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I'm in literally the exact same situation! I just checked my transcript after seeing this post and I have the same 291 code with a negative amount from last month. I've been so confused about what it meant but reading everyone's experiences here is giving me hope that it's actually a refund coming. The whole unemployment tax situation has been such a mess - I paid extra taxes when I filed in early 2021 before they changed the rules. It's crazy that they're finally fixing this automatically instead of making us jump through more hoops. Definitely going to be checking my bank account daily now! Thanks for posting this, it's so helpful to hear from others going through the same thing.
Same here! I've been stressing about this for weeks not knowing what those codes meant. It's such a relief to find this thread and see so many people confirming they actually got their money. The timing makes sense too - I filed early in 2021 before the law changed and paid taxes on all my unemployment. Been checking my account every day since I saw the 291 code show up. Fingers crossed we both see that deposit soon! 🤞
I'm going through the exact same thing right now! Just saw the 291 code with a negative amount on my transcript from a few weeks ago and had no clue what it meant until I found this thread. It's such a relief to see so many people confirming they actually received their refunds - I was worried it was some kind of mistake or that I'd have to jump through more hoops to get the money. The whole unemployment tax situation has been such a headache. I filed early in 2021 and paid taxes on all my unemployment benefits, then months later they changed the rules. At least they're fixing it automatically instead of making us amend our returns. Based on what everyone's saying here, sounds like I should expect the deposit in the next few weeks. Finally some good news after dealing with all the NY unemployment chaos! Thanks for posting this question - it's so helpful to hear from others in the same boat.
The whole unemployment system is so messed up. They make it impossible to reach anyone and then wonder why people are frustrated. At least if you do get fired for performance you have a decent shot at getting benefits approved.
I went through something similar last year - got fired for not meeting sales quotas despite really trying my best. NYS Department of Labor approved my benefits because they determined it wasn't misconduct, just a poor fit for the role. The key thing is to document everything now while you're still employed - save any emails about performance expectations, feedback from your supervisor, evidence that you're making efforts to improve, etc. This documentation can be really helpful if your employer contests your claim later. Also, even if the worst happens, remember that getting fired for performance issues is different from getting fired for breaking rules or policy violations. You've got a good chance of qualifying for benefits.
Just to add some clarity on what happens at the BYE date: 1. Your benefit rate stays exactly the same until your BYE date 2. You can collect all remaining effective days at that same rate 3. After your BYE date, you must file a new claim even if you had days remaining 4. Your new claim will have a new benefit calculation based on your base period wages 5. There will typically be a 2-3 week gap between claims while your new application processes The NY DOL should send you a notification about 2-3 weeks before your BYE date reminding you to file a new claim if you're still unemployed.
I went through this exact situation last year! My BYE was in March 2024 and I had 8 effective days left. You'll definitely get your full weekly benefit rate for all remaining days - they don't reduce it at all. Just make sure you're prepared for the processing time on your new claim. I started my new application about a week before my BYE date and it still took almost 3 weeks to get approved. The hardest part was gathering all the wage documentation from different employers during my base period. Start collecting those W-2s and pay stubs now so you're not scrambling later!
Thanks for sharing your experience! That's really helpful to know about the timing. Quick question - when you gathered your wage documentation, did you need pay stubs from ALL employers during the base period, or just the W-2s? I had a few different part-time jobs and I'm not sure I kept all those pay stubs.
My brother had this exact same issue last month and it turned out he accidentally answered one of the certification questions wrong. They never tell you which one! He had to call and straighten it out. Took forever to get through though. BTW my payment is showing up normal this week so maybe it's not affecting everyone?
Just wanted to follow up for anyone still checking this thread - I experienced the same delay last week and it resolved exactly as others described. My payment showed up Wednesday morning instead of the usual Tuesday. The key thing I learned is to check the desktop version of the NY.gov unemployment portal rather than just the mobile app, since system notifications are more visible there. Also, if this happens again in the future, don't panic immediately - give it 48 hours during system maintenance periods before calling. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences here, it really helped calm my nerves!
Thanks for sharing this follow-up! I'm actually going through this exact situation right now - claimed Sunday and still nothing showing up. Your advice about checking the desktop version is really helpful, I've only been using the mobile app. It's reassuring to know this is a recurring issue during maintenance periods rather than something wrong with my specific claim. I'll wait until Wednesday morning before calling and check the desktop portal for any system notices I might have missed.
Jackie Martinez
This exact same thing happened to me 2 weeks ago! Filed Sunday, usually get paid Thursday, but nothing came through. I was panicking because I really needed that money. Turns out they had put a "hold" on my account for some random review - didn't even notify me. Had to call 3 times before I got through to someone who could explain what was going on. The agent said it happens more frequently now because they're being extra cautious about fraud. Once they cleared the hold, I got my payment the next day plus the delayed one. Definitely try calling if nothing shows up by Monday, but don't stress too much - it's probably just a system glitch or routine review.
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Ravi Malhotra
•This is really helpful to know! I'm glad it worked out for you eventually. It's so frustrating that they don't even notify you when there's a hold - how are we supposed to know what's going on? I'll definitely try calling on Monday if nothing shows up. Thanks for sharing your experience, it makes me feel less anxious about the whole situation.
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Paolo Conti
I've been dealing with NY unemployment for over a year and this kind of random delay happens way more often than it should. In my experience, it's usually one of three things: 1) They're doing a routine audit of your account (no notification given), 2) Something in your certification answers triggered an automatic flag, or 3) Just plain system glitches. The frustrating part is they never tell you what's happening! I'd suggest logging into your account and checking if there are any messages or alerts you might have missed. If nothing shows up by Monday, definitely call them - the sooner you get it sorted the better. I know the phone wait times are brutal, but it's really the only way to get answers. Hang in there, you'll get your payment eventually!
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