NY unemployment demanding $810 refund after I stopped claiming 4 months ago - can't reach anyone!
I'm freaking out right now and don't know what to do about my NY unemployment situation. Back in August when I stopped collecting benefits (around when the $300 federal bonus ended), I had started getting more hours at my retail job. My manager gradually increased me from part-time to full-time knowing I was struggling with bills. Fast forward to mid-December - I'm checking my mail and find this official notice saying I owe $810 because of some overpayment issue related to the federal supplement from months ago! The crazy thing is there was NOTHING in my online unemployment portal inbox about this - absolutely zero notification (I took screenshots as proof). The letter claims I wasn't eligible for some of the $300 payments I received, but the emails they sent me during that time clearly stated I WAS eligible! I've been trying to call them since December with no success whatsoever. I've submitted 7 hearing requests through the website (screenshots saved) but haven't heard back about a single one. I've tried calling at 8:00am right when they open, tried midday, tried Friday afternoons - nothing works. I'm not paying for their mistake, but I'm scared this will go to collections or something. Has anyone successfully gotten through to an actual person? What should I do? This is seriously causing me so much stress on top of everything else going on.
35 comments
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Laura Lopez
I went through this exact nightmare back in October. They claimed I owed $1200 for payments from May that they approved me for! The system is completely broken. I filed appeals online and mailed physical letters with return receipt and still nothing for 6 weeks.
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Gabriel Freeman
•Did you ever get it resolved? I'm so worried this is gonna go to collections
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Laura Lopez
•Eventually yes - but only after I finally got a human on the phone. Took 3+ hours of waiting multiple days.
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Victoria Brown
•This is why I screen shot EVERYTHING with ny unemployment. They're so sloppy with their records.
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Samuel Robinson
After two weeks of constant calling and never getting through, I tried this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) and they got me connected to an actual unemployment agent within an hour. Talking to a real person got my overpayment issue fixed in one call - best money I've spent to get my issue resolved. Check out their explanation video here: https://youtu.be/Rdqa1gKtxuE
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Camila Castillo
•Wait is this for real? I've been calling for MONTHS with no luck 😩
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Samuel Robinson
•100% real. I was skeptical too but was desperate after trying for weeks. The agent I spoke with actually apologized for how hard it is to get through!
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Brianna Muhammad
•hmm I've been burned by so many of these 'services' before... what makes this different? seems too good to be true tbh
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Samuel Robinson
•It's basically an automated system that calls DOL repeatedly until it gets through, then connects you. Saved me literal days of redialing. I was about ready to drive to Albany lol
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JaylinCharles
•another day, another company promising to fix the unfixable unemployment system lol
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Samuel Robinson
•Look I get the skepticism - I felt the same way. But my overpayment got resolved in ONE call after using their service. Before that I called 50+ times with no luck
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Eloise Kendrick
Welcome to the wonderful world of NY unemployment where they approve you for benefits then come back months later demanding refunds 🙃 The system is a complete joke. Hang in there.
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Lucas Schmidt
Whatever you do, DO NOT ignore this. Even if it's their mistake, they'll send it to collections which can wreck your credit score. Document EVERYTHING. Take screenshots of all your approvals and communication. When you finally get through (and you will eventually), you'll need all of this evidence.
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Gabriel Freeman
•I've been saving all the screenshots since the beginning! So that should help right? Did you get through to someone?
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Lucas Schmidt
•Yes! It took me literally 3 weeks of calling. I found that Thursday mornings around 8:15am worked best for me. Had better luck with the 888 number than the 800 one.
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Freya Collins
Send a written appeal by CERTIFIED mail in addition to the online requests. Always get a receipt. I had the exact same problem (but for $1400!) and the only thing that worked was having proof I submitted multiple appeals. Their online system loses stuff all the time.
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LongPeri
•This is solid advice. The certified mail paper trail saved my ass when they tried to claim they never received anything from me.
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Oscar O'Neil
OMG SAME THING HAPPENED TO ME!!! They said I owed $745 after telling me I was eligible for everything! I'm pretty sure there's some kind of system glitch happening. You're definitely not alone. Btw, I finally reached someone after using claimyr.com - talking to an agent got my issue fixed in 15 minutes after months of stress.
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Sara Hellquiem
Here's what you need to do (I work in benefits administration and have dealt with this): 1. Keep calling, but be strategic. The best times are Tuesday-Thursday between 8:05-8:30am. Avoid Mondays and Fridays completely. 2. File a formal appeal IN WRITING and send it certified mail. Their online system often "loses" appeals conveniently. 3. Contact your state representative's office. Many have staff dedicated to unemployment issues and can escalate your case. 4. Document everything with dates, times, reference numbers, and names of anyone you speak with. 5. If you need to get through quickly, several people in this sub have had success with claimyr.com to connect with agents directly. 6. Request a formal hearing. The burden of proof is on THEM to show you weren't eligible after they approved you. The system is overwhelmed and their record-keeping is a mess. Don't give up - these issues are often resolved in the claimant's favor when you can actually get someone to review your case. Good luck!
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Gabriel Freeman
•Thank you so much for this detailed response! I've been trying the calling strategy but no luck yet. Will definitely try the state rep angle - never thought of that!
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Charlee Coleman
•I can confirm the state rep thing works. My assembly member's office got my case resolved when I couldn't for months.
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Liv Park
Same boat my friend. They sent me a letter in November for overpayments from JUNE. How am I supposed to remember exact details from that long ago? The whole system is designed to make us give up and just pay.
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Leeann Blackstein
Protip: If u cant reach anyone try claimyr.com - wasnt cheap but after 3 weeks of trying i was desperate and it worked. Agent fixed my overpayment notice in 10 min 👍
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Ryder Greene
•not falling for another unemployment 'hack'... these never work
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Leeann Blackstein
•whatever dude, believe what u want but it worked for me. was just trying to help someone in the same situation 🤷♂️
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Carmella Fromis
•I actually tried it too after seeing it mentioned here. Got connected to an agent in about 45 mins and they fixed my issue right away.
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Theodore Nelson
Try calling exactly at 7:58am - sometimes the phone system opens a couple minutes early and you can get in the queue before the rush. Worked for me after weeks of trying!
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AaliyahAli
LMAO and they wonder why ppl hate dealing with unemployment. They approve you, then months later say "oops our bad, give us money back" even though THEY made the mistake! 🤡 system
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Ellie Simpson
•fr fr 💀 happened to my sister too and she ended up just paying it cuz she couldnt get through to fight it
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AaliyahAli
•that's what they count on! most people just give up and pay even when it wasn't their fault
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Arjun Kurti
Im dealing with that rn. Call your state assemblyman and explain the situation. They have special liasons who can contact unemployment directly. Thats the only way i got my issue fixed.
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Raúl Mora
Faxing (yes, actual faxing) your appeal can sometimes work better than online. There's a specific fax number for appeals: 518-457-9378. Make sure to include your claim ID on EVERY page and keep your fax confirmation.
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Margot Quinn
•This is actually really good advice. I work for a legal aid organization and we still use fax for unemployment issues because it creates a clear paper trail.
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Evelyn Kim
yeah their systems don't talk to each other. the right hand doesnt know what the left is doing. you got emails saying you were eligible but then their audit system flagged you. classic NY unemployment mess.
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Diego Fisher
Email your state senator AND assembly member. I did both and the assembly member's office got back to me in 2 days and had my issue resolved in a week. They have special contacts at unemployment.
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