What to do when you get a job on unemployment - NYS Department of Labor notification process
I just accepted a job offer and I'm supposed to start next Monday but I'm still collecting unemployment benefits. I've been filing my weekly claims regularly and my last certification was approved. Do I need to notify NYS Department of Labor immediately or can I wait until my next weekly claim? I'm worried about creating an overpayment situation if I don't handle this correctly. The job is full-time so I definitely won't be eligible for partial benefits anymore.
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Louisa Ramirez
You need to report this on your next weekly claim filing. When you certify your weekly claim, there's a question about returning to work - answer that honestly with your start date. NYS Department of Labor will automatically stop your benefits from that date forward. Don't skip filing that week's claim just because you got a job, you still need to report it through the system.
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Marilyn Dixon
•Thanks! So I should still file this week even though I'm starting work Monday? I was confused about whether to file or not.
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TommyKapitz
yeah definitely report it right away! i made the mistake of not reporting when i went back to work and ended up with a $2800 overpayment notice months later. the nys department of labor found out through wage matching and it was a nightmare to deal with
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Marilyn Dixon
•Oh wow that sounds terrible! How did they find out if you don't mind me asking?
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TommyKapitz
•they cross reference your social security number with employer wage reports. so even if you dont tell them theyll eventually figure it out when your new employer starts reporting your wages to the state
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Angel Campbell
The key thing is to be accurate on your weekly certification. You'll answer 'yes' to returning to work and provide the exact start date. NYS Department of Labor's system will handle stopping your claim automatically. If you've already been paid for a week you worked, you might need to repay that week, but it's much easier to handle if you report it promptly rather than having them discover it later through wage matching.
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Payton Black
I had trouble reaching someone at NYS Department of Labor when I had questions about this exact situation. Calling their main number was impossible - kept getting busy signals or disconnected after waiting on hold. I ended up using this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that actually got me through to a real person at the unemployment office. They have a video demo showing how it works: https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI. The agent was able to walk me through exactly what to put on my weekly claim when I went back to work.
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Marilyn Dixon
•That's really helpful! I was dreading trying to call them. Did it cost a lot to use that service?
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Payton Black
•It was worth it for me since I couldn't get through any other way and needed to make sure I did everything correctly to avoid problems later.
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Harold Oh
Congrats on the new job! Just want to add that if for some reason the job doesn't work out during your first week or two, you can potentially reopen your unemployment claim. But definitely report the job first - it's always better to be upfront with NYS Department of Labor about employment changes.
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Amun-Ra Azra
ugh the whole system is so confusing... like why cant they just make it simple and let you report job changes online without having to wait for the weekly claim? seems like it would prevent so many overpayment issues
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Louisa Ramirez
•The weekly claim system is actually the way to report employment changes online. It's designed to capture all your work activity for that week, including when you return to full-time work.
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Omar Hassan
Just to echo what others have said - definitely file your weekly claim this week and report your return to work date accurately. I went through this same situation last year and was nervous about it too, but the system handled it smoothly once I reported it properly. The important thing is that you're being proactive about it now rather than trying to figure it out after the fact. Good luck with your new job!
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Chloe Martin
•Thank you so much for sharing your experience! It's really reassuring to hear from someone who went through the exact same situation. I was definitely overthinking it and getting anxious about messing something up. Knowing that the system handled it smoothly when reported properly gives me confidence. I'll make sure to file this week's claim and be completely honest about my start date. Really appreciate everyone's help here - this community is amazing!
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Maggie Martinez
Congratulations on landing the job! One thing to keep in mind is that you should stop certifying for unemployment benefits starting from your first day of work, even if you haven't received your first paycheck yet. Some people think they can keep claiming until they get paid, but that's incorrect - your eligibility ends when you start working full-time, not when you receive wages. Make sure to mark your exact start date on your weekly certification so there's no confusion about when your benefits should stop.
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Ethan Clark
•This is such an important point that I wish more people knew about! I almost made this exact mistake when I got my first job after being on unemployment. I thought I could keep claiming until my first paycheck arrived, but thankfully a friend who had been through it before warned me. The eligibility really does end the moment you start working, regardless of when you actually get paid. Thanks for clarifying this - it could save someone from accidentally creating an overpayment situation!
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Ashley Simian
I went through this exact same situation about 6 months ago! The most important thing is to file your weekly claim as normal this week and accurately report your return-to-work date when prompted. Don't panic about potential overpayments - as long as you're honest and report it through your next certification, NYS DOL will handle stopping your benefits automatically from your start date. I was worried I'd mess something up too, but the system is actually designed to handle this transition smoothly when you report it properly. The key is being proactive like you're doing now rather than trying to hide it or figure it out later. You've got this!
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Amelia Cartwright
•This is exactly the kind of reassurance I needed to hear! It's so helpful to know that the system is designed to handle this transition when you're upfront about it. I was definitely starting to spiral a bit thinking about all the ways I could accidentally mess this up, but hearing from people who have actually been through it successfully makes me feel so much better. I'll definitely file my weekly claim this week and be completely honest about my start date. Thank you for taking the time to share your experience - it really means a lot!
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Tami Morgan
I work as a benefits counselor and see this situation frequently. You're absolutely doing the right thing by asking about this now rather than waiting! The weekly certification system is specifically designed to capture employment changes, so when you file this week, just answer all questions honestly including your start date. One tip: keep a record of when you reported your return to work (screenshot your certification if possible) just in case you need to reference it later. The automated system will handle stopping your benefits correctly, and being proactive like this shows good faith if there are ever any questions down the line. Best of luck with your new position!
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Noah Irving
•Thank you so much for your professional insight! As someone who works with benefits cases regularly, your advice carries a lot of weight. I really appreciate the tip about keeping a screenshot of my certification - that's something I wouldn't have thought of but makes perfect sense for documentation purposes. It's reassuring to know that being proactive about this shows good faith. I was honestly worried that even asking questions might somehow flag my case, but it sounds like transparency is always the better approach. I'll definitely take that screenshot when I file this week!
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