Update: I finally got through!!! Used the Claimyr service that someone suggested above and spoke with a representative. Turns out there was a glitch in their system that applied my tax withholding AND student loan garnishment retroactively, so they took out 8 weeks worth of deductions all at once! The rep submitted a correction request and said my next payment should be back to normal, and they'll refund the extra amount they took out within 2-3 weeks. Thank you all for your help and suggestions!

So glad you got through and figured it out! That system glitch sounds like a nightmare - taking 8 weeks of deductions all at once is brutal. I've been dealing with similar issues trying to reach DOL for my own claim problems. Quick question - about how long did the Claimyr service take to get you connected? And did they charge upfront or after they got you through? Trying to decide if it's worth it for my situation too.

wait so if you work for the federal government you can still get state unemployment? that seems weird to me, shouldn't there be like federal unemployment or something?

I'm actually in a similar situation - work for a federal agency in Syracuse and we've been getting briefings about potential workforce reductions. From what I understand, you'll want to make sure you have your most recent pay statements and any documentation about your job classification. One thing I learned from talking to HR is that federal employees sometimes qualify for higher weekly benefit amounts because our wages are often above the state average. Also, if you do get laid off, file your claim immediately - don't wait. NYS Department of Labor processes federal employee claims regularly, but during mass layoffs there can be a backlog. I've been preparing by gathering all my employment documents just in case.

I'm dealing with this exact same confusion right now! When I first applied, I definitely entered my banking info, but then when I went to certify for my first week, there was that "register for direct deposit" button staring at me and I had no idea if I was supposed to click it or not. I ended up doing it because I was paranoid about missing out on my benefits, but then immediately started second-guessing myself. It's so frustrating that the system doesn't explain whether this is required or just optional when you've already provided the info. Reading all these responses is making me feel way better though - sounds like this is just their confusing way of doing extra verification. Fingers crossed we all get our payments without any issues! 🤞

Don't worry, you did the right thing! I went through this exact same confusion about 6 weeks ago. The "register for direct deposit" option shows up even after you've already entered your banking info during the initial application - it's basically their way of having you verify everything through their updated security system. The IDme verification is a newer requirement they added to prevent fraud, so that's completely separate from your original direct deposit setup. Since you used the same bank account details both times, you're totally fine! The system will just confirm that everything matches up. I was stressed about it too, but my payments started coming through about 8-10 days after I did the re-verification. The NY unemployment system definitely could be way clearer about what's happening at each step, but you handled it perfectly. Just keep an eye on your account over the next week or so and you should see everything processing normally! 💪

Thanks everyone for the detailed responses! This is really helpful. I think I understand the basics now - report gross income, they reduce benefits by 25% of anything over $143, and my claim stays active even if I earn too much one week. One more question though - since this is freelance web design work, how do I handle it if the client pays me with a 1099 at the end of the year instead of weekly? Do I still report it the week I do the work even though I haven't actually received payment yet? And should I be setting aside money for taxes on both the freelance income AND the unemployment benefits?

One thing to add about freelance work while on unemployment - make sure you understand the difference between "work" and "earnings" when reporting. Even if you spend 10 hours working on a project but haven't finished it yet (so no payment earned), you still need to report those work hours on your weekly claim. NYS Department of Labor looks at both the amount you earned AND the number of days you worked. If you work 4 or more days in a week, even for just a few hours each day, it can affect your benefits differently than just the earnings calculation. I learned this the hard way when I was doing small freelance projects - I was only reporting the money but not the actual work days, which caused issues later when they audited my claim.

The NYS Department of Labor system is so frustrating for seasonal workers! They act like everyone has a regular 9-5 job year round. I've been dealing with this for five years and every winter it's the same hassle trying to prove I'm eligible.

I went through this exact same situation working seasonal roofing jobs! One tip that really helped me - when you file your initial claim, make sure to mention that your layoff is due to seasonal weather conditions. NYS DOL has specific provisions for weather-related layoffs in construction and outdoor work. Also, keep any documentation from your employer about the seasonal layoff (like that notice about December 15th being your last day) - it can help if there are any questions about your eligibility. The whole process was actually smoother than I expected once I got started.