update us when u hear back!! i hope they fix it fast for u!

I went through something very similar in 2023! The same exact scenario - overpayment issue followed by a mysterious "job refusal" letter that made no sense. In my case, it turned out to be a data entry error where they accidentally linked someone else's job refusal to my claim number. What saved me was getting everything in writing. When I finally got through to an agent (took forever), I asked them to email me a summary of what they found and corrected in my file. That written confirmation became crucial when the same error popped up again a month later. Also, when you respond to the letter, be very specific about your job search activities during that time period. List the actual jobs you DID apply for around March 1st if any, to show you were actively seeking work, not refusing it. This helps demonstrate the letter is clearly wrong. Stay strong - these system errors are frustrating but they do get resolved eventually!

One more thing to keep in mind - when you file your claim, you'll need to provide your gross weekly wages from your highest earning quarter in the past 18 months. If you don't have your pay stubs handy, you can usually find this info on your last few pay stubs or W-2 forms. The system will calculate your benefit amount based on this, so having accurate numbers is important. Also, make sure you understand the difference between being "laid off" vs "fired" when they ask about reason for separation - being laid off due to lack of work is different from being terminated for cause, and it affects your eligibility.

Also worth mentioning - if you're getting any severance pay or vacation payout, make sure to report this accurately when filing. NYS DOL needs to know about any payments you're receiving related to your employment, even after your last day of work. Severance can sometimes delay when your benefits start, but it's better to be upfront about it than have issues later. The system will walk you through what needs to be reported, but having that information ready will make the process smoother. Good luck with your claim!

I went through this same process about 4 months ago when my employer contested my claim, and I know exactly how you're feeling right now. The anxiety beforehand was honestly worse than the actual hearing itself. Here's what I wish someone had told me: the administrative law judge is there to get to the truth, not to intimidate you. They'll start by explaining the process and swearing everyone in. Then they'll usually ask you to give your version of what happened first, followed by your employer. The judge will ask clarifying questions throughout - things like "When did this conversation happen?" or "Do you have any documentation of that?" Don't worry if you don't have perfect documentation for everything - just be honest about what you do and don't have. One thing that caught me off guard was that my employer's representative seemed very prepared with dates and details, but the judge asked them just as many tough questions as they asked me. The whole thing lasted about 40 minutes, and I got the written decision about 2 weeks later (in my favor). You've got this - just breathe, tell the truth, and remember that you have every right to those benefits if you were legitimately separated from your job through no fault of your own.

I had my unemployment hearing about 2 months ago and completely understand your anxiety! Here's something that really helped me that I haven't seen mentioned yet - write down 3-4 key points you absolutely want to make sure you get across during the hearing. I was so nervous that I almost forgot to mention a crucial email my supervisor sent me before my termination. Having those key points written down and in front of me during the call made sure I didn't miss anything important. Also, the judge will usually ask at the end if there's anything else you want to add, so that's your chance to mention anything you might have forgotten earlier. One more tip - if your employer says something during their turn that's completely wrong, jot it down so you can address it when it's your turn to respond, but don't interrupt. The whole process was much more fair and professional than I expected. The judge really did seem focused on getting to the truth rather than just rubber-stamping the employer's version. You're going to do great - the fact that you're here asking for advice shows you care about getting it right!

honestly the whole system is rigged against working people anyway. they want you to stay unemployed but then punish you for trying to get back on your feet. meanwhile it takes them forever to process claims but they can catch you working in no time

I went through this exact situation last year. The key thing to understand is that partial unemployment benefits exist for a reason - you're supposed to report work and they'll calculate what you still qualify for. In my case, I was earning about $300/week part-time and still received around $200 in unemployment benefits. The formula basically allows you to earn up to a certain amount before they start reducing your benefits dollar-for-dollar. As for detection, they caught my friend who didn't report within about 2 months through the quarterly wage matching system. My advice: report it now, even if you missed a week or two. You can often backdate corrections and it's way better than dealing with fraud charges later.

ugh the whole base period thing is such BS... like why cant they just use your last 12 months of work like a normal person would expect

I went through this exact same situation! The key thing to remember is that your base period is always one quarter behind because of processing delays. So even though you worked July-August 2024, those wages won't show up until your next benefit year if you need to reapply. It's frustrating but the system is designed this way to ensure all employer wage reports are complete. Make sure to keep all your pay stubs from that restaurant job - sometimes there can be discrepancies between what you earned and what employers reported to NYS Department of Labor.