that sometimes you have to pay back unemployment money if you get a job too quickly or something like that? Is this true? I'm really confused about whether I owe the state money now that I'm employed again. I've been doing my weekly claims correctly and reporting that I was looking for work. Should I be worried about having to pay anything back?
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Cynthia Love
No, you don't have to pay back unemployment benefits just because you found a job! That's actually the goal of the system. You only need to pay back benefits if you received them incorrectly - like if you worked while claiming and didn't report it, or if you weren't actually available for work. Just make sure to file your final weekly claim correctly when you start your new job and report your start date.
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Naila Gordon
•Oh thank goodness! I was really stressed about this. So I just report my start date on my next weekly claim and that's it?
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Darren Brooks
yeah i got a job after 8 weeks on unemployment and never had to pay anything back, your cousin is probably thinking of overpayment situations which are totally different
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Rosie Harper
The only time NYS Department of Labor requires repayment is if there was an overpayment due to fraud or error. Common scenarios include: working while claiming without reporting wages, not being available for work, or providing false information. Since you've been filing correctly and actively job searching, you should be fine. Just remember to stop filing weekly claims once you start working full-time.
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Elliott luviBorBatman
•What if you worked a day or two but forgot to report it on a weekly claim? Would that count as fraud?
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Rosie Harper
•If it was an honest mistake, it's usually classified as a non-fraud overpayment rather than fraud. You'd still need to pay it back, but there wouldn't be penalties. Always better to call and correct these issues immediately.
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Demi Hall
I had trouble reaching NYS Department of Labor when I had questions about my final claim. Ended up using Claimyr (claimyr.com) to get through to an actual agent. They have this video demo that shows how it works: https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI. Made it so much easier than trying to call for hours and getting busy signals.
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Naila Gordon
•Thanks for the tip! I might need that if I have any issues with my final weekly claim.
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Mateusius Townsend
Congratulations on the new job! I remember being so paranoid about this same thing when I found work. The unemployment system is designed to help people transition back to employment, not punish them for succeeding. You've earned those benefits by paying into the system through your previous job.
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Harper Thompson
Great question! I was worried about this exact same thing when I first started collecting unemployment. Your cousin might be thinking of situations where people commit fraud or make errors on their claims. As long as you've been honest about your job search activities and haven't worked without reporting it, you're totally in the clear. The whole point of unemployment insurance is to bridge the gap until you find new employment - getting hired is the success story they want to see! Just make sure to report your new job start date on your final weekly certification and you'll be all set.
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Sofia Ramirez
•This is such helpful reassurance! I've been hearing so many different things from family and friends that I wasn't sure what to believe. It's good to know that finding work quickly is actually what the system is supposed to help with. I'll definitely make sure to report my start date properly on my final claim. Thanks for breaking it down so clearly!
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Aurora St.Pierre
Your cousin might be confusing unemployment with other benefits or maybe heard about someone who had to repay due to fraud. The unemployment system is actually designed to support you while you're looking for work, and finding a job is the intended outcome! I went through the same worry when I got hired after collecting for about 2 months. Just make sure on your final weekly certification to accurately report your last day of unemployment and your job start date. The NYS DOL website has a section that explains this - you're only required to repay if you received benefits you weren't entitled to (like working unreported hours or being unavailable for work). Since you've been following the rules and actively job searching, you should have nothing to worry about. Congrats on the new position!
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Aiden Rodríguez
•This is exactly the kind of clear explanation I needed to hear! I was getting so anxious after my cousin planted that seed of doubt in my mind. It makes total sense that the system is designed to help people get back to work, not penalize them for succeeding. I really appreciate everyone taking the time to explain this - it's such a relief to know I won't have any surprise bills coming my way. Now I can focus on preparing for my new job instead of worrying about owing money back to the state!
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