NYS Department of Labor unemployment claim questions - need guidance on weekly filing
Hi everyone, I'm dealing with some unemployment claim questions that are really stressing me out. I filed my initial claim about 2 weeks ago and got approved, but now I'm confused about the weekly certification process. The my.ny.gov website keeps asking me about job search activities and I'm not sure if I'm filling it out correctly. Do I need to list every single job I applied to? Also, what counts as a 'work search activity' - does networking count? I'm worried I'm going to mess something up and lose my benefits. Any advice would be really appreciated!
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Luca Esposito
For your weekly claims, you need to report at least 3 work search activities per week. This can include job applications, networking events, career fairs, or even informational interviews. Make sure you keep detailed records with dates, company names, and contact information. The NYS Department of Labor can audit your job search log at any time, so documentation is crucial.
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StarStrider
•Thank you! Should I be saving screenshots of my applications or just keeping a written log? I've been applying to jobs on Indeed and LinkedIn mostly.
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Nia Thompson
yeah the job search thing is confusing at first but you get used to it. just make sure you're actually looking for work and not just going through the motions because they do check sometimes
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StarStrider
•Good point, I definitely want to find a job as soon as possible anyway. Just want to make sure I'm doing everything right in the meantime.
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Mateo Rodriguez
I had similar unemployment claim questions when I first started filing. The key is being consistent with your weekly certifications and always certifying on time. If you miss a week, it can delay your payments. Also, make sure you're reporting any part-time work or income accurately - even small amounts need to be reported.
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Aisha Abdullah
The whole system is so unnecessarily complicated! I've been filing for months and still sometimes get confused by their questions. Why can't they just make it straightforward instead of all this bureaucratic nonsense?
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Ethan Wilson
•I hear you on the frustration. If you're having trouble getting through to NYS Department of Labor by phone for clarification, I found claimyr.com really helpful. They have a service that gets you connected to actual agents without waiting on hold forever. There's a video demo at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI that shows how it works. Saved me hours of calling and getting disconnected.
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NeonNova
Just want to add that you should always answer the weekly questions honestly. I know someone who tried to game the system and ended up with an overpayment notice. The NYS Department of Labor takes fraud seriously and it's just not worth the risk.
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StarStrider
•Absolutely, I would never try to cheat the system. I just want to make sure I understand what they're asking for so I can answer correctly.
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ThunderBolt7
I went through the same thing when I first started filing! For job search activities, you definitely don't need to list every single application - just make sure you meet the minimum requirement (usually 3 activities per week). Keep a simple log with the date, company name, position, and method of contact. Screenshots aren't required but I'd recommend saving confirmation emails from job sites when you apply. Networking absolutely counts as a work search activity - just document who you spoke with and when. The most important thing is to file your weekly certification on time, even if you're not 100% sure about every detail. You can always call the DOL for clarification, and it's better to file on time than to miss the deadline while trying to get everything perfect.
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