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I've been dealing with NY unemployment for about 6 months now and that number has called me probably 8-10 times. Here's what I've learned: - They call for EVERYTHING - routine checks, document requests, work search verification, even just to confirm your address - They literally never leave voicemails (so annoying!) - The urgency varies wildly - sometimes it's just "hey confirm you're still looking for work" and sometimes it's "we need this info in 48 hours or your benefits stop" Since you've been getting payments regularly, it's probably not anything catastrophic. But you definitely need to call back because ignoring them is the fastest way to get your benefits suspended. Pro tip: Try calling right at 8am when they open - that's when I've had the most success getting through without waiting forever. Also keep your phone nearby for the next few days in case they call again. The whole system is frustrating but don't stress too much. Just get through to someone and find out what they need!
Thanks for breaking this down so clearly! I'm definitely going to try calling right at 8am tomorrow. It's reassuring to hear that since my payments have been regular it's probably not anything major. Really appreciate you sharing what you've learned from dealing with this - the whole process is so confusing when you're new to it. Fingers crossed I can get through and figure out what they need!
That 888-581-5812 number is definitely legit - it's the main NY DOL claims line. I got a call from them about 2 weeks ago and it turned out they just needed me to verify some employment dates from my previous job. Since you've been getting payments regularly for 3 months, it's probably just routine verification or maybe they need you to update something in your file. The fact that they didn't leave a voicemail is totally normal (and super frustrating). They almost never do. Your best bet is to keep trying to call back, especially early morning around 8-9am when the call volume is usually lower. Don't stress too much about it, but definitely don't ignore it either. If there was something seriously wrong with your claim, they usually would have already put a hold on your payments. Since you're still receiving benefits, it's likely just administrative stuff they need to clear up with you.
This is exactly what I needed to hear! I was getting really anxious about it but you're right - if something was seriously wrong they probably would have already stopped my payments. I'm going to set an alarm and try calling right at 8am tomorrow. Thanks for the reassurance about it likely being routine stuff. It's so stressful when you don't know what they want but hearing from people who've been through similar situations really helps calm my nerves.
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Wow, this thread is absolutely incredible! As someone who just joined this community, I'm amazed by the level of detailed, actionable advice everyone is sharing. The fact that multiple people knew about specific internal codes like 117-N and terminology like "name field exception" is mind-blowing. I'm bookmarking this entire conversation because I have a feeling I might need it someday - my maiden name has 15 characters and I've been putting off getting married partly because I'm worried about exactly these kinds of bureaucratic nightmares with name changes. @Natalia Stone - congratulations on getting this resolved! Your persistence and willingness to update everyone with what actually worked is so valuable. It's crazy that you went from being completely stuck to approved within days once you had the right insider knowledge. This really highlights how broken these systems are when they can't handle basic name variations in 2025, but also shows the power of community knowledge in navigating around these limitations. Thank you everyone for turning what could have been a dead-end situation into a roadmap for others facing similar issues!
@Jayden Hill - Welcome to the community! You re'absolutely right about how incredible this thread has become. I just joined recently too and I m'blown away by the level of specific knowledge people have here. Your concern about name changes is totally valid after reading through this whole situation. If you do decide to get married, I d'definitely recommend keeping this thread saved as a reference. It might also be worth checking ahead of time what the character limits are for different systems you use regularly unemployment, (DMV, etc. so) you can plan accordingly. One thing that really struck me reading through all of this is how @Natalia Stone s experience'shows that persistence really pays off, but more importantly, that having the right terminology and codes makes all the difference. Without this community sharing those insider details, she probably would have been stuck for months. It s honestly'embarrassing that government systems in 2025 still have these basic limitations, but threads like this are proof that communities can fill in the gaps where bureaucracy fails. Really grateful to have found this resource!
This thread is absolutely amazing - what a perfect example of how this community can solve problems that seem impossible when you're dealing with them alone! I just went through something similar last year with my triple-barreled last name (thanks to keeping both my maiden name AND my husband's hyphenated name from his parents' divorce - it's 21 characters total). The key insight from reading everyone's experiences is that there ARE solutions, but they're buried in bureaucratic procedures that frontline staff often don't know about. The fact that Code 117-N and "name field exception" terminology worked so quickly for @Natalia Stone shows these systems have workarounds - they're just not publicized. For anyone else dealing with this: document EVERYTHING. I kept screenshots of every error message, saved all my failed login attempts, and created a timeline of calls made. When I finally got through to someone who could help, having all that documentation made it clear that this was a system limitation, not user error. Also want to echo what others said about persistence - I probably called 30+ times over two weeks before getting someone who knew about these internal procedures. The system is definitely broken, but this community's collective knowledge is the best tool we have to navigate around those limitations!
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Been collecting unemployment for 2 months while my disability case is under review. No issues so far. The key thing everyone's mentioned is being able to work in some capacity. I can't do my old construction job but I can do light office work, so I'm applying for those types of positions and documenting everything for my job search requirements.
I went through something similar a few years ago when I had to leave my retail job due to a knee injury. The most important thing is to be completely honest and consistent in all your applications and weekly certifications. When I filed for unemployment, I clearly stated my physical limitations and the types of work I could still perform. I also made sure to apply for jobs that matched those capabilities - customer service roles, data entry, reception work, etc. Keep detailed records of your job search activities because NYS requires you to make a certain number of job contacts each week. One tip: consider reaching out to temp agencies that specialize in office work - they often have positions that are perfect for people with physical restrictions and it shows you're actively seeking employment within your limitations.
This is really helpful advice, thank you! I hadn't thought about temp agencies - that's actually a great idea since they might be more understanding about accommodating physical limitations. Do you remember roughly how many job contacts NYS required per week when you were on unemployment? I want to make sure I'm meeting all the requirements properly.
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I'm actually a former NYS DOL employee and can clarify some of the confusion here. The key distinction everyone needs to understand is between "business income" and "business activity." You must report ALL income from any business work, but the real issue that trips people up is the availability requirement. If you're spending significant time on business development, networking, or even unpaid business activities during normal business hours (typically 9-5), you could be considered "not available for work" even if you earn $0. This is what happened to GalaxyGuardian above - it's not just about the money. The safest approach is to limit business activities to evenings/weekends OR apply for SEAP if you want to go full-time. Also, regarding phone wait times - try calling the dedicated business/self-employment line at 1-888-581-5812 rather than the main unemployment line. It's usually shorter waits and the agents are more knowledgeable about these specific situations.
This is incredibly valuable insight from someone who actually worked at NYS DOL! The distinction between business income and business activity makes so much sense now - I was only thinking about the money side of things. That dedicated business line number is gold too, thank you for sharing that. I'm definitely going to call that number instead of the main line. One quick follow-up question: when you say "significant time" for business activities during business hours, is there a specific threshold they use (like more than 20 hours per week) or is it more subjective based on whether it would prevent someone from accepting a full-time job offer if one came up?
This thread has been incredibly helpful! I'm also laid off and considering starting freelance marketing work. Reading through everyone's experiences, it sounds like the main takeaways are: 1) Be completely transparent and report everything, 2) Keep detailed records, 3) Consider timing of business activities to maintain "availability for work" status, and 4) Look into SEAP if you want to go full-time on the business. The insider info from Lucas about the dedicated business line (1-888-581-5812) is amazing - I'm definitely calling that number instead of the main line. Has anyone here successfully transitioned from unemployment to full-time self-employment through this process? I'm curious about the long-term success stories and whether the business income eventually replaced the unemployment benefits for people.
Great summary of all the key points! I'm actually in week 12 of this process and can share that it's definitely working out. Started with small freelance projects while being super careful about reporting everything, and my consulting income has grown to about 60% of what my unemployment benefits cover. Planning to transition off unemployment completely in the next month or two as client work picks up. The key really has been that detailed record-keeping everyone mentioned - I track every hour worked, every dollar earned, and every job application I submit. The business line Lucas shared has been a lifesaver when I've had questions. One thing I'd add is to keep screenshots of your weekly certifications showing you reported business income correctly - gives you proof you were transparent if any issues come up later. The whole process has been way less scary than I expected once I understood the rules!
Amara Okonkwo
This thread has been incredibly helpful for understanding NY unemployment penalties! As someone new to the system, I had no idea about the complexity until reading everyone's experiences. One thing I'd add based on my recent claim: when you receive ANY penalty notice, immediately check your online account to see if there are multiple determinations listed. I made the mistake of only focusing on the first notice I received and missed that there were actually two separate penalty types issued for the same incident - similar to what @Astrid Bergström experienced. Also, for anyone struggling with the phone lines - I found that calling right at 8:00 AM when they open gives you the best chance of getting through without using a service like Claimyr. I set multiple alarms and started dialing at exactly 8:00 and got connected within 20 minutes. The documentation advice throughout this thread is spot-on. I started keeping a simple notebook with dates of all calls, who I spoke with, and what they told me. When I finally got through to resolve my penalty questions, having those notes helped me ask better questions and verify information. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences - this community knowledge is invaluable for navigating NYSDOL's confusing system!
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Adaline Wong
This entire thread has been such an educational goldmine! I'm about 6 weeks into my first NY unemployment claim and honestly had no clue about any of this penalty complexity until stumbling across this discussion. What really scares me after reading everyone's experiences is how @Astrid Bergström's simple one-hour work reporting mistake turned into such a complex situation with multiple penalty types. It makes me realize how careful I need to be with every single certification - there's apparently zero margin for error with NYSDOL. I've already started implementing all the documentation strategies mentioned here: screenshots of every certification, a basic spreadsheet tracking weeks and payments, and I'm saving every single notice or email. The tip about calling right at 8:00 AM from @Amara Okonkwo is brilliant - I'm definitely trying that if I ever need to reach someone. The most valuable insight for me was learning that forfeitures and offsets are completely different penalty types that can happen simultaneously. I genuinely thought all unemployment penalties were just "reduced payments" until reading this thread. The fact that forfeitures mean losing ENTIRE weeks of benefits is honestly terrifying when you're already dealing with unemployment stress. @Astrid Bergström - huge thanks for posting your resolution update! Knowing that you ended up with just 2 consecutive forfeiture weeks plus a small offset makes the whole system seem less scary and more manageable. Your persistence in getting answers really paid off. This community support has been incredible - definitely bookmarking this thread as my unemployment survival guide!
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