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This is such helpful information! I've been on NY unemployment for about 4 months now and had no idea these automatic recalculations could happen. Reading through everyone's experiences here is way more informative than anything I could find on the official DOL website. It's really reassuring to know that when these adjustments happen, they're usually good news and not some kind of error that will cause problems later. I'll definitely be checking my account more regularly now to see if anything changes. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences and explained how this all works - it makes navigating the unemployment system feel a lot less intimidating when you have real people explaining what to expect!
I completely agree! This whole thread has been incredibly informative. I'm also fairly new to the NY unemployment system and like you, I found the official DOL resources pretty confusing and hard to navigate. It's amazing how much clearer everything becomes when you have real people sharing their actual experiences rather than trying to parse through government jargon. The fact that these automatic benefit recalculations usually work in claimants' favor is such a relief to know - I was always worried that any changes to my account would be bad news. Thanks for adding your perspective, and I hope your job search goes smoothly!
This is exactly what I needed to see! I've been on NY unemployment for about 6 weeks and just noticed my maximum benefit amount went up by around $800 this morning. I was actually worried it was some kind of glitch that would cause issues later, but reading everyone's explanations here makes so much sense. It's such a relief to know this is a normal part of the process and that it means more weeks of coverage rather than higher weekly payments. The NY DOL website really doesn't explain this stuff clearly at all - communities like this are so valuable for getting real answers from people who've actually been through it. Thanks for posting about this and to everyone who shared their knowledge!
wait they can take money from your paycheck?? i thought unemployment was supposed to HELP people not make things worse! this system is so messed up
I went through this exact situation last year. Yes, they can garnish your wages, but you definitely have options before it gets to that point. First, absolutely request a hearing within those 30 days - even if you think you might owe something, the amount could be wrong. I found out my overpayment was calculated incorrectly and got it reduced by $1,200. Also, keep all your documentation from when you were filing - pay stubs, work schedules, anything that shows what you reported. If you do end up owing money, they're usually reasonable about payment plans. Don't ignore this though - that's when they move to more aggressive collection methods.
@Zane Hernandez This is exactly what I needed to hear! Thank you for sharing your experience. I m'definitely going to request that hearing - if you were able to get your amount reduced by $1,200, maybe mine is wrong too. I think I have most of my pay stubs but I m'going to double-check tonight. Did you have to go to an in-person hearing or was it done over the phone? And how long from when you requested it until you actually had the hearing? I m'just trying to figure out my timeline here since I m'stressed about potential garnishment.
@Zane Hernandez This gives me so much hope! I was panicking thinking there was nothing I could do about this. You re'absolutely right - I need to request that hearing ASAP. I do have most of my pay stubs and weekly certification records saved, thankfully. Can I ask what kind of errors they made in your calculation? Was it related to unreported wages or something else? I want to make sure I m'looking for the right things when I review my case. Also, did you handle the hearing yourself or did you get any help with it?
Just to clarify - when people say 'unemployment NYC' they're usually just referring to filing for unemployment benefits while living in NYC. It's still the same NYS Department of Labor system. The benefit amount and rules are the same statewide, though job search requirements might vary slightly by region.
Hey @Niko, one more tip - when you file your claim tonight, make sure you have your last employer's exact business name and address handy. The system is pretty picky about matching the info exactly as it appears on your W-2 or pay stubs. Also, if you worked multiple jobs in the past 18 months, you'll need info for all of them. Good luck with your claim!
To clarify the job search requirements since there seems to be some confusion - it's 3 work search activities per week, not necessarily 3 job applications. This can include networking, attending job fairs, skills training, etc. You do need to keep records including employer name, date, method of contact, and position applied for. Regarding suitable work, in the first 10 weeks you can generally refuse work paying less than 80% of your previous wage, after that the standards become more flexible.
Eloise Kendrick
just file online as soon as your year is up, the system will tell you if you qualify or not
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Daniel White
Gabriel, I went through this exact same thing a few months ago. You don't have to wait at all - you can file a new claim immediately after your benefit year ends. The tricky part is making sure you have enough qualifying wages during your new base period (which is different from your original base period). Since you mentioned working part-time for 8 months, you'll want to add up all your earnings during that time. If you earned at least $2,600 total with $1,600 in your highest earning quarter, you should be good to go. The NYS DOL website has a wage calculator tool that can help you figure out if you meet the requirements before you apply.
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LilMama23
•That wage calculator tool sounds really helpful! I've been trying to figure out if my part-time earnings would qualify me for a new claim. Do you happen to remember where exactly on the NYS DOL website that calculator is located? I've been having trouble navigating their site to find the right tools.
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Shelby Bauman
•@LilMama23 I think the wage calculator might be under the "Benefits" section when you log into your NY.gov account, but honestly the NYS DOL website can be really confusing to navigate. You might also try calling their automated phone system - sometimes they have calculators you can access by phone too. If you can't find it, you could always just apply and see if the system accepts your application based on your earnings.
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