same thing happened to my neighbor, she just ignored it and nothing happened to her unemployment

I'd also recommend documenting everything - keep copies of all the legal papers you received, any correspondence with the debt collector, and your unemployment benefit statements. If you do need to go to court, having this documentation will help prove that your only income is protected unemployment benefits. Also, if the debt collector continues to harass you after you've informed them about the exempt status of your benefits, that could be a violation of debt collection laws and you might want to consult with a consumer rights attorney.

I'm dealing with this exact same situation right now! Filed my claim on Monday and got a job offer today that starts next Monday. Reading through all these responses has been incredibly helpful - I was panicking thinking I'd somehow messed up the system by filing and then immediately getting employed. It's such a relief to know that simply not certifying weekly is the standard approach and won't cause any issues down the road. The advice about keeping the confirmation number and initial paperwork is really practical too. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences - it's so valuable to hear from people who've actually been through this rather than just trying to navigate the official websites which don't really address this scenario clearly. Congratulations to the original poster on landing the job!

I went through this exact same situation about 6 months ago - filed my claim and then got a job offer within days. I was so stressed about doing the "right thing" that I spent way too much time researching this! Everyone here is absolutely correct - just stop certifying weekly and let the claim go dormant. That's exactly what I did and it caused zero issues. One small tip I haven't seen mentioned yet: if you're using direct deposit for any future unemployment claims, you might want to keep that bank account info current in the system even though the claim is dormant. When I had to file again later (different job situation), having outdated banking info caused a small delay. But overall, don't stress about this - it's such a common scenario that the system handles it seamlessly. Congrats on the new position!

Restaurant industry is rough right now. I've been in and out of unemployment claims three times in the past two years because of closures and layoffs. Each time I filed within a few days of losing the job and it made such a difference in keeping my bills paid. Don't wait - every week counts!

I work at a nonprofit that helps people navigate government benefits, and I see this question all the time. You definitely haven't missed your window - New York gives you a full year to file from your separation date. But like others have mentioned, you can't get retroactive benefits, so every week you delay costs you money. The good news is that restaurant workers often qualify quickly since your wages and hours are usually well-documented. I'd recommend filing online tonight if possible - the system is actually pretty user-friendly once you get started, and you'll feel so much better once it's submitted!

UPDATE: Got it fixed! Ended up using that Claimyr service someone mentioned to get through to an agent. Turns out there was a mismatch between how my name was entered in the NYSDOL system and my Chime account (I had my middle initial on one but not the other). The agent manually approved my direct deposit and said it should be working for my next payment. Thanks everyone for your help!

Congrats on getting it sorted out! I had a similar name mismatch issue with my Capital One account last year. It's crazy how picky these government systems are about exact formatting. For anyone else reading this thread - definitely check that your name, address, and account details match EXACTLY between your bank and unemployment accounts. Even something as small as "Jr." vs "Junior" can cause problems. The verification systems have no flexibility at all.

THE SYSTEM IS SO UNFAIR!! I got denied for missing work when I had COVID symptoms and my employer told me not to come in but then fired me anyway. NYS Department of Labor sided with the employer of course. These adjudicators don't care about workers at all.

I work for a local advocacy organization and we see cases like this regularly. The key thing to understand is that NYS DOL distinguishes between "misconduct" and circumstances beyond your control. Missing work due to mental health crises, family emergencies, or other compelling personal circumstances may not be considered disqualifying misconduct if you can document the situation. When you file your claim, be completely honest about what happened and why. If you have any medical records, therapy notes, or other documentation showing you were dealing with legitimate personal issues during that time, gather those now. Even if you're initially denied, the appeals process gives you a real chance to present your case with proper documentation. Don't let fear of denial stop you from filing - you've paid into this system and deserve a fair review of your situation.