Just went through this exact situation last month! You definitely want to keep filing your weekly claims and report all work accurately. I made the mistake of thinking I should stop filing completely when I got a job, but then the position ended after just 2 weeks and I had to go through the whole process of reopening my claim. It was a nightmare and delayed my benefits for weeks. The key is being consistent with your weekly certifications - report everything truthfully and let the system calculate your benefits. Your claim will essentially be "dormant" while you're working full-time but ready to activate again if needed.

Thanks everyone for the helpful advice! I feel much better about this now. I'll definitely keep filing my weekly claims and just report my work hours and earnings accurately. It's reassuring to know the claim stays active in case things don't work out with the new job. @CosmicCrusader your experience is exactly what I was worried about - glad I asked here before making that mistake!

I'm at week 10 and facing the exact same situation! They just suggested a position paying $39K when I was making $78K previously - literally 50% of my previous salary. Reading through all these experiences has been incredibly reassuring that I can decline this without jeopardizing my benefits. The consistent advice throughout this thread about being professional but specific is spot-on. I'm planning to respond with something like: "Thank you for thinking of me for this opportunity. However, this position at $39,000 represents only 50% of my previous salary of $78,000, which falls well below the 80% threshold applicable during the first 13 weeks of my claim period. I will continue my active search for positions that better align with my qualifications and experience." What really stands out is how many people are dealing with these inappropriate early suggestions - it seems like it's almost standard for them to test the waters with lowball offers. But seeing everyone successfully handle it while maintaining their benefits gives me confidence this is the right approach. I've already started the documentation spreadsheet that several people recommended, and I'm going to update my work search plan today to emphasize my certifications. Thanks to everyone for sharing such detailed, practical advice - this thread has been invaluable!

I'm at week 3 and just got contacted about a position paying $25K when I was making $55K at my last job - that's less than 46% of my previous salary! Reading through everyone's experiences here has been incredibly eye-opening and reassuring. I had no idea about the 80% rule during the first 13 weeks and was honestly terrified they could just cut my benefits if I declined any job suggestion. The consistent advice about being professional but specific with percentages is so helpful. I'm going to send my counselor an email like: "Thank you for the job suggestion. However, this position at $25,000 represents only 45% of my previous salary of $55,000, which falls significantly below the 80% threshold during the first 13 weeks of my claim period. I have specialized skills and certifications that warrant positions closer to my previous compensation level, and I will continue my active job search for more suitable opportunities." I'm also going to start that documentation spreadsheet immediately and update my work search plan to emphasize my industry certifications like everyone recommended. It's amazing to see so many people successfully navigate these inappropriate early suggestions while keeping their benefits intact. This thread should honestly be required reading for anyone starting unemployment in NY - the practical advice and real experiences shared here are invaluable. Thanks to everyone for taking the time to share such detailed guidance!

I'm dealing with the exact same issue here in Albany! Been getting ERR_CONNECTION_RESET since Tuesday and it's driving me crazy. My certification is due tomorrow and I'm panicking. I tried all the usual troubleshooting - different browsers, clearing cache, restarting router, even tried from a different location with different wifi. Nothing works! Seeing everyone's comments makes me feel less alone in this mess. Definitely gonna try the 5am approach that @Zara Shah mentioned - sounds like that might be our best bet right now. Also documenting everything like @Douglas Foster suggested just in case I need to prove the system was down. Has anyone had luck calling the regular unemployment line recently or is everyone getting those insane hold times? This whole situation is so stressful when you're already dealing with unemployment 😔

Hey everyone, just wanted to share that I finally got through this morning around 6:15am after reading all your suggestions! The site was extremely slow but functional. For anyone still struggling, here's what worked for me: 1. Used incognito mode in Chrome 2. Had all my info written down beforehand 3. Didn't click anything twice even when it seemed frozen 4. Let each page fully load before proceeding The whole process took about 45 minutes vs the usual 10 minutes, but I got my certification submitted! Don't give up - that early morning window seems to be the sweet spot. Thanks especially to @Amara Nnamani and @Zara Shah for the helpful tips. Hang in there everyone, you'll get through! 🙏

If you're having trouble getting through to NYS Department of Labor to ask questions about your specific situation, I had good luck using Claimyr (claimyr.com) to get connected to an actual agent. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI that shows how it works. Saved me hours of trying to call myself when I had questions about my base period wages.

Just wanted to add that you should definitely file your claim as soon as possible since there's a waiting period before benefits start. New York has eliminated the unpaid waiting week, but there can still be processing delays. Also, make sure you have all your employment documentation ready - W-2s, pay stubs, and any separation paperwork from your employer. The $75k salary you mentioned shouldn't be an issue at all for eligibility, and you'll likely qualify for close to the maximum weekly benefit amount.

I had a similar issue with flagged claims in the Albany area. What worked for me was going to the career center early in the morning (like 8:30 AM sharp) and asking to speak with someone about "claim resolution" rather than just general unemployment questions. They were more likely to help with specific claim issues rather than just directing me to call the phone line. Also bring all your documentation - pay stubs, separation notice, any correspondence from DOL. Sometimes they can at least tell you what's causing the flag even if they can't fix it on the spot.

The Rochester One-Stop Career Center on East Main Street is usually your best bet for in-person help. They're typically open 8:30 AM - 4:30 PM weekdays, but like others mentioned, definitely call first. I had success there a few months ago by arriving right when they opened and specifically asking to speak with someone about "unemployment claim issues" rather than just general questions. The staff there seemed to have more access to the system than I expected. Also, if you can't get through to them by phone, try using the online chat feature on the NYS DOL website during off-peak hours (like early morning or late afternoon) - sometimes that's faster than calling.