How to certify unemployment benefits with NYS Department of Labor - confused about weekly process

Yes, you need to certify every week to continue receiving unemployment benefits from NYS Department of Labor. It's basically confirming you're still unemployed and available for work. For the job search requirement, you need to document at least 3 work search activities per week. This can include applying for jobs, networking, attending job fairs, or even taking approved training courses. And yes, you absolutely must report that $180 you earned - NYS Department of Labor will find out anyway when they cross-reference with employer payroll data. As long as you report it honestly, they'll just deduct it from your weekly benefit amount.

the weekly certification thing is pretty straightforward once you do it a couple times. just answer the questions honestly about whether you worked, looked for work, etc. i've been doing it for 6 weeks now and it takes maybe 5 minutes each week

Keep detailed records of your job search activities! I learned this the hard way when NYS Department of Labor randomly audited my claim and asked for documentation. I had to scramble to recreate my job search log from memory. Now I keep a simple spreadsheet with dates, company names, positions applied for, and method of contact. Also, if you miss a week of certification, you can usually still certify for that week later, but don't make a habit of it - they can close your claim if you go too long without certifying.

I had trouble reaching NYS Department of Labor when I had questions about my weekly certification process. Kept getting busy signals and when I did get through, I'd get hung up on after waiting an hour. Then someone here mentioned this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that helps you get through to unemployment agents. I was skeptical but watched their demo video (https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI) and decided to try it. They actually got me connected to a real person at NYS Department of Labor within 20 minutes and I was able to get all my certification questions answered. Might be worth checking out if you run into issues.

UGH the whole certification process is such a pain!! Why can't they just make it automatic if you're unemployed?? And don't even get me started on the job search requirements - like we're not already stressed enough about being unemployed, now we have to jump through hoops every week to prove we're 'trying hard enough' to find work. The whole system is designed to make people give up and stop claiming benefits.

oh and make sure you certify on sunday or monday if possible. i heard if you wait too late in the week sometimes the system gets overwhelmed and you might have trouble getting in

Hey Santiago! I went through the exact same confusion when I first started certifying. One thing that really helped me was creating a simple weekly routine - I set a reminder on my phone for Sunday mornings to do my certification, and I keep a notebook where I jot down my job search activities throughout the week (even just a quick note like "applied to cashier job at Target on Wednesday" is enough). For your part-time work, definitely report that $180 - they'll calculate how it affects your benefits automatically. The system is actually pretty forgiving as long as you're honest. You've got this! The first few weeks feel scary but it becomes second nature quickly.

@Santiago Diaz I totally get your anxiety about this - I was terrified of messing up my first certification too! One tip that saved me: before you start your weekly certification, gather everything you need first. Have your job search activities written down (company names, dates, how you applied), any earnings info, and answers to the basic questions ready. The questions are pretty standard each week - did you work, are you able to work, are you available for work, did you look for work, etc. Also, the system usually saves your progress if you need to step away, so don't feel rushed. You're doing great by asking questions first - that shows you care about doing it right!