I'm in a similar situation - just started collecting UI last month and considering doing some gig work to supplement. Reading through these responses is really helpful! One question I have is about tracking expenses - if I'm doing DoorDash and spending money on gas, can I deduct those expenses from what I report to NYS DOL, or do I need to report the full gross amount before any expenses? I want to make sure I'm doing this correctly from day one.

Another important thing to keep in mind - when you're doing DoorDash or any gig work while on UI, make sure you're setting aside money for taxes! Since you're getting 1099 income, there won't be any taxes withheld, so you might owe at tax time. I usually put about 25-30% of my gig earnings in a separate account to cover self-employment taxes. Also, keep detailed records of all your deliveries, mileage, and expenses - it'll make tax season much easier and help you maximize your deductions when you file.

I went through something similar last year and can share what happened. I forgot to report about $200 in odd jobs over a few weeks. When I realized my mistake, I immediately called NYS Department of Labor (took forever to get through) and voluntarily reported it. They were actually pretty understanding since I came forward on my own. They calculated an overpayment of about $85 that I had to pay back, but no penalties since it was clearly an honest mistake and I self-reported. The key is being proactive - don't wait for them to find it during an audit. Document everything about the work you did (dates, amounts, who paid you) before you contact them. It shows you're being thorough and honest about the situation.

I was in a similar situation a few months ago and want to share some practical advice. First, definitely contact NYS Department of Labor as soon as possible - waiting only makes it look worse if they discover it themselves. When you call, have all your documentation ready: exact dates you worked, amount earned, and who paid you. They'll ask specific questions and being prepared shows good faith. In my case, I had unreported income of about $300 over several weeks and they calculated an overpayment, but because I self-reported they waived any penalties. The overpayment was much less than I expected because they only reduce benefits proportionally, not dollar-for-dollar. The whole process took about 6 weeks to resolve, and I was able to continue receiving benefits for the weeks where I properly reported income. Don't panic - honest mistakes happen and they handle them much differently than intentional fraud.

I went through this exact situation 2 years ago when our local went on strike for 5 weeks. The unemployment denial was tough but here's what helped me get through it: 1) Applied for emergency SNAP benefits immediately - the process was faster than I expected, 2) Called my credit card companies and mortgage lender to explain the situation - most had temporary hardship programs, 3) Our union organized carpools and shared resources which saved on gas/groceries. Also check if your union has agreements with local businesses for discounts during strikes. Mine had deals with a few grocery stores that helped stretch the strike fund money. Stay strong and remember this is temporary - the financial stress is real but you're fighting for something important.

I'm sorry you're facing this difficult situation. As others have mentioned, New York State does not allow unemployment benefits during strikes since it's considered a voluntary work stoppage. However, I wanted to add that you should document everything from this period - strike notices, union communications, dates, etc. This documentation could be helpful if your employment situation changes after the strike ends. Also, if you're a union member, make sure you understand all the benefits your union provides during strikes beyond just the strike fund - some locals have arrangements for healthcare continuation, legal aid, or connections to temporary work that doesn't conflict with strike activities. It's worth having a detailed conversation with your union representatives about all available resources. Hang in there - this is a challenging time but you're standing up for important workplace rights.

As someone new to this community, I just want to say thank you to everyone who shared their experiences and tips! I'm currently dealing with a similar address update situation and was feeling completely overwhelmed trying to navigate the NYSDOL website. Reading through all these real-world solutions and workarounds has been incredibly helpful. It's clear that the official process is confusing and frustrating for everyone, but seeing how this community comes together to help each other figure out what actually works is really encouraging. I'm planning to try the fax route with the number provided, making sure to include "ADDRESS CHANGE REQUEST" at the top and my claim number on every page. Will also look into that Claimyr service if I need to follow up. Thanks again everyone!

I'm new to this community and just wanted to share my recent experience with the address update process since I see others are still struggling with this. I successfully updated my address last week using a combination of the strategies mentioned here. I faxed my documents to (518) 457-9378 using the early morning timing tip (sent at 7:15 AM), included "ADDRESS CHANGE REQUEST" in large letters at the top, and put my claim number on every single page. I sent both my lease agreement and electric bill together as suggested. The key thing that made a difference was calling to confirm receipt using that Claimyr service - without that follow-up call, I think my documents might have sat unprocessed. The whole thing took 6 days from fax to address verification, and my benefits resumed with the next certification. For anyone still waiting, don't lose hope! This community's advice really works if you follow all the detailed steps. The system is definitely broken and frustrating, but these workarounds do get results eventually.

I went through this exact same situation when I first got my determination letter! Yes, that "net $384" means they're already withholding the 10% federal taxes you opted for during your application. Your gross weekly benefit is probably around $427 before the tax deduction. The easiest way to confirm this is by logging into your NY.gov unemployment account and checking under "Payment History" or "Payment Information" - it'll show you the exact breakdown of gross amount, federal tax withheld, and your net payment for each week. You definitely made the right choice with the automatic tax withholding! Unemployment benefits are fully taxable income, so having that 10% taken out now saves you from a potentially large tax bill next April. I've seen people get surprised with $800-1200+ tax bills because they didn't realize how much they'd owe. Just remember to keep good records of your payments throughout the year because when you get your 1099-G form next January, it will show the GROSS amount of benefits paid (not the net amount). You'll need to account for all the taxes that were withheld when you file your return. So yes, budget for that $384 per week - that's exactly what you'll receive after taxes!

I just wanted to add my experience since I went through this same confusion recently! That "net $384" on your monetary determination definitely means they're already taking out the 10% federal tax withholding you selected during your application process. What really helped me understand this was going into my NY.gov account and looking at the "View Payment History" section - it shows a detailed breakdown for each week with your gross benefit amount (which is probably around $427 in your case), the federal tax withheld (about $43), and your actual net payment of $384. You absolutely made the smart choice with the automatic withholding! I have a friend who didn't elect for taxes to be taken out and ended up with a massive $1,100 tax bill when she filed her return. Since unemployment benefits are considered fully taxable income at the federal level, it's so much better to handle it upfront rather than get hit with a surprise bill. Just a heads up for tax season: when you receive your 1099-G form next January, it will show the GROSS total of all benefits paid throughout the year (not the net amount you actually received). Make sure to keep detailed records of how much federal tax was withheld each week - you'll need those numbers to properly file your tax return and get credit for the taxes already paid. So yes, definitely budget for that $384 weekly - that's your actual take-home amount and exactly what you should expect to receive each week after you certify!