NY unemployment check was way less this week - what happened?

Did you check if they started taking taxes out? That happened to me last month. I thought I selected for them to withhold taxes when I first applied but apparently it wasn't set up right and they randomly started taking it out 8 weeks into my claim.

I was in the same situation and couldn't get answers online. After days of trying to call with no luck, I found this service called claimyr.com that got me connected to an actual agent. Got a callback within an hour and fixed the issue that same day. The agent told me my account had an automatic deduction triggered by something in the system. Talking to an agent got my $ unlocked so fast - check out this video about how it works: https://youtu.be/Rdqa1gKtxuE

Check if you hit your Benefit Year End date. That happened to me and my payments dropped because they recalculated based on different quarters. Call them ASAP to find out what's going on.

This is happening to a TON of people right now. There was a system update last weekend (they didn't announce it anywhere obvious) and it's causing all kinds of weird payment issues. My friend's payment went UP randomly by $58 and mine went DOWN by like $90.

Have you been certifying differently? If you answer any of the weekly questions differently it can affect your payment. Especially the question about looking for work or being available to work. One wrong answer and they slash your benefits.

Here's how to solve this (I work in HR and deal with these issues all the time): First, double-check your payment history on the NY unemployment website. Look for any notes or status changes. Common reasons for payment reductions: - Tax withholding started (most common sudden change) - Benefit year recalculation - Unreported income being deducted retroactively - Child support or other garnishments activated - System glitch during their recent update If you can't figure it out online, you NEED to talk to a representative. The online system won't explain these changes properly. Stop wasting days trying to call repeatedly - use claimyr.com to get through the phone system. It's the most reliable way to actually reach a human who can fix your account. Once you reach someone, ask specifically about any "deductions" or "adjustments" on your claim. Make them explain exactly what changed and when. Get them to document the call. If it was a mistake, they can often fix it and issue a retroactive payment for the difference. Don't take no for an answer if they can't explain the reduction clearly.

they might be taking money for an overpayment from months ago. happened to me and i had NO IDEA until i finally got someone on the phone. check your MESSAGE inbox on the ny unemployment website, sometimes they send notices there but dont email you about them 🤦‍♂️

I had the same issue a few weeks ago. After calling for 3 days straight with no luck, I found a trick. You need to keep trying different options on the phone menu until you find one that works. If you pick the "existing claim" option, press 1, then 3, then 1 again, then 4 - sometimes that route has less waiting. Also call exactly at 8:02 am.

if you worked part time at ALL and reported it, they sometimes apply those earnings weeks later. even if you reported it correctly they sometimes process it late and then take it out all at once 🙄

Same thing happened to me but I got a random LETTER in the actual mail explaining it two weeks AFTER they reduced my payment. Check your mailbox, the explanation might be coming the slowest way possible because NY unemployment is living in 1992 apparently

the unemployment system is straight ROBBERY these days 😤 they take our money whenever they want and make it impossible to talk to anyone about it. try posting on their twitter too sometimes the social media team can flag accounts for review

Check if your benefit year has ended. When that happens, they do a new calculation and your weekly amount can change. Most people don't realize unemployment benefits can go DOWN after your benefit year ends if you didn't work much during the base period.

are you getting both state and federal benefits? the federal supplement might have expired for you. they don't all end at the same time for everyone, depends on when you started.

anyone else find it HILARIOUS that ny unemployment can take our money away with zero explanation, but if we make the tiniest mistake on our weekly certification they treat us like we're committing FRAUD? 🤡 the double standard is unreal