NYS Department of Labor - how to get out of unemployment and transition back to work?

Yes, you absolutely need to report when you start working! When you find a job, report it on your weekly claim certification immediately. Even if you're starting part-time or haven't received your first paycheck yet, you need to report the work. NYS Department of Labor will calculate any partial benefits you might be eligible for if you're working part-time.

report it the week you actually work, not when you get paid. i made that mistake and had to pay back like $600 because i reported it wrong

Here's the process: 1) Continue filing weekly claims until you're working full-time and earning over your benefit amount, 2) Report all work and earnings on your weekly certification, 3) NYS Department of Labor will automatically stop your benefits when you're no longer eligible, 4) Keep your job search log current until your claim officially closes. The system is designed to help you transition gradually if needed.

I was in the same situation last year! The key thing is being honest about everything on your weekly claims. When I started my new job, I kept filing for about 3 weeks because I was only working part-time initially. NYS Department of Labor calculated partial benefits for those weeks. Once I went full-time, the benefits automatically stopped. Just make sure you save all your documentation in case they ever audit your claim.

If you're having trouble reaching someone at NYS Department of Labor to ask specific questions about your transition back to work, I used a service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that helped me get through to an actual agent. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI that shows how it works. It was really helpful when I needed to clarify some confusing rules about reporting my new job.

just stop filing when you start working full time its not that complicated. the system will figure itself out