If you're having trouble reaching someone at NYS Department of Labor to get clarification on your benefits, I had success using Claimyr (claimyr.com) to get through to an actual agent. They have a demo video at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI that shows how it works. Saved me hours of calling and getting busy signals.

just make sure you do your job search requirements too or they'll cut off your benefits even if your WBA looks good

UPDATE: I finally got through! I used the advice about calling super early in the morning (7:59am) and got connected after my 4th attempt. They reset my PIN, updated my address, and the agent confirmed that my payments are safe and will be accessible once I get my new card. The agent told me to wait 48 hours before calling KeyBank, so the address update has time to process in their system. Thanks everyone for your help!

That's awesome news, Ethan! Your success story will definitely help others who find themselves in the same situation. The early morning calling strategy seems to be the most reliable method based on what everyone's shared here. Thanks for updating us with the resolution - it's always great to see these posts have happy endings!

Just wanted to update - I sent in my certification history that the agent provided (after using Claimyr to reach someone), and I got confirmation yesterday that my verification was accepted! The letter says my benefits will continue without interruption. So there IS a solution to this, but you definitely need to get that official record from them.

FYI I just spoke to someone from NY unemployment (finally!!!) and they said this is part of a MASSIVE fraud investigation they're doing. Apparently there was some huge ring of people falsely certifying for others. She said they're sending these letters to thousands of people, even those who did everything correctly. She also said we're not supposed to send bank statements - only actual proof of certification.

Same boat here... running low on weeks and getting nervous. At least we're not alone in this struggle.

I feel your anxiety - I was in a similar situation a few months ago. The standard 26 weeks in NY goes by fast when the job market is tough. One thing that helped me was reaching out to local workforce development centers - they sometimes have additional resources or training programs that can extend your support while you search. Also, don't forget about partial unemployment benefits if you end up taking temporary or part-time work while still looking. The income requirements are pretty flexible and you might still qualify for some benefits. Hang in there, and definitely check that my.ny.gov account to see your exact remaining balance so you can plan accordingly.

Been doing part-time work while on unemployment for 3 months now. Works out fine as long as you report everything. Just remember that freelance work still counts as employment even if you're not getting a regular paycheck from an employer.

I'm in a similar situation - got laid off from my marketing job a few weeks ago and a friend offered me some freelance social media work. From what I've learned, you can definitely work part-time and still collect unemployment benefits in NY. The key things are: 1) Report ALL work and earnings when you file your weekly claim, 2) Report gross earnings (before taxes) for the week you actually worked, not when you got paid, 3) You can generally work up to 4 days per week and still be considered unemployed, 4) NYS will reduce your benefits based on what you earn but you won't lose them completely unless you earn more than your benefit amount plus $50. Just make sure to keep looking for full-time work and maintain your job search log - that's still required even with part-time work. The landscaping work sounds perfect since it's weekends only and shouldn't interfere with interviews for full-time positions.