Does NYS Department of Labor know when you start working - worried about getting caught
I'm really nervous about this and can't find a clear answer anywhere. If I start working while collecting unemployment benefits, does NYS Department of Labor automatically know when you start working? Like do they have access to payroll systems or get notified by employers somehow? I'm not trying to commit fraud or anything - I just want to understand how the system works so I can report everything correctly. I've heard conflicting things about whether they can see your employment status in real time or if they only find out when you file your taxes. Can someone explain how this actually works?
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Benjamin Kim
Yes, NYS Department of Labor has several ways to detect when you start working. They cross-reference data from multiple sources including quarterly wage reports that employers must file, new hire reporting systems, and tax records. When you start a job, your employer is required to report your hiring to the state within 20 days. The key is to report any work immediately on your weekly certification - even if it's just one day or a few hours. Failing to report work is considered fraud and can result in serious penalties including having to pay back all benefits plus fines.
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Victoria Stark
•Thanks for the info! So I should report work even if I haven't gotten my first paycheck yet? I'm supposed to start Monday but won't get paid for two weeks.
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Samantha Howard
they definitely know, my cousin got busted for not reporting part time work and had to pay back like $4000 plus penalties. the computer systems talk to each other now
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Megan D'Acosta
•Your cousin's situation is exactly why it's crucial to report ALL work activity on your weekly claims. NYS Department of Labor can detect unreported work through wage matching programs that compare your reported earnings against employer wage records. Even if you think the work is too small to matter, you must report it. The penalties for overpayments due to unreported work are severe - typically 15% penalty plus having to repay all benefits received during the period.
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Sarah Ali
I'm in the same boat and super worried about messing this up! What if you do gig work like DoorDash or Uber? Do they report that too? I've been doing some deliveries but the income is so irregular I'm not sure how to report it correctly on my weekly claims.
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Benjamin Kim
•Yes, gig work must be reported too. For apps like DoorDash and Uber, you should report your gross earnings for the week you performed the work, not when you get paid. Keep detailed records of your daily earnings because you'll need to report the exact amount on your weekly certification. NYS Department of Labor considers this self-employment income and it will affect your benefit amount.
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Ryan Vasquez
Look I had trouble reaching someone at NYS Department of Labor about reporting work questions and ended up using this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that got me through to an actual agent in like 10 minutes. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI showing how it works. The agent was able to walk me through exactly how to report my part-time work correctly and what would happen to my benefits. Worth checking out if you can't get through on the phone yourself.
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Victoria Stark
•That sounds really helpful! I've been trying to call for days but keep getting disconnected. Did they charge you anything to use it?
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Ryan Vasquez
•It was worth it for the peace of mind honestly. The agent explained that even one unreported day of work can trigger an overpayment investigation, so I wanted to make sure I was doing everything right from the start.
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Avery Saint
just be honest about everything and you'll be fine, the system is set up to catch people who try to cheat but if you report your work they usually just reduce your benefits for that week
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Victoria Stark
•That makes me feel a bit better. I really don't want to do anything wrong, I just needed to understand how it all works.
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