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Dmitry Smirnov

NY unemployment claim error - worked 12 Saturdays but only reported one day

I just realized I made a big mistake on my NY unemployment claims. For the past 12 Saturdays I've been working at a hotel for 5 hours each time (just one day a week), but I only reported working for ONE of those Saturdays total when certifying! Today when I certified, it asked about hours and I selected 0-10 hours, which is correct for this week, but I've been doing this wrong for almost 3 months! Can I call NYSDOL and fix/amend my certifications for those previous 12 weeks? I'm really worried about getting in trouble for unreported work. I did just land another job that starts September 20, 2025, but I need to fix this mistake before then. Has anyone dealt with amending multiple weeks of certifications? What's the process? I'm freaking out a bit...

ElectricDreamer

oh man you NEED to call them asap!! they might think ur committing fraud if u dont tell them. i had a friend who got caught and had to pay back EVERYTHING plus penalties

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Dmitry Smirnov

Oh no! That's exactly what I'm worried about! Do you know if there's a specific number I should call for this type of situation?

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Ava Johnson

Don't panic. This happens more often than you think. You need to contact NYSDOL to make what's called a "retroactive certification correction." The sooner you self-report the error, the better - it shows you're acting in good faith. Call the regular claims center number and explain exactly what happened. Be prepared with: 1. The specific weeks you need to correct 2. The exact hours you worked each Saturday 3. Your total earnings for each of those days They may assess an overpayment that you'll need to repay, but if you're upfront about it being an honest mistake, they typically won't apply fraud penalties.

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Dmitry Smirnov

Thank you so much for this detailed advice! I'll gather all that information before calling. Do you know if they'll take all the money back at once, or can I set up some kind of payment plan? I'm worried about how much I might owe now...

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Ava Johnson

They typically offer payment plans if you can't pay the full amount at once. When you speak with them, just ask about your repayment options. Given that you're starting a new job soon, they'll work with you on a reasonable timeline. The important thing is addressing it proactively before they flag it as potential fraud during their quarterly wage reviews.

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Miguel Diaz

GOOD LUCK calling NYSDOL!!! I tried calling for THREE WEEKS straight about a similar issue and NEVER got through!!! Their phone system is a COMPLETE JOKE!!! You'll get disconnected 50 times before you ever speak to anyone!!! This is how they TRAP people in these situations!!!

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Zainab Ahmed

I had the same problem trying to reach them about a payment issue. Spent hours on hold only to get disconnected right when someone picked up. So frustrating!

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Connor Byrne

I got through to them last month using Claimyr.com - it holds your place in line and calls you when an agent is about to answer. Saved me hours of frustration. They have a video showing how it works here: https://youtu.be/Rdqa1gKtxuE For this kind of situation where you need to fix multiple weeks of certification, you definitely need to speak with a live person who can access your claim history.

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Yara Abboud

this happened to me but i was working uber eats and forgot to report like 8 weeks. i got a letter saying i was overpaid by like $2300 and they took my tax return the next year to pay it back. no fraud penalty tho since i called them as soon as i realized

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Dmitry Smirnov

That's somewhat reassuring that they didn't hit you with fraud penalties! I'm honestly more worried about that than having to pay back the money. Did they take your entire tax return or just part of it?

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Yara Abboud

they took the whole thing man. sucked but at least i was done with it. just dont ignore it cuz then they add interest and penalties and stuff

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PixelPioneer

When I had to amend my certifications in 2025, I learned a few things that might help you: 1. Make a detailed spreadsheet before you call - exact dates, hours worked, and earnings for each Saturday 2. You don't have to repay everything at once - they'll work out a payment plan based on your financial situation 3. There's a specific form called the "Certification Correction Request" (Form UC-225) they might have you fill out 4. Gather any proof of the hours you worked (paystubs, timesheets, etc.) The key is honestly just getting through to someone. They're actually pretty understanding if you're upfront about making an honest mistake.

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ElectricDreamer

does it matter if u dont have all ur paystubs? i lost a bunch of mine from last year

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Dmitry Smirnov

That Form UC-225 is really helpful to know about! I'll ask specifically about that when I call. And I actually do have all my pay information in my hotel employee portal, so I'll print everything out before calling. Thank you!

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Zainab Ahmed

One thing no one has mentioned yet - since you're starting a new job on September 20, make sure to report that properly on your last certification! The last thing you want is another reporting mistake when you're trying to fix this one. You'll need to report your last day of unemployment as the day before your new job starts.

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Dmitry Smirnov

That's such a good point - I would have probably messed that up too! So I should stop claiming benefits as of September 19, right? And do I need to notify them separately about getting a new job or just stop certifying?

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Ava Johnson

You'll continue certifying until your first day of work (so your last certification would include up to September 19). On that final certification, you'll indicate that you've returned to full-time employment. After that, you simply stop certifying - there's no separate notification needed. The system recognizes that you've returned to work based on your final certification.

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Keisha Williams

hey totally random but did you work at a hotel during the pandemic too? I was at the Marriott downtown and we all got laid off in 2020. Finally got my old job back last year but only part time just like you

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Dmitry Smirnov

No, I just started at this hotel about 3 months ago. It's my first time working in hospitality actually. Only got the Saturday shift for now, but hopefully they'll give me more hours once the holiday season picks up.

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Keisha Williams

cool sorry for going off topic! hope you get your unemployment stuff figured out. the hotel industry can be rough with these weird schedules

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Ava Johnson

I should add - one more important thing. Make sure you keep certifying correctly while you're waiting to fix this issue. Don't stop certifying, just make sure you're reporting accurately from now on. That shows good faith and creates a clear dividing line between your mistaken certifications and your corrected ones.

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Dmitry Smirnov

Thank you for that tip! I'll definitely keep certifying correctly while this gets resolved. I certified properly yesterday (finally), so at least I'm on the right track now. Just worried about those previous 12 weeks.

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Miguel Diaz

Has anyone actually FIXED this kind of problem before?? I'm in a similar situation (reported wrong hours) and still waiting for them to fix it after THREE MONTHS!!! The lack of communication is APPALLING!!! And they wonder why people get frustrated with the system!!

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PixelPioneer

I had mine resolved within about 6 weeks. The key was speaking directly with a claims specialist (not just a frontline phone rep) and following up every 2 weeks. I also sent in the correction form via certified mail so I had proof they received it. Persistence is unfortunately necessary with the NYSDOL.

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