I'm dealing with this exact same situation! Filed my weekly claim on Tuesday and it's now been several days with no payment showing up. This is my first time dealing with unemployment and I was really starting to worry I had made some kind of error on my certification. Reading through everyone's responses has been incredibly helpful - it sounds like those of us who file on Tuesday get pushed into the next processing cycle, which means we won't see payments until the following Tuesday for processing and then Wednesday/Thursday for the actual deposit. That's such a long wait when you're already dealing with the stress of job loss! I had no idea that the day you file makes such a huge difference in when you get paid. The NYS Department of Labor website really should make this timing clearer - would save so much anxiety for people who are already going through a tough time. I'm definitely going to call that automated line at 888-581-5812 that @Oscar mentioned to check my payment status, and I'll be filing on Sunday or Monday from now on to avoid this delay. Thanks Keith for asking this question - it's so reassuring to know we're all figuring this out together and that this timing confusion is completely normal for Tuesday filers!

I'm going through the exact same thing! Filed my weekly claim on Tuesday and it's now Friday with no payment in sight. This is my first time dealing with unemployment and I was starting to panic thinking I messed something up. Reading through everyone's responses has been incredibly reassuring - I had no idea that Tuesday filers get pushed into the next processing cycle! The NYS Department of Labor really should explain this timing better on their website. I've been refreshing my bank app constantly for days. Definitely going to call that automated line at 888-581-5812 tonight to check my status and switch to filing on Sundays from now on. Thanks Keith for asking this question - it's such a relief to know we're all dealing with the same confusion and this delay is totally normal for Tuesday filers!

I'm a former NYS DOL employee and want to clarify this for everyone - you're all absolutely right that the employer UI account number is NOT required for filing unemployment claims. This number is only used internally by employers for their quarterly tax filings and wage reports. The online system at my.ny.gov is specifically designed to match employers using business name, address, and Federal EIN. The most important thing is using the EXACT legal business name from your W-2 or final paystub - don't drop any "Corporation," "LLC," "Inc.," etc. If the system can't find a match, it will flag for manual review rather than reject your claim outright. Also, make sure your employment dates are accurate as this helps with the matching process. Don't let confusion over this optional field delay your filing - timing is much more critical than having every single piece of employer information!

I went through this exact same panic when I filed my claim back in October! Like everyone else has confirmed, you definitely don't need that employer UI account number. The NYS system really just needs your employer's exact business name (including all the "Inc." or "LLC" parts), their address, and your employment dates. I actually called the DOL helpline after reading conflicting info online, and the agent confirmed that the UI account number field is optional for initial claims. The system will match your employer automatically using their internal database. Don't let this delay your filing - the deadline is way more important than having that specific number. Just make sure you have your last paystub handy for the exact company name and you should be all set. Good luck with your claim!

I'm literally going through this right now! Just got my $0.00 deposit from NYSDOL about an hour ago and immediately started panicking that my claim was rejected or something went horribly wrong. Finding this thread is like finding gold - seeing so many people share the exact same experience with such consistent timelines is incredibly reassuring! I've been unemployed for about 2 months now and this will be my first unemployment payment, so the anxiety has been through the roof. It's so frustrating that NYSDOL doesn't explain anywhere what these $0 deposits actually mean - you're just left to wonder if it's good news or bad news. Based on everyone's experiences here, it sounds like this is completely normal and I should expect my actual payment sometime between Thursday and Monday. The waiting is going to be brutal but at least now I know I'm not alone in this! Thank you to everyone who shared their timelines - it makes such a huge difference for newcomers like me trying to navigate this confusing system. I'll definitely update when my payment comes through to add another success story to help future people!

I'm currently experiencing this exact situation! Just received my $0.00 deposit from NYSDOL this morning and was initially terrified that it meant my claim had been rejected or there was some kind of system error. This thread has been absolutely invaluable - reading through everyone's experiences really demonstrates how consistent and normal this process actually is. It's incredible how many people have shared nearly identical timelines of getting the test deposit followed by their actual payment within 1-3 business days. I've been unemployed for about 5 weeks now and this will be my first unemployment payment, so the stress and uncertainty have been overwhelming. The complete lack of communication from NYSDOL about what these $0.00 deposits actually represent definitely adds to the anxiety when you're already worried about your financial situation. Based on all the positive outcomes shared here, I'm cautiously optimistic that I should see my real payment by Thursday or Friday. Thank you so much to everyone who took the time to share their timelines and experiences - it makes such a huge difference for those of us navigating this confusing system for the first time. I'll definitely update this thread when my payment comes through to help future people who find themselves in the same nerve-wracking situation!

UPDATE: Finally got through to someone at unemployment this morning! There was indeed a flag on my account requiring manual review because I started reporting part-time work. The agent released all my payments and said I should receive everything within 2-3 business days. She said this is happening to a lot of people right now. Thanks everyone for your help!

So glad you got this resolved! This exact same thing happened to me back in December - the system flagged my account when I started a seasonal retail job during the holidays. It's frustrating that they don't give you any notification that your account is under review, you just see nothing in your payment history. For anyone else dealing with this: don't stop certifying while waiting! I made that mistake thinking something was wrong and it delayed my payments even more. The system automatically calculates your partial benefits once the flag is cleared, so all those weeks you certified will get processed at once.

I had a similar issue and ended up contacting my state assembly person. They have special liaisons with ny unemployment who can actually fix things. Might be worth a try if you can't get through on the phone.

This exact same thing happened to me back in December! I was panicking because I had the screenshot showing I completed it but their system said otherwise. Here's what worked for me: I waited exactly 48 hours before doing anything else, then called using the number someone mentioned above (888-209-8124) first thing in the morning around 8:02 AM. Got through after about 45 minutes on hold. The rep told me it's a known glitch where their system loses the certification data even though you get the confirmation screen. She manually marked my certification as complete and released my payment same day. Whatever you do, keep that screenshot - it's your proof! The rep said having that confirmation number made it super easy for her to verify and fix. Don't stress too much, this happens more often than they admit and they know how to handle it.