NYS Department of Labor how to pause unemployment benefits temporarily - is this possible?
I've been collecting unemployment for about 6 weeks now but I might have a temporary work opportunity coming up next month that could last 2-3 weeks. I don't want to completely close my claim since the work might not work out, but I also don't want to keep filing weekly claims while I'm working. Is there a way to pause unemployment benefits with NYS Department of Labor temporarily? I've looked through my.ny.gov but can't find a clear option for this. Has anyone done this before?
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Ava Thompson
You can't technically 'pause' your claim with NYS Department of Labor, but you can stop filing weekly claims during the weeks you're working. When you come back, you'll just resume filing weekly claims for the weeks you're unemployed again. Just make sure to report any earnings accurately when you file your next weekly claim after the temporary work ends.
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Dmitry Kuznetsov
•That's helpful, thanks! Do I need to notify NYS Department of Labor that I'm stopping temporarily or just stop filing the weekly claims?
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Miguel Ramos
wait I'm confused about this too. I thought you had to file every week or they close your claim? I've been filing even when I work part time and just reporting the hours.
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Ava Thompson
•You're thinking of partial unemployment - that's different. If you're working part-time, you do file weekly and report your earnings. But if you're working full-time temporarily, you just stop filing until you're unemployed again.
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Zainab Ibrahim
I did this exact same thing last year when I got a 3-week temp job! You just stop filing your weekly claims while you're working full-time. NYS Department of Labor doesn't require advance notice. When the temp work ended, I just logged back into my.ny.gov and resumed filing weekly claims. Your benefit year stays active, you just don't collect benefits for the weeks you're working. Make sure to keep track of your work dates though for when you file again.
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StarSailor
•Did they ask you any questions when you started filing again? I'm worried they'll think something suspicious is going on.
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Zainab Ibrahim
•Nope, no questions at all. It's pretty normal for people to have temporary work while on unemployment. Just be honest about your work dates and earnings if they ever ask.
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Connor O'Brien
This is so stressful trying to reach anyone at NYS Department of Labor to ask questions like this! I've been calling for days about my own claim issues and can never get through. Has anyone found a way to actually talk to someone there?
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Zainab Ibrahim
•I actually found a service called Claimyr that helped me get through to NYS Department of Labor when I couldn't reach them myself. You can check it out at claimyr.com - they have a video demo at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI that shows how it works. It was super easy to use and I finally got to talk to an actual agent about my claim status.
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Yara Sabbagh
Just stopping filing seems too simple, are you sure that's right?? What if they think you abandoned your claim or something
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Ava Thompson
•It really is that simple. NYS Department of Labor expects people to work when opportunities come up. As long as you're within your benefit year and haven't exhausted your benefits, you can resume filing whenever you become unemployed again.
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Giovanni Rossi
I was in a similar situation a few months ago! I had a 4-week contract job come up while I was collecting unemployment. I called NYS Department of Labor directly to ask about this and they confirmed what others are saying here - you just stop filing weekly claims for the weeks you're working full-time, then resume when the work ends. The agent told me there's no need to formally notify them beforehand. Just make sure to keep good records of your work dates and any earnings so you can report accurately when you start filing again. My claim stayed active the whole time and I had no issues resuming benefits after the contract ended.
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Manny Lark
•Thanks for sharing your experience! It's really reassuring to hear from someone who actually called and confirmed this with NYS Department of Labor directly. I feel much more confident about just stopping my weekly claims during the temporary work period now. Did you have any trouble getting through to them on the phone, or do you have any tips for reaching an actual agent?
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JaylinCharles
•This is exactly what I needed to hear! I've been so worried about messing up my claim by stopping temporarily. Did they mention anything about how long you can go without filing before there might be issues? I'm hoping my temp work will only be 2-3 weeks but want to make sure there's no time limit I should be aware of.
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Zoe Walker
•@Giovanni Rossi That s'really helpful to know you got confirmation directly from NYS! I m'curious - when you called, did they mention anything about needing to document the temporary work somehow, like keeping pay stubs or a letter from the employer? I want to make sure I have everything I might need when I resume filing after my temp job ends.
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DeShawn Washington
•@Giovanni Rossi This is so helpful! I ve'been stressed about this exact situation. When you called NYS Department of Labor, did they mention anything about what happens if the temporary work gets extended beyond what you initially expected? Like if my 2-3 week job turns into a longer opportunity, do I need to update them somehow or just keep not filing as long as I m'working full-time?
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Zara Mirza
•@Giovanni Rossi Thanks for calling and getting that confirmation! I m'in almost the exact same boat - have a potential 3-week gig coming up next month. One more question if you don t'mind - when you resumed filing after your contract ended, did you need to provide any proof that the work was temporary or that it had ended? I m'just trying to make sure I don t'get flagged for anything when I start filing again.
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Connor Byrne
•@Giovanni Rossi This is super reassuring! I ve'been overthinking this whole situation. Quick question - when you resumed filing after your 4-week contract, did you notice any delay in getting your first payment back, or did it process normally like it did before the temporary work? I m'just trying to plan my finances around this potential gap.
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Nia Davis
I went through this same situation about 8 months ago! You definitely don't need to "pause" anything officially - just stop filing your weekly claims during the weeks you're working full-time. NYS Department of Labor's system is designed to handle this. Your benefit year stays active and you can resume filing as soon as the temporary work ends. I actually found it less stressful than I expected - no phone calls needed, no forms to fill out. Just keep good records of when you worked and any wages earned so you can report accurately when you file again. The temporary work actually helped me in the long run because it showed continued work search efforts when I eventually found my permanent job. Good luck with the opportunity!
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