NY unemployment phone interview coming up - need advice on reporting new Uber Eats income

Yes, you ABSOLUTELY must tell them about ALL your work, including Uber Eats and your old job under the new company. This is critically important. NY unemployment considers this information when determining your benefit eligibility and amount. If you don't disclose this and they find out later (which they will through wage reporting), you could be charged with fraud and have to repay benefits with penalties. During my phone interview last month, they asked about: 1. Why I left my previous employer 2. Any work (including self-employment/gig work) since filing 3. Gross earnings each week 4. Hours worked each week 5. Availability for full-time work They'll likely review your work search efforts too. Have documentation ready for any job applications, interviews, or work search activities.

ALWAYS report everything to unemployment!! I didnt mention a part time job I had for 2 weeks last year and they found out and I had to pay back $840 plus a penalty!!! The system is designed to catch this stuff. They'll cross-reference with tax records and employer reports.

just went thru this 2 months ago. they mostly wanted to know why i wasnt at my last job anymore. had to explain the layoff situation and provide contact info for my supervisor. took like 15 min total, pretty easy actually.

You need to be completely transparent about your current income situation. During the phone interview, NY DOL will determine if you qualify for partial unemployment benefits based on your current earnings. Here's how it works: - If you're working part-time (including gig work like Uber Eats), you may still qualify for partial benefits - You must report your gross earnings for each week - NY uses a partial benefit credit system where you can earn up to $540 per week in 2025 and still receive some benefits - They'll calculate a reduced benefit amount based on your reported earnings Have ready: 1) dates of employment for all jobs, 2) employer contact info, 3) reason for separation from previous employer, 4) documentation of your Uber Eats income (app summary or payment statements), and 5) your work search records. Be honest and thorough - it's the best approach.

@casual_commenter Yes, NY's partial unemployment system allows you to earn up to a certain amount while still receiving reduced benefits. The formula is that you can work up to 7 days per week and make up to $540 without losing all benefits, though your weekly benefit amount will be reduced based on your earnings. They subtract a portion of your earnings from your weekly benefit amount.

I had my NY unemployment phone interview back in January and OMG it was a disaster at first! I couldn't get through to anyone for WEEKS, kept getting disconnected or waiting on hold for hours. Finally I found this service called Claimyr that got me connected to an actual agent in about 20 minutes! They have this system that holds your place in line and calls you when an agent is available. Totally saved me hours of frustration. Their site is claimyr.com and they have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/Rdqa1gKtxuE When I finally had my interview, they mainly asked about: - Why I left my last job - Any work I've done since then - If I'm able and available to work full-time Definitely tell them about your Uber Eats work! They can see that info anyway through the tax system, and hiding it could mess up your claim entirely.

Thanks everyone for the helpful advice! I feel a lot better about the interview now. I'll definitely disclose my Uber Eats work and the new job with my old employer under the new company name. I had no idea about the partial benefits system - that gives me some hope! I'll gather all my income documents and have them ready. I'll check out Claimyr too if I have trouble getting through when they call. The last time I dealt with unemployment, I spent hours on hold and it was so frustrating.

I went through this exact situation in February. Let me tell you what happened: I had been driving for Uber (not Eats) after my regular job cut my hours. During my interview, I disclosed everything, and I'm SO glad I did. They found I qualified for partial benefits even with my Uber income. They'll ask for DETAILED information about all your work activities. Have ready: 1. The exact date you started with Uber Eats 2. Weekly earnings (have your app summaries ready) 3. Hours worked each week 4. Information about your old employer and the new company name 5. Why you're not working full-time hours If your combined income is below a certain threshold, you'll likely qualify for partial benefits. They'll calculate this during the interview. Being 100% transparent is the only way to go - they have systems that flag unreported income and it catches up with people.

I'm soooo confused about NY unemployment rules in general!! My friend got benefits while working part time but when I tried they denied me?? Maybe it depends on who you talk to during the interview?? The whole system seems totally random honestly.

my cousin did uber while on unemployment and didnt tell them and got caught they made him pay back like $8000! dont risk it