How to opt out of unemployment benefits with NYS Department of Labor?
I've been collecting unemployment for about 6 weeks but just got offered a full-time position that starts Monday. I want to completely stop my weekly claims and close out my case with NYS Department of Labor. Do I just stop filing weekly claims or is there a formal process to opt out? I don't want any issues down the road if I need to file again later. The my.ny.gov portal doesn't seem to have a clear 'close case' button anywhere.
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Isaac Wright
You need to formally notify NYS Department of Labor that you're returning to work. Don't just stop filing - that can create complications. Log into your my.ny.gov account and look for the 'Report Return to Work' option under your claim management section. You'll need to provide your start date and employer information. This properly closes your claim and protects your benefit year if you need to reopen later.
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Maya Lewis
•Perfect, I found that option! Should I still file my weekly claim for this week since I haven't started the job yet?
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Lucy Taylor
Just stop certifying, that's what I did when I went back to work last year. The system automatically knows when you stop filing weekly claims.
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Isaac Wright
•That's actually not correct. NYS Department of Labor requires formal notification when returning to work. Just stopping can flag your account for potential overpayment issues if there are any processing delays.
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Connor Murphy
Congratulations on the new job! Make sure you keep records of exactly when you notified NYS Department of Labor about returning to work. I had a friend who just stopped filing and later got questioned about whether she was still looking for work during her last week of claims.
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Maya Lewis
•Good point about keeping records. I'll screenshot everything when I submit the return to work notification.
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KhalilStar
If you're having trouble reaching NYS Department of Labor to confirm your case closure, I recently discovered claimyr.com - they help you get through to actual agents by phone. There's a video demo at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI that shows how it works. Really helpful when you need to speak to someone directly about claim status changes.
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Amelia Dietrich
•How much does that cost? I've been trying to call NYS Department of Labor for weeks about a different issue.
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KhalilStar
•The service focuses on getting you connected rather than cost. Check out their site for details - it's been a lifesaver for getting through when the regular phone lines are jammed.
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Kaiya Rivera
You should also update your job search log to show that you're no longer actively searching since you accepted employment. This helps keep your records clean with NYS Department of Labor.
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Maya Lewis
•I didn't think about the job search log. Thanks for mentioning that!
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Ethan Scott
Make sure to also check if you need to report any wages earned during your last week of unemployment benefits. Since your job starts Monday, you'll want to be clear about which week was your final week of eligibility. NYS Department of Labor is pretty strict about accurate wage reporting, so it's better to over-communicate than leave anything unclear when you submit your return to work notification.
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QuantumQuest
•That's a really important point about wage reporting. I want to make sure I handle this correctly - should I report any orientation or training pay from my first day even if it's just a few hours? Also, do I need to calculate partial week benefits if I'm only unemployed for part of the week when the job starts? I'd rather be overly cautious with NYS Department of Labor than create any issues.
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