How to fill out unemployment weekly claim correctly - NYS Department of Labor questions

The weekly claim is pretty straightforward once you get the hang of it. For work search, you need to document at least 3 job search activities per week (this changed after COVID). This can include applying for jobs, attending job fairs, networking events, or even creating profiles on job sites. You don't need to list every single application but keep detailed records in case NYS Department of Labor asks for verification. For the $75 freelance work, definitely report it in the earnings section - enter the gross amount before any deductions. They'll reduce your weekly benefit accordingly but you won't be completely disqualified unless you earn more than your weekly benefit rate plus $50.

I've been filing weekly claims for 8 weeks now and here's what I learned the hard way - ALWAYS answer the questions honestly even if you think it might hurt your claim. I tried to be clever about reporting some part-time work and they caught it during adjudication. Had to go through a whole appeals process. The system is designed to help you transition back to full employment, so partial earnings are expected. Just be truthful about everything including any training programs, interviews, or even volunteer work if it's related to your job search.

Wait I'm confused about the work search thing. I thought you only needed to do 1 job search activity per week? I've been doing that for the past month and my claims have been approved. Now I'm worried I'm not meeting the requirements and they'll ask for money back!

If you're having trouble getting through to NYS Department of Labor to ask questions about your weekly claim, I found this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that helps you actually reach a real person at the unemployment office. They have this video demo showing how it works: https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI. I used it when I had questions about reporting my pension income and got through to an agent in like 20 minutes instead of calling for days. Really helpful when you need specific guidance about your situation.

ugh the whole weekly claim system is such a pain!! why do they make it so complicated?? i just want to certify that im still unemployed and looking for work. all these detailed questions about every little thing. and dont even get me started on the website crashing every sunday when everyone tries to file at the same time 😤

One more tip - screenshot or save a copy of your completed weekly claim before you submit it. If there's ever a technical glitch or question about what you reported, having that record can save you a huge headache with NYS Department of Labor. I learned this after the site crashed right as I was submitting and I couldn't remember exactly what I had entered for my work search activities.

As someone who just went through the initial claims process last month, I want to emphasize something that really helped me - when you're filling out your weekly claim, take your time and read each question carefully. Don't rush through it even if you're anxious about missing the deadline. For the work search activities, I keep a simple spreadsheet with columns for date, company name, position applied for, and method (online application, networking, etc.). This makes it super easy to reference when filling out the weekly claim. Also, for that $75 freelance work - definitely report it as gross earnings for the week you performed the work. The system will automatically calculate the reduction to your benefits, but being upfront about it protects you from any potential overpayment issues down the road. You've got this!

I'm new to this whole unemployment process and feeling pretty overwhelmed reading through all these details! One thing that's helping me is breaking it down into smaller steps. I made a simple checklist for my weekly claims: 1) Update my job search log before filing, 2) Double-check any earnings from the week (even small amounts), 3) Read each question twice before answering, and 4) Take screenshots before submitting like @Natasha mentioned. It's making the whole process feel less scary. Also just wanted to say thank you to everyone sharing their experiences - it's really reassuring to know others have figured this out and that making honest mistakes isn't the end of the world as long as you're upfront about everything with NYS Department of Labor.

I just wanted to add something that helped me when I was confused about the work search requirements - you can actually call your local One-Stop Career Center for guidance on what counts as valid job search activities. They helped me understand that things like updating your resume, taking online skills courses, or even informational interviews can count toward your 3 weekly activities. The staff there are really knowledgeable about NYS Department of Labor requirements and they're way easier to reach than the main unemployment line. For @Amina's original question about the weekly claim - the key thing that gave me confidence was realizing that the system is designed to support people who are genuinely looking for work, so as long as you're honest about your activities and earnings, you'll be fine. The $75 freelance work is actually a good sign that you're actively trying to get back on your feet, and reporting it correctly shows NYS Department of Labor that you're following the rules. Don't let the complexity scare you - thousands of people successfully file these claims every week!