I wish I'd known about that recovery option! I ended up having to use Claimyr after days of failed calls. Was connected to an agent in about 25 minutes who manually updated my info. The $15 I paid was well worth it considering I would have lost a whole week's payment otherwise. But it's always better if you can solve it yourself for free like you did!

Glad to see you got this resolved @Anastasia! For anyone else reading this thread who might face similar issues in the future, it's worth noting that ID.me also has a backup authentication method using your Social Security number if the phone number recovery doesn't work. You can find this option under "Alternative verification methods" on their recovery page. Also, pro tip: once you regain access, consider adding a backup email to your ID.me account and writing down which email you used somewhere safe. I learned this the hard way after going through the same panic when I couldn't access my account during a critical payment period.

Make sure you understand WHY you have an overpayment before paying anything back. Sometimes NYS Department of Labor makes mistakes in their calculations or doesn't account for proper deductions. I've seen people pay money they didn't actually owe because they didn't question the determination.

I just went through this same situation a few months ago! The payment coupon definitely means there's an overpayment they're saying you owe back. Before you panic though, carefully review the determination letter that should have come with or before the coupon - it will explain exactly why they think you were overpaid. In my case, it was because I didn't report some freelance income properly during my claim period. The good news is you have options: you can appeal if you disagree, set up a payment plan if you can't pay it all at once, or pay in full to avoid any interest. I'd recommend logging into your my.ny.gov account first to see if there are more details about the overpayment determination online.

This is really helpful info! I'm in a similar situation and was confused about the rules. One thing I want to add - make sure you report your earnings for the week you actually perform the work, not when you get paid. I made that mistake early on and it caused some confusion with my claim. The NYS DOL website has a good FAQ section about partial unemployment that breaks down all the scenarios if you want more details.

One more thing to keep in mind - if your freelance work is inconsistent week to week, you'll need to report different amounts each time you certify. I do some consulting work and some weeks I earn $50, other weeks $120. Just be prepared for your unemployment payment to fluctuate accordingly. Also, save all your records of what you earned and when you worked because NYS DOL can ask for documentation during their periodic reviews. Better to be over-prepared than scrambling to find paperwork later!

Just want to add that you also need to make sure you're still meeting the job search requirements even while doing freelance work. NYS Department of Labor requires proof that you're actively looking for full-time employment. Keep track of your job applications and interviews in case they audit your claim.

I'm in a similar situation - working part-time retail while collecting benefits. One thing I learned is that you need to report your work hours AND earnings for each day you work, not just the weekly total. The NYS Department of Labor website has a specific section about partial benefits that breaks down the calculation pretty clearly. Also make sure you're marking yourself as available for work on the days you're not working your part-time gig. The system can be really picky about how you report things, so being detailed is key.

For restaurant workers specifically, there aren't special unemployment programs but you might want to look into workforce development programs through the city. Some offer training for other industries while you're collecting benefits. Just make sure any training programs you enter are approved so they don't interfere with your weekly claim certifications.

Just want to add that you should also check if you qualify for any city-specific assistance programs while you're on unemployment. NYC has programs like SNAP (food assistance) and emergency rental assistance that can help stretch your benefits further. The Human Resources Administration (HRA) website has info on what you might be eligible for. Also, keep all your documentation organized - unemployment requires a lot of paperwork and you don't want to miss payments because of missing forms. Good luck with your job search!