Severance Pay and NY Unemployment: Do I Still File?
My spouse got laid off last month and just got their first unemployment payment. Today they also got their severance. I'm confused about whether they should file for unemployment this week because of the severance. They mentioned that none of the questions during filing ask about severance pay. Anyone know how to handle this situation with ny unemployment?
25 comments

Tom Maxon
I found a way to solve reporting severance to NY unemployment, watch this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WsGiVKo3oeQ
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Nia Wilson
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.
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Luca Russo
AuthorThanks for the advice! So you're saying we should still file and just mention the severance under other income? Did that affect your benefits at all?
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Nia Wilson
Yep, that's what I did. It did reduce my benefits for that week, but it's better than getting in trouble later. The system is weird about severance š¤·āāļø
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Mateo Sanchez
This is why I hate dealing with unemployment. The rules are never clear and you always feel like youre doing something wrong š¤
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Aisha Mahmood
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
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Ethan Clark
Sounds too good to be true. How does it actually work? Is it legit?
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Aisha Mahmood
It's totally legit! They use some kind of automated system to navigate the phone tree and wait on hold. When a real person picks up, it connects to your phone. Saved me hours of frustration.
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AstroAce
20 bucks tho? Idk man, seems like a rip-off when calling should be free š¤
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Aisha Mahmood
I get it, but honestly, after spending days trying to get through, it was worth every penny to me. Time is money, ya know?
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Yuki Kobayashi
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 š
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Luca Russo
AuthorWow, thank you so much for this detailed info! It really clears things up. We'll make sure to report the severance and let them figure it out.
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Carmen Vega
This is great advice. I wish the ny unemployment website made this stuff clearer. You shouldn't need a PhD to figure out how to file correctly š
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Andre Rousseau
lol welcome to the wonderful world of ny unemployment where nothing makes sense and the rules are made up 𤔠Seriously tho, just report everything and cover your butt. Better safe than sorry!
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Zoe Stavros
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!
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Jamal Harris
Omg yes! I always feel like I'm taking a trick quiz when I certify. Like, am I gonna accidentally commit fraud this week? š
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GalaxyGlider
For real tho. I spend way too much time overthinking every answer. ny unemployment needs to get its act together and make this process clearer.
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Mei Wong
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 š¬
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Luca Russo
AuthorThat's a great idea! We'll definitely start doing that. Thanks for the tip!
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Liam Sullivan
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 š½
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Amara Okafor
Lmaooo fr tho. It's like they sat down and said 'how can we make this as confusing as possible?' š
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Giovanni Colombo
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.
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Luca Russo
AuthorThanks for the advice! We'll make sure to keep everything organized. Better safe than sorry!
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Fatima Al-Qasimi
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! š„āļøšµāš«
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Sofia Perez
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! š
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