Severance Pay and NY Unemployment: Do I Still File?

I found a way to solve reporting severance to NY unemployment, watch this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WsGiVKo3oeQ

Ugh, the severance thing is so confusing! I was in the same boat last year. From what I remember, you still need to report the severance as income when you certify. Even if they don't ask directly, there's usually a question about receiving any other income. Better to report it and let them sort it out than risk an overpayment issue later.

Hey guys, I found a method to get someone on the phone at ny unemployment. I used this site's (claimyr.com) calling tool that dials the phone menu, stays on hold, waits for a live agent to pick up, then sends the call to my phone. It does cost $20, but it works. Here's a video about it: https://youtu.be/Rdqa1gKtxuE

According to the NY unemployment website, severance pay can affect your benefits. Here's what you need to know: • Severance is considered income and must be reported • It may reduce or eliminate your benefits for the week you receive it • You should still file your weekly claim and report the severance • The system will calculate any adjustments needed • If you're unsure, always err on the side of reporting Remember, not reporting income can lead to overpayments and potential fraud issues. It's always better to be upfront and let the DOL make the determination. If you're having trouble getting through to ask questions, I've heard good things about using Claimyr to reach a rep. It costs a bit, but might be worth it for peace of mind. Hope this helps! Navigating unemployment can be a real headache 😓

lol welcome to the wonderful world of ny unemployment where nothing makes sense and the rules are made up 🤡 Seriously tho, just report everything and cover your butt. Better safe than sorry!

Has anyone else noticed that the questions on the certification form seem designed to trip people up? Like, they never ask about the things you actually need to report. It's so frustrating!

Pro tip: Keep a detailed log of all income, including severance, and when you receive it. Makes it way easier to report accurately and cover yourself if there are ever any questions. Learned that the hard way 😬

Yall ever wonder if the people who design these systems have ever actually been unemployed? Cuz sometimes it feels like they're from another planet 👽

Hey OP, just a heads up - make sure your husband keeps documentation of everything. Severance letter, pay stubs, all of it. ny unemployment might ask for proof later and its a pain if you don't have it handy.

I swear, dealing with unemployment is like playing 4D chess while blindfolded. And the chess pieces keep changing shape. And the board is on fire. Good luck, OP! 🔥♟️😵‍💫

I went through this exact same situation a few months ago! Here's what I learned: you absolutely should still file your weekly certification and report the severance. There's usually a section where they ask about "other income" - that's where the severance goes. My benefits got reduced that week because of the severance amount, but it was totally worth being honest about it. The DOL has ways of finding out about unreported income anyway (they cross-reference with tax records), so it's not worth the risk. Also, keep copies of everything - the severance letter, payment confirmation, everything. If they ever audit your claim later, you'll be glad you have the documentation. The whole system is confusing enough without having to worry about paperwork issues on top of it! Your spouse is doing the right thing by asking questions instead of just guessing. Better to be cautious with this stuff! 👍

Just went through this same situation with my partner last month! The key thing is to definitely keep filing and report the severance under "other income" when you certify. What helped us was calling it exactly what it is - "severance pay" in the description field. NY DOL is pretty good about calculating how it affects your weekly benefit amount automatically once you report it properly. One thing I wish someone had told me earlier: if the severance was paid as a lump sum, they typically spread it out over the weeks it was meant to cover (like if it was 4 weeks severance, they divide it by 4). But if you're not sure how they calculate it, definitely worth getting someone on the phone to clarify. The main thing is just be transparent about it. I know the forms can be confusing, but it's way better to over-report than under-report with this stuff. Your spouse is smart to ask questions rather than just wing it! Keep all the paperwork from the severance too - you'll probably need it if they ever do a review of the claim later on.