I went through the same thing when I first got approved! The waiting week threw me off too - I kept checking my card balance expecting money that wasn't coming yet. Once you get past that first week though, the payments are pretty reliable. I've been getting mine every Wednesday for the past 6 months. Just make sure you have your direct deposit set up if you haven't already, it's way more convenient than the KeyBank card.

I've been on NYS unemployment for about 8 months now and can confirm what others are saying - it's weekly payments, usually hitting your account on Wednesdays if you file your weekly claim on Sunday. The one-week waiting period is standard for everyone's first payment, so don't panic when you don't see money right away. One thing I'd add is to make sure you answer all the weekly certification questions accurately - even small mistakes can trigger a review that delays your payments. And definitely consider switching to direct deposit if you haven't already - the KeyBank debit card has annoying fees and sometimes takes an extra day to load your benefits.

Call them. That's what I had to do. The website is useless for anything beyond basic stuff.

I had this exact same problem a few months ago! What finally worked for me was logging in early in the morning (like 6-7 AM) when the system is less busy. The payment history section loaded much better and I was able to select the full year range. Also make sure you're using a desktop/laptop instead of mobile - the mobile site cuts off some of the options. If you still can't get the print function to work, try right-clicking on the page and selecting "Print" from your browser menu instead of using their print button. Hope this helps!

Hey Axel, I know this is incredibly stressful but you're not alone in this. I went through a similar situation about a year ago with NYS Department of Labor over some freelance work I forgot to report properly. The investigation process is scary but they really do distinguish between honest mistakes and intentional fraud. Since your amount was under $1000 and it sounds like genuine oversight rather than deliberate deception, you're much more likely to face an overpayment determination rather than criminal charges. My advice: respond to everything promptly, gather any documentation you have about the work you did, and be completely upfront about the mistake. I ended up having to repay about $600 plus a 15% penalty, but they let me do it in monthly installments over a year. The whole process took about 3 months to resolve. Hang in there - this will get sorted out.

I completely understand your anxiety about this situation - unemployment fraud investigations can feel overwhelming, but there's reason to be cautiously optimistic given your circumstances. Since you're dealing with around $800 in unreported earnings and it was clearly an unintentional oversight rather than deliberate fraud, you're likely looking at an overpayment case rather than criminal prosecution. NYS Department of Labor generally reserves felony charges for cases involving substantial amounts (typically several thousand dollars) and clear evidence of intentional deception. For your situation, the most probable outcome is that you'll need to repay the overpayment plus penalties, possibly with a payment plan option. The key is to respond immediately to their investigation, provide complete documentation of the work you did and earnings you received, and emphasize that the failure to report was an honest mistake. Consider contacting your local legal aid society for free guidance on how to properly respond to the investigation - they can help ensure you handle this correctly from the start.

UGH this is exactly why I hate dealing with NYS Department of Labor! They make it impossible to get basic information about YOUR OWN MONEY. The fact that you can't easily see your overpayment balance online in 2025 is absolutely ridiculous.

I had the same frustrating experience with NYS Department of Labor's overpayment system! What finally worked for me was calling their overpayment unit directly at (518) 457-2635 - it's a separate number from the regular unemployment line so the wait times are usually shorter. When you call, have your SSN and the overpayment notice handy. They can tell you your exact balance including any interest that may have accrued. I also recommend asking them to send you a payment statement by mail so you have it in writing. The online system is honestly broken for tracking these balances.

Just report everything honestly when you do your weekly claim. The online system will calculate your reduced benefit automatically once you enter your work hours and gross pay. It's actually pretty straightforward once you get used to it.

@Andre Lefebvre - You're smart to ask about this upfront! I went through the exact same situation a few months ago. When you do your weekly certification on the NYS Department of Labor website, there's a specific section where they ask if you worked and how much you earned. Just enter your gross earnings for that week (before taxes). The system automatically calculates your reduced benefit. In your case with $270 weekly earnings, you'll still get a decent portion of your $504 benefit. The key is being consistent about reporting it every single week - don't skip even one week thinking "it's just part-time." That's where people get into trouble with overpayments later.