How do I file for unemployment if I am self-employed - NYS Department of Labor process?
I've been freelancing as a graphic designer for the past 2 years but work has completely dried up since January. I know self-employed people can get unemployment now but I'm totally confused about how to actually file with NYS Department of Labor. Do I need special documentation? I've been paying into the system through my quarterly taxes but I'm not sure what paperwork I need to prove my income. Has anyone been through this process recently?
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Dmitri Volkov
Yes, self-employed individuals can file for regular UI benefits in New York. You'll need your tax returns (especially Schedule C), 1099 forms from clients, and any records showing you've been paying into the system. The key is proving you had qualifying wages and that your work stoppage isn't voluntary. File through the regular my.ny.gov portal just like W-2 employees.
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LilMama23
•Thank you! Do I need both 2023 and 2024 tax returns or just the most recent one? I filed my 2024 return already.
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Gabrielle Dubois
i tried filing as self-employed last year and it was a nightmare... they kept asking for more documentation and my claim got stuck in adjudication for like 6 weeks
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Tyrone Johnson
•That's pretty common unfortunately. NYS Department of Labor scrutinizes self-employment claims more heavily. The trick is having all your documentation ready upfront - bank statements showing client payments, contracts or invoices, anything that proves legitimate business income.
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Ingrid Larsson
Wait I'm confused - I thought freelancers couldn't get regular unemployment? Are you talking about the pandemic benefits or something else? I've been doing Uber driving and always assumed I couldn't file.
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Dmitri Volkov
•No, this is regular UI benefits. New York allows self-employed workers to file if they've been paying into the system through their taxes. Uber drivers might qualify too if they've been reporting their income properly.
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Ingrid Larsson
•oh wow I had no idea! I've been struggling to make ends meet and never thought to check
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Carlos Mendoza
I had success filing my self-employment claim but only after I got help reaching a NYS Department of Labor agent by phone. The online system kept rejecting my application and I couldn't figure out why. Turns out I was categorizing my income type wrong. If you're having trouble getting through to someone, I used a service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that helped me get connected. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI that explains how it works. Saved me weeks of calling and getting hung up on.
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LilMama23
•That's really helpful! I was dreading trying to call them. How quickly were you able to get through?
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Gabrielle Dubois
•hmm never heard of that but might be worth trying if the regular filing process doesn't work
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Zainab Mahmoud
Just make sure you have your Social Security earnings record too. Sometimes there's a mismatch between what you reported and what's in their system, especially if you had some W-2 work mixed with self-employment.
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Abigail bergen
•That's a great point about the earnings record! I actually had some W-2 income earlier in 2023 before going full freelance. Should I be worried if there's a discrepancy between what I reported on my taxes versus what shows up in their system?
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