just be honest about everything and you'll be fine, the system is set up to catch people who try to cheat but if you report your work they usually just reduce your benefits for that week

Just to add to what others have said - NYS Department of Labor also receives data from the State Directory of New Hires, which employers must report to within 20 days of hiring someone. They also do periodic cross-matches with Social Security Administration records and state tax databases. The bottom line is they have multiple ways to detect unreported work, so transparency is definitely your best policy. When you certify for benefits each week, report ANY work you did during that week, even if it was just a few hours or you haven't been paid yet. It's much better to have your benefits reduced correctly than to face fraud charges later.

I'm so sorry this happened to you! As someone who went through a similar identity theft situation (not unemployment related but still scary), I wanted to add that you should also consider filing a report with the Federal Trade Commission at IdentityTheft.gov. They'll create a personalized recovery plan and give you an affidavit that can be helpful when dealing with NYS Department of Labor and other agencies. Also, keep detailed records of every phone call, email, and document - write down names, dates, reference numbers, everything. It might seem excessive now but it really helps if you need to escalate or if there are any lingering issues later. The good news is that you caught this early and everyone here is giving you solid advice. You've got this!

This is such a comprehensive thread with so much helpful advice! I wanted to add one more thing that might be useful - if you have trouble remembering all the steps, the NYS Department of Labor actually has a specific fraud checklist on their website that walks you through exactly what to do. Also, once you get this resolved, consider signing up for their text alerts so you'll be notified immediately if anyone tries to file a claim under your SSN in the future. It's a free service that can give you peace of mind. The fact that you caught this so quickly and are taking action right away puts you in a really good position to get it sorted out without major complications. Wishing you the best with getting this resolved!

Wait, I'm confused now. I thought if you worked ANY hours you couldn't claim that week? I've been skipping my weekly claims whenever I pick up shifts at my retail job. Have I been losing money I was entitled to?

I went through something similar and had to learn the hard way that NYS allows part-time work while collecting unemployment - it's actually encouraged! The key things to remember: 1) You must work less than 4 days per week, 2) You must report ALL earnings and hours worked on your weekly claim, and 3) Your benefits get reduced based on a formula, but you don't lose eligibility entirely. I was terrified I'd committed fraud too, but as long as you're honest on your weekly certifications, you're following the rules. The Department of Labor website has a worksheet that shows exactly how they calculate partial benefits - it helped me understand that working part-time wasn't cheating the system, it was exactly what they expect people to do while job searching.

I'm in a similar situation - got approved about a week ago and still waiting for my card. Reading these responses is really helpful! I didn't know about checking the payment history on my.ny.gov, so I'll definitely do that. The timing stress is real when you're counting on these benefits. Has anyone had issues with the card not arriving and had to request a replacement?

I just went through this same process a few weeks ago. My timeline was: approved on a Tuesday, first payment issued the following Monday, and the KeyBank card arrived exactly 8 business days after the payment was issued. The waiting is definitely nerve-wracking when you need the money, but it sounds like you're right on track with the normal timeline. Once you get the card, make sure to set up the KeyBank app - it makes checking your balance and finding ATMs much easier than calling the phone number on the back of the card.

I went through a business closure situation about 18 months ago and wanted to share what I learned. The key thing is to file your claim as soon as possible after you get notice of the closure - don't wait until your last day of work. NYS Department of Labor can process your claim faster if you get it in early. Also, if your employer gives you any severance pay, that might delay when your benefits start, so factor that into your timing. The unemployment insurance system really does work as designed for business closures - it's probably one of the most straightforward scenarios they handle.

Just want to add some reassurance from another perspective - I work in HR and have helped employees through several business closures over the years. The unemployment system is actually very well designed for exactly this scenario. Your employer has been paying quarterly unemployment insurance taxes based on your wages for as long as you've worked there, so those funds are already secured in the state trust fund regardless of what happens to the company financially. The NYS Department of Labor processes business closure claims routinely - they see it as one of the clearest cases for benefit eligibility since it's obviously not the employee's fault. Make sure to keep any documentation about the closure (emails, notices, etc.) just in case, but in my experience these claims get approved smoothly. The main thing is don't delay filing once your separation date is set.