I totally get the confusion! I went through the same thing when I first saw "effective days remaining" on my claim. What helped me understand it better is that NYS uses a benefit year system - so your 104 effective days (26 weeks) run from your initial claim date to exactly one year later, not just continuously. The tricky part is that if you find work and then become unemployed again within that same benefit year, you'd still be using up those original effective days. So even if you worked for a few months in between, those days keep counting down from your original total. It's definitely not the most intuitive system!

Just wanted to add for anyone reading this - you can also check your benefit year end date on the my.ny.gov portal under your claim summary. It's usually listed as "Benefit Year Ends" and shows the exact date one year from when you first filed. This helped me plan ahead when I was getting close to running out of effective days. Also, if you do need to file a new claim, make sure you have all your recent work history ready because they'll ask about any employment during your current benefit year, even if it was just temporary or part-time work.

I'm going through this exact same situation right now and this thread has been such a lifesaver! My effective days hit 0 yesterday and I was completely lost about what to do next. After reading everyone's detailed experiences, I logged into my account and checked my benefit year end date - turns out it expires next week! I'm definitely going to file a new claim this week based on all the advice here about not waiting until the last minute. I've already started gathering my employment records from the past 18 months since it's clear they'll ask for everything again from scratch, which is pretty annoying but at least now I know what to expect. The most reassuring thing I've learned from this thread is that as long as I keep certifying weekly during the processing period, I'll get backpaid for all those weeks once approved. That takes away so much of the financial anxiety about potential gaps in payments. One question for those who recently went through this - did you encounter any specific technical issues with the online filing system, or any particular sections that were confusing? I want to make sure I'm prepared for any potential hiccups when I submit my application. Thanks to everyone who shared their timelines and experiences - you've turned what felt like a crisis into a manageable process with clear next steps!

I'm in the exact same situation right now! My effective days just hit 0 this morning and I was freaking out until I found this thread. After reading through everyone's experiences, I immediately logged into my account to check my benefit year end date like everyone suggested - and wow, it expires in exactly 8 days! I had no idea there was such an important difference between running out of effective days versus your benefit year ending. This thread has been incredibly educational and reassuring. I'm going to file my new claim tomorrow based on all the advice here about not waiting until the last minute. I've already started gathering all my employment records from the past 18 months since it's clear they make you re-enter everything from scratch. It's frustrating that they can't just use the info they already have, but at least now I know what to expect. The biggest relief is learning that as long as I keep certifying weekly during the processing period, I'll get backpaid for all those weeks. That eliminates so much of the financial stress about potential gaps. Thank you to everyone who shared their detailed timelines and experiences - you've transformed what felt like a complete disaster into a manageable process with clear steps. This community is amazing!

Hey

Just went through this exact same situation last month! One thing I'd add to all the great advice here - when you call KeyBank, make sure you have a pen and paper ready because they'll give you a reference number for your replacement card request. Write it down! I forgot to do this and when I called back to check on the status, they had to look me up all over again. Also, if you're really in a bind financially while waiting for the new card, some banks will let you do an emergency cash advance at a branch location using your ID and account info, though there might be fees involved. Hope you get your replacement card quickly!

omg the system is so confusing!! why cant they just let you get both if you need the money?? dealing with all this paperwork while trying to take care of family is stressful enough

I'm sorry to hear about your mom's stroke, Amina. This is such a difficult situation to navigate. From what others have shared, you're right that you can't collect both simultaneously, but I wanted to add that you should also check if you're eligible for FMLA (Family and Medical Leave Act) through your employer. While FMLA is unpaid leave, it provides job protection for up to 12 weeks if your employer has 50+ employees and you meet the other requirements. This could give you some security about getting your job back after caring for your mother. You might be able to use PFL for the income replacement while FMLA protects your position. Definitely worth asking HR about this option alongside the PFL application.

just curious what was your appeal about? i might need to file one too but not sure if its worth the hassle

I went through this exact same situation about 8 months ago. My appeal decision took 6 weeks after the hearing, which sounds pretty typical based on what others are saying here. I know the waiting is incredibly stressful when you're running out of money - I had to borrow from family just to get by during that period. One thing that helped me was calling my local assembly member's office. They have constituent services that can sometimes help expedite things or at least get you a real status update. Also make sure you're checking your online account regularly since sometimes the decision shows up there before the mail arrives. Stay strong, most appeals do get resolved eventually!