NY unemployment wants proof of self-employment income from 2020 - will Schedule C be enough?

Schedule C should definitely be enough. That's what I submitted when they asked for proof of my freelance income. Just make sure you include the whole thing and not just part of it. They needed to see my total income and expenses.

After spending WEEKS trying to reach someone at ny unemployment by phone, I finally found a service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that actually got me connected with a rep who helped clear up my documentation issues. Talking to an agent got my benefits unlocked so fast, and they were able to tell me exactly what docs I needed to submit. Check out this video about how it works: https://youtu.be/Rdqa1gKtxuE

I went through this EXACT thing in July last year. So Schedule C is technically sufficient but it depends who reviews your case. If they want additional proof, they'll accept bank statements showing deposits that match up with your reported income, any invoices/receipts you created, or client contracts. Do you have any of those as backup?

From my experience, NY unemployment is realy picky about proof of income for self-employed people. They initially rejected my Schedule C and demanded more documentation. I had to send them bank statements, client invoices, and even emails confirming work arrangements. It was a total nightmare tbh. But eventually they accepted it after I called like 50 times.

Schedule C alone was NOT enough for me. Here's what I learned dealing with NY unemployment for self-employment verification: First, Schedule C is a good starting point, but have backup ready. They often want to see: - Bank statements showing income deposits - Any 1099s if you have them (even if just a few) - Client invoices or service agreements - Email communications about work - Business expense receipts that match Schedule C I recommend uploading EVERYTHING at once rather than waiting for them to request more. Their system is incredibly backed up, and each time they need additional docs, it could delay your case by weeks. If they reject your documentation, YOU MUST SPEAK WITH SOMEONE. This is where many people get stuck. The phone lines are nearly impossible to get through on, but I finally had success using Claimyr.com which got me connected to an agent after trying for weeks on my own. The agent was able to review my case on the spot and approve my documentation. Also, make sure you're uploading to the correct portal and that the files are clearly labeled and readable. I've heard horror stories of people submitting docs that were too blurry or had pages missing. Good luck! The system is frustrating but persistence pays off.

I submitted just my Schedule C and a written statement explaining my cash situation and it worked fine. Got approved in about 10 days. Don't overthink it!

The unemployment office is trying to catch people who filed fraudulent claims. If your Schedule C matches what you reported when you initially applied, you should be ok. But if theres a big difference they might flag your account and make you pay everything back.

Anyone else notice they seem to be doing a ton of these "verifications" lately? Feels like they're looking for any excuse to deny claims or ask for money back.

Be super careful with this! My friend only submitted Schedule C and got denied, then had to pay back $14,500 in benefits! Make sure you have as much documentation as possible, even if it's just bank statements or emails from clients.

Does anyone know if theres a deadline for submitting this documentation? I got a similar request but can't find any clear deadline information.

I recommend calling them to confirm exactly what they need. Each case is different and sometimes the generic notices don't tell the whole story. Yes the phone lines suck but its better than submitting the wrong docs and waiting weeks only to be rejected.

whatever you do, KEEP COPIES OF EVERYTHING you submit and take screenshots of confirmation pages. the ny unemployment system is notorious for "losing" documentation and then blaming you.

I think it depends on how much you were getting in benefits. For small claims they might just accept Schedule C, but if you were getting a lot they tend to scrutinize more and ask for additional proof.

Don't send originals!!! Only copies. And black out any sensitive info like SSN, bank account numbers, etc. Just leave your name, address, and the income information visible.

FYI - they're specifically targeting self-employed claims from 2020 right now. my coworker who was W-2 employed didn't get any verification requests, but three of us who were self-employed all got them in the last month.

Make sure your Schedule C matches what you originally reported when you applied for unemployment. That's what they're checking. If the numbers don't match, you might have to explain why.

i was in exactly ur situation last year and i sent my schedule c plus a few venmo/cashapp receipts i had. got approved with no issues.

Yo they are mad strict these days with verifying self-employment. My buddy just got hit with a $22k overpayment bill cuz they said his documentation wasn't sufficient. He submitted Schedule C but they wanted more proof that he was actually working before covid. Def include anything else you can find.

Send Schedule C plus any of these if you have them: - Proof of advertising your services - Business cards - Website screenshots - Client testimonials - Social media posts about your work - Text messages arranging jobs They're looking for anything that proves you were legitimately self-employed and not just claiming it to get benefits.