I went through this exact situation last year and was able to get 3 weeks backdated. The key is being prepared when you file - have your last day of work documented, any severance information, and be ready to explain the delay. I mentioned that I was dealing with the shock of losing my job and didn't realize I needed to file immediately. NYS Department of Labor accepted that reasoning. Just be honest about your circumstances and don't overthink it. The worst they can say is no to the backdating, but you'll still get benefits going forward. File as soon as possible though - the longer you wait, the harder it becomes to justify the delay.

I work as a benefits counselor and see this situation frequently. Yes, NYS Department of Labor allows backdating up to 4 weeks, but the approval isn't automatic. When filing online, look for the "claim effective date" section where you can request an earlier start date. Document everything - your termination date, any severance details, and your reason for the filing delay. Medical appointments during those first weeks could actually work in your favor as a valid reason, especially if you can show they interfered with your ability to file promptly. The job search requirement for backdated weeks is real, so start reconstructing what applications you made during December/January from your email sent folder or job board accounts. Even if you don't get the full backdate approved, filing now is still your best move.

same situation here, small business owner trying to figure this all out. thanks for asking the question!

For anyone else dealing with this, I'd recommend keeping a detailed spreadsheet tracking each employee's wages throughout the year so you know exactly when they hit the $12,300 threshold. I also set up quarterly reminders to review the wage base calculations before filing. The NYS Department of Labor Form NYS-45 instructions are actually pretty helpful once you get through all the legal language - they have examples of what counts and what doesn't.

I just went through this exact same situation about 3 weeks ago and I know how stressful it is! The good news is that forfeit weeks are usually fixable once you figure out what caused them. From reading through all these responses, it sounds like you're dealing with the most common scenario - some kind of work/income reporting mix-up during certification. Here's what I learned from my experience: 1. **Check everywhere for documentation**: Look in your online account under "Determinations," "Correspondence," and "Messages." Also check any physical mail - sometimes they send notices that way too. 2. **Get organized before calling**: Make a timeline of exactly when you worked and how much you earned for each week in question. Having all your pay stubs ready made my call go so much smoother. 3. **Ask for specifics**: When you get an agent on the phone, ask for the exact "reason code" for your forfeit. Mine was something like "IR-204" which helped me understand it was specifically an income reporting discrepancy. 4. **Don't panic about future payments**: You can keep certifying for current weeks while your appeal is being processed. The forfeit doesn't affect future payments as long as you're reporting correctly going forward. I ended up getting my forfeit week reversed after proving it was just a date mix-up on my part. Got the back payment about 2.5 weeks later. The waiting week is totally normal - that's just everyone's unpaid first week. Hang in there - this is way more common than you'd think and definitely resolvable! 💪

I'm going through the EXACT same thing right now and this entire thread has been a godsend! Just noticed a forfeit week on my payment history this morning and I was absolutely panicking until I found all these detailed responses. Based on everyone's experiences here, it sounds like these forfeit weeks are usually caused by simple reporting errors during certification - which is probably what happened to me too. I had some confusing part-time work schedules last month and I'm pretty sure I mixed up which weeks to report certain income under. Already found a vague determination notice in my online account that just says "payment discrepancy" but nothing specific. Planning to follow everyone's game plan here: - Organize all my pay stubs and create a detailed work timeline - Call DOL and ask for the specific reason code (this tip seems crucial!) - Have all my documentation ready to explain what actually happened The fact that so many people here got their forfeit weeks reversed and received back payments is giving me so much hope right now. I was terrified this would mess up all my future certifications but knowing I can keep filing normally while an appeal processes is such a relief. Thanks to everyone who shared their stories - it's incredible how helpful this community is for navigating these confusing situations! Definitely feeling way more confident about tackling this now 🙏

Just to add to all the great info here - make sure you understand the difference between gross and net when calculating your potential benefits. NYS Department of Labor uses your gross wages (before taxes and deductions) from your base period quarters to determine your benefit amount. So if you were making $1,200/week gross but only taking home $900 after taxes, they'll calculate based on that full $1,200. Also, keep in mind that if you do any part-time or temporary work while collecting unemployment, you need to report it on your weekly certification even if it's just a few hours. They'll adjust your benefits accordingly, but failing to report work income can cause major issues with your claim. The system is pretty good at cross-referencing wage records, so it's always better to be upfront about any earnings.

One thing that hasn't been mentioned yet is that NYS also has an alternate base period option if you don't qualify using the standard base period. If your recent high-paying job wasn't included in the standard calculation (first 4 of last 5 completed quarters), you can request to use the alternate base period which looks at your last 4 completed quarters instead. This might help if your $1,200/week job was very recent. You'd need to specifically request this when filing your claim or appeal if you're initially denied. It's worth exploring if the standard base period calculation doesn't work in your favor due to timing of when you started the higher-paying position.

omg same thing happened to me last month!! i was so worried they would cut off my benefits but everything was fine. just keep filing your weekly claims like normal

Just wanted to add that if you're selected for a longer trial (like 2+ weeks), you might want to proactively reach out to NYS DOL to document the situation. While jury duty won't disqualify you from benefits, having a paper trail can be helpful if any questions come up later. Also, remember that you'll still need to be actively searching for work on days you're not in court, so keep track of your job search activities for your weekly certification.