I was in a similar situation last year with a different state agency. The key thing that helped my case was documenting everything - get any communication about the unpaid leave in writing if possible. When you file, be very clear that this is budget-related, not disciplinary, and that you have no definite return date. Also emphasize that you're able and available for other work during this period. The fact that they specifically said it's "not a layoff" might actually work in your favor since it shows the indefinite nature of the situation. Don't let the bureaucracy discourage you from filing - you're in a legitimate gray area that deserves individual review.

Yes, definitely mention that you're actively looking for other work! That's actually a requirement for unemployment benefits - you need to demonstrate that you're able, available, and actively seeking employment. The fact that you're job searching shows NYS Department of Labor that you're not just sitting around waiting for your old position to come back, which strengthens your case. Keep records of your job search activities too (applications submitted, interviews attended, etc.) since they may ask for proof during your weekly certifications. Your situation with the indefinite budget-related leave and active job search sounds like it should qualify, but getting that documented properly in your initial filing is crucial.

Just want to add that when you do file, make sure you're ready to start your weekly claims right away and keep track of your job search activities. NYS Department of Labor requires you to be actively looking for work and you'll need to document that.

Don't beat yourself up about missing those 6 weeks - it's a really common mistake! The important thing is to file NOW before you lose any more time. When you apply online, you'll put your actual layoff date from 6 weeks ago as your separation date, but your benefit payments will only start from the week you file the claim. Also make sure you have your employer's info handy (company name, address, reason for separation) and be prepared to start doing your weekly certifications right away. The sooner you get this process started, the sooner you can start receiving benefits while you continue your job search.

Just wanted to share my experience from a few days ago to hopefully help others! I was in the same boat as you - completely confused about the order of steps. After reading through various forums and the NYSDOL website multiple times, I finally just dove in and started with ID.me verification first. It ended up being the right choice! My verification took about 30 minutes total (including a 15-minute wait for video chat), and immediately after completion I was able to access the unemployment application portal. One thing I wish I had known beforehand - make sure your phone is fully charged if you're using it for verification, because my battery died right in the middle of the video chat and I had to start over! Also, they asked me to hold up my ID next to my face during the video call, so practice that beforehand so you're not fumbling around. The agent was really patient and professional though. Good luck with your application - you've got this!

I actually just completed my ID.me verification yesterday and wanted to share a fresh perspective! The process has definitely improved since some of the earlier horror stories I'm seeing here. A few things that helped me get through smoothly: 1) I used the ID.me mobile app instead of the browser - it seemed more stable, 2) I did it around 2pm on a Wednesday which had minimal wait time, and 3) I had my Social Security card as a backup document which the agent appreciated having available. The whole thing took maybe 20 minutes including a short video chat. One unexpected thing - they asked me to slowly rotate my ID in front of the camera so they could see the security features, so be prepared for that. Once verified, I was immediately redirected to create my NY.gov account and could start the unemployment application right away. The key is just being patient and having all your documents organized beforehand!

First payment is always the slowest. After that, if you file your weekly claims on time, payments usually come within 2-3 business days. But yeah, that initial wait is brutal when you need the money.

I'm in a similar situation - just filed last week after getting laid off from my retail job. The waiting is really stressful when bills are piling up! From what I've been reading online, it seems like NYS DOL is pretty backed up right now. I've been checking my account obsessively but the status hasn't changed from "under review." Has anyone had luck calling the customer service line recently, or is it still impossible to get through?

I went through the same anxiety when I first started collecting! What helped me was setting up a simple spreadsheet to track everything - dates worked, hours, gross pay, etc. Even for one-day gigs or freelance work. The DOL actually has pretty clear guidelines on their website about what constitutes reportable income. I found that being overly cautious with reporting (even reporting income that was borderline) gave me peace of mind. The automated systems are really sophisticated, but they're designed to flag patterns of fraud, not honest people making good faith efforts to comply. Keep doing what you're doing with accurate weekly reporting and you'll be fine!

As someone who's new to unemployment benefits myself, I really appreciate everyone sharing their experiences here! The transparency theme that keeps coming up is so important. I've been worried about similar things, especially since the whole process feels overwhelming when you're going through it for the first time. It's reassuring to know that the DOL's systems are designed to catch intentional fraud rather than penalize people who are making honest efforts to comply. I think the key takeaway is that if you're documenting everything and reporting accurately on your weekly certifications, the monitoring systems actually work to protect you rather than catch you in some kind of trap. Thanks for all the helpful insights!