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If I could give 10 stars I would If I could give 10 stars I would Such an amazing service so needed during the times when EDD almost never picks up Claimyr gets me on the phone with EDD every time without fail faster. A much needed service without Claimyr I would have never received the payment I needed to support me during my postpartum recovery. Thank you so much Claimyr!
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I'm new here but going through this exact same nightmare! Just saw "waiting period served" pop up on my account this morning after 7 weeks of pure anxiety. Reading through everyone's experiences is honestly the first time I've felt like I understand what's actually happening - the DOL website is completely useless for explaining any of this stuff. It's wild that we all have to figure this out together because the state can't be bothered to clearly communicate their own process. I've been religiously certifying every week but still seeing those dreaded "pending" statuses on my recent claims. At least now I know that "waiting period served" means I've cleared one hurdle, even if there are apparently more obstacles ahead. Thanks to everyone sharing their stories - it's the only thing keeping me sane right now!
Welcome to the community! I totally understand that anxiety - I just went through the exact same thing and finally started seeing payments this week after my "waiting period served" status appeared. One thing that really helped me was keeping a simple spreadsheet tracking my weekly certifications and their statuses, because sometimes patterns emerge that aren't obvious when you're just checking randomly. Also, don't panic if it takes a few more days after seeing "waiting period served" - mine took about 4-5 business days before the pending weeks actually flipped to paid. The whole system really is a nightmare to navigate, but you're definitely on the right track now. Keep certifying weekly and try not to check your account more than once a day (I know, easier said than done!). You've got this!
I'm also new to this community and dealing with the same confusing situation! Just saw "waiting period served" appear on my account after about 5 weeks of waiting and certifying weekly. Reading through everyone's experiences here has been incredibly helpful - way more informative than anything on the actual NYS DOL website. It's reassuring to know this status actually means progress, even though I'm still seeing "pending" on my recent weekly certifications. The whole system really does feel like you're flying blind without communities like this where people share their real experiences. Thanks to everyone who's taken the time to explain what these cryptic status messages actually mean! Hoping to see those pending weeks flip to paid soon.
Welcome to the community! I'm also pretty new here and just went through this exact same experience. The "waiting period served" status is definitely a positive sign - it means you've officially completed that mandatory unpaid first week. From what I've learned from everyone here, the confusing part is that the weeks of waiting we all experienced weren't actually the "waiting period" itself, but processing delays and verification issues. I'm still waiting for my pending weeks to flip to paid status too, but at least now I understand what's happening thanks to this community. The DOL really needs to do a better job explaining their own system! Keep checking your account and hopefully we'll both see those payments start flowing soon.
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Just wanted to add my experience - I was in a similar situation last year when I was laid off from my job. One thing that really helped me was calling the NY State of Health customer service line directly rather than trying to figure it all out online. They were able to walk me through exactly how to report my unemployment income and explained that even though it's temporary income, it still counts toward your annual estimate. They also told me I could update my application anytime if my income situation changed (like if I found a new job or my benefits ended). The whole process was much less stressful once I had someone explain it step by step. Don't be afraid to ask for help - that's what they're there for!
That's really helpful advice about calling the NY State of Health customer service! I've been dreading having to figure this all out on my own. Did you have to wait on hold for a long time when you called? I know some of these government service lines can have really long wait times. Also, when you updated your application after finding a new job, was that process pretty straightforward too? I'm hoping I'll be back to work soon but want to make sure I understand how to handle the transition properly.
I had a similar experience recently - unemployment benefits definitely count as income for marketplace applications. One tip I'd add is to keep track of any temporary earnings you might have while collecting UI (like gig work or part-time jobs) since those need to be reported too. When I applied through NY State of Health, I used my weekly benefit amount multiplied by the number of weeks I expected to collect, plus any other income sources. The application actually has a specific field for unemployment compensation, so they make it pretty clear it needs to be included. Also worth noting that if your income estimate changes significantly (like if you find work sooner than expected), you can log back in and update it to avoid issues at tax time.
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The whole system is ridiculous if you ask me. You pay into unemployment insurance your whole career and then they cap how much you can get back. Meanwhile the cost of living keeps going up but the max benefit barely increases each year!
I totally agree! It's frustrating that the maximum benefit hasn't kept pace with inflation. $504 per week sounds decent until you realize that's only about $26K annually if you're unemployed for a full year. In NYC especially, that barely covers rent let alone other expenses. The system definitely needs an overhaul.
Just wanted to add some clarity on the timing aspect - if you're considering taking that full-time position, remember that your base period for unemployment benefits is calculated using completed quarters. So if you take the job now, those higher earnings won't factor into your benefit calculation until several months later when those quarters become part of your base period. NYS Department of Labor uses a lag system, so there's always a delay between when you earn the money and when it counts toward your UI benefits. Something to keep in mind for your planning!
That's a really important point about the timing lag! So even if I take the full-time position now and earn more, those higher wages won't help my unemployment benefits for several months? That definitely changes my calculation. Do you know exactly how long the delay is? Like if I start earning more in January, when would those earnings actually count toward my base period for UI purposes?
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Just wanted to jump in here as someone who went through this exact same panic about 6 months ago! Lost my job at a nonprofit and was absolutely terrified about losing my Medicaid while dealing with some ongoing health issues. This thread is spot-on with all the advice. The income limits really are much higher than most people realize - I was shocked when I found out I could make over $1,600/month and still qualify. One thing I'll add that really helped me was setting up automatic reminders on my phone to report any income changes. I put in reminders for the 5th and 10th day after any new income starts, just to make sure I don't forget. Also, if you're job hunting while on unemployment, some workforce development centers can help you navigate both the unemployment system AND Medicaid reporting requirements - they often have staff who understand how these programs interact. Hang in there, you're asking all the right questions and being proactive about it!
Thank you so much for sharing your experience and for the encouragement! It really helps to hear from someone who was in the exact same situation with ongoing health issues too - that's definitely part of what makes this so stressful. The automatic phone reminders idea is brilliant! I'm definitely going to set those up because I can already tell how easy it would be to lose track of reporting deadlines when you're dealing with job hunting and everything else. I hadn't thought about workforce development centers being able to help with both systems - that's such a good resource to know about. It's amazing how this community has turned what felt like an overwhelming situation into something much more manageable. Really appreciate everyone taking the time to share their real experiences and practical tips!
This whole thread has been incredibly reassuring! I'm actually in NYC and just got approved for unemployment after losing my marketing job two weeks ago. My benefits are similar to yours - about $380/week. I was literally losing sleep worrying about my Medicaid getting cut off, especially since I have a chronic condition that requires regular specialist visits. Reading everyone's experiences and advice has been such a lifesaver. I'm planning to report my unemployment income through the myBenefits app this week - sounds way less stressful than trying to get through on the phone. One thing I'm curious about though - has anyone dealt with reporting unemployment income while also having COBRA offered from their former employer? I'm trying to figure out if I should stick with Medicaid or switch to COBRA, but the costs are so different. Medicaid is basically free for me while COBRA would be like $600/month. Seems like a no-brainer to stay on Medicaid as long as I'm eligible, but wanted to see if anyone else has navigated this decision.
Definitely stick with Medicaid if you're eligible! I was in almost the exact same situation last year - lost my job and had the choice between staying on Medicaid or paying $650/month for COBRA. The math is pretty obvious when you're on unemployment benefits. Plus, Medicaid in NY actually has pretty good coverage for specialists and chronic conditions. The only thing to watch out for is if you find a new job that pays well enough to put you over the Medicaid income limit - then you might want to consider whether your new employer's insurance is better than switching to a marketplace plan. But for now, while you're on unemployment, Medicaid is definitely the way to go. Just make sure to report your unemployment income promptly like everyone else has mentioned. The myBenefits app really is much easier than calling!
Connor Murphy
wait i thought you had to be unemployed for like 2 weeks before filing?? this is confusing lol
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Dmitry Popov
•No, you're thinking of the waiting week which happens after you file. You can and should file immediately after your last day of work.
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Aisha Rahman
One more tip - when you file online, make sure to keep screenshots or print out your confirmation page with your claim number. The NYS DOL system sometimes has issues and having that proof can be really helpful if there are any problems later. Also, set up direct deposit right away if possible - it's much faster than waiting for paper checks in the mail. The whole process can feel overwhelming but once you get your first payment it gets much easier to manage.
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