What is earnings allowance for unemployment - NYS Department of Labor rules?
I'm really confused about the earnings allowance when you're collecting unemployment benefits in NY. I got a part-time job that pays about $200 a week and I'm not sure how this affects my weekly unemployment claim. Do I have to report ALL earnings or is there some kind of allowance where I can earn a certain amount without it affecting my benefits? I've been looking through the NYS Department of Labor website but the information is scattered and I can't find a clear answer. Has anyone dealt with this situation before?
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Noland Curtis
Yes, there is an earnings allowance in NY! You can earn up to 25% of your weekly benefit rate without any reduction in your unemployment benefits. Anything above that amount gets deducted dollar-for-dollar from your weekly claim. So if your weekly benefit rate is $400, you can earn up to $100 without penalty. You still have to report ALL earnings on your weekly claim certification though - the NYS Department of Labor calculates the deduction automatically.
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Muhammad Hobbs
•That's really helpful! So with my $200 weekly earnings, I'd have some deduction but not lose all my benefits. Do I report gross earnings or net earnings on my weekly claim?
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Noland Curtis
•Always report gross earnings (before taxes) on your weekly certification. The NYS Department of Labor needs the full amount before any deductions.
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Diez Ellis
Wait I thought you couldn't work at all while collecting unemployment?? This is news to me
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Vanessa Figueroa
•No, you can work part-time while collecting UI benefits in NY. The key is staying under full-time hours (usually 30+ hours is considered full-time) and reporting everything accurately. Many people don't realize the earnings allowance exists.
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Abby Marshall
I had a similar situation last year and honestly, trying to get through to NYS Department of Labor to ask about this was impossible. The phone lines are always busy and when you do get through, you're on hold forever. I ended up using a service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that helped me reach an actual agent. They have a demo video at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI that shows how it works. Really saved me time and stress when I needed clarification on my earnings reporting.
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Sadie Benitez
•How much does something like that cost? Seems like we shouldn't have to pay extra just to talk to someone about our own benefits
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Abby Marshall
•I hear you on that frustration, but honestly after weeks of trying to get through on my own, it was worth it to get clear answers about my specific situation. The earnings allowance rules can be tricky depending on your benefit amount.
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Drew Hathaway
Just make sure you're also meeting your job search requirements even with the part-time work. The NYS Department of Labor still expects you to be actively looking for full-time employment and documenting your search activities.
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Muhammad Hobbs
•Good point! I've been keeping my job search log updated. Do I need to list a certain number of contacts per week even if I'm working part-time?
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Laila Prince
The whole system is so confusing! I accidentally didn't report some small earnings once and got an overpayment notice months later. Now I'm paranoid about reporting everything correctly.
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Chloe Harris
•That's exactly why it's so important to be overly cautious with reporting! Even small amounts like tips or cash payments need to be reported. The penalties for overpayments can be steep - they'll make you pay back the benefits plus interest. Better to report everything and let the system calculate the deductions than risk an audit later.
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