I had the exact same situation when I first switched to direct deposit with NYS Department of Labor! It took about 3 business days for my first payment to show up, but after that it was consistently 1-2 days. The initial setup does seem to add some extra processing time. I'd give it until Friday before getting concerned, especially since your claim shows as paid. Also make sure to check if your bank has any holds on new ACH deposits - some banks will hold the first few deposits from new sources for an extra day.

I switched to direct deposit about 6 months ago and it's been so much more reliable than the debit card! The first payment did take about 3-4 business days, but now I typically see my unemployment benefits in my account within 24-48 hours of the claim being processed. One thing I learned is that if you set up direct deposit mid-week, it can take a bit longer for that first payment since the banking systems need time to verify everything. Also, make sure you log into your NY.gov account and verify that the direct deposit info shows as "active" - there should be a green checkmark or "verified" status next to your banking information. If you don't see that, it might mean there was an issue with the setup that needs to be fixed.

I've been struggling with this exact same issue for about 2 weeks now! It's so frustrating when you spend time filling everything out and then half the fields just disappear. I was starting to think my computer was broken or something. Reading through all these suggestions has been incredibly helpful - I had no idea it could be a browser issue. I've been using Firefox this whole time, so I'm definitely going to try switching to Edge or Chrome tomorrow morning. The early morning timing tip makes a lot of sense too since that's probably when fewer people are using the system. I'm also going to start taking screenshots before I hit save, just in case. Has anyone had luck contacting NYSDOL directly about recovering missing entries, or is it better to just re-enter everything using these workarounds?

I've been dealing with this EXACT same issue for the past month and was getting so stressed about it! I thought I was doing something wrong or that my internet connection was bad. Reading through everyone's solutions here has been a huge relief - I had no idea it was such a widespread problem with the NY system. I've been using Safari on my iPhone to fill out the work search forms (usually late at night after work), so that explains everything! I'm definitely going to try the Edge browser on my laptop early tomorrow morning and start taking screenshots of everything before I submit. It's honestly ridiculous that we have to become IT troubleshooters just to file our unemployment paperwork correctly, but I'm so grateful this community exists to help each other figure out these workarounds. The UI-501WS form tip is also super helpful - I'm going to download that just in case. Thank you all for sharing your experiences! 🙏

I'm in a really similar situation right now - just got offered a 20-hour/week position while still job hunting and have been so stressed about how to handle the weekly certification. Reading through everyone's experiences here has been incredibly reassuring! The consensus is crystal clear: answer YES to "return to work" every week you do any work, even though the wording makes it sound like you're ending your job search. It's really just asking "did you work at all this week?" not "have you given up and found your dream job?" From what everyone's shared, your 22-hour schedule should work perfectly for partial benefits as long as it's spread over 3 days or less. The combination of part-time wages + partial benefits actually seems to work out better financially than just unemployment alone for most people, which is encouraging. I'm definitely going to start keeping detailed records from day one using my phone's notes app - seems like that's crucial if they ever audit or review your case. The temporary payment holds for "review" sound stressful but normal when you first start reporting work. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences - this thread convinced me to take the position! Having some guaranteed income while dealing with NY's impossibly slow system seems way better than just waiting and hoping they eventually pay what they owe.

I'm currently in this exact situation and wanted to share my experience! Just started a part-time job (about 24 hours/week) while still actively job hunting. Like everyone else said, you absolutely answer YES to "return to work" every single week you do any work - I was terrified at first thinking it would close my claim, but it doesn't at all. Here's what I've learned over the past 2 months: - The question is just poorly worded - it means "did you work at all this week" not "did you stop job searching" - Report your GROSS pay before any deductions - Any day you work even 2 hours = 1 full day in their weird system - Keep a simple log of every shift and earnings (I use my phone's calendar app) Your 22 hours should definitely qualify for partial benefits if it's 3 days or less. Fair warning though - when I first started reporting work, my payments got held for "review" for almost 4 weeks. Super stressful but they eventually released all the back pay. Just keep certifying weekly no matter what. The part-time income plus partial benefits has actually been more than unemployment alone, which helped a lot while their system was being painfully slow with regular payments. Take the job - having guaranteed income while job searching is such a relief, and it won't hurt your claim at all. The system really is designed for people in your exact situation!

I'm about 5 days into waiting for my claim decision and feeling that same anxiety everyone's describing here. What's really struck me reading through all these responses is how consistent the timeline seems to be - almost everyone is reporting 2-4 weeks for approval, even for straightforward layoffs. That's actually pretty reassuring even though it feels like forever when you're living it! I've started treating this waiting period like a part-time job - checking my account once in the morning, doing my weekly certification on the same day each week, and keeping a simple log of everything I've submitted. It gives me a sense of control over a process that otherwise feels completely out of my hands. The phone system sounds like a nightmare based on everyone's experiences, but I'm going to try the 8 AM calling strategy if I get desperate for an update. Thanks to everyone for sharing their timelines and tips - it really helps to know we're all going through this together and that most claims do eventually get processed successfully!

I'm dealing with the exact same situation right now! Filed my claim 6 days ago after being laid off and still stuck on pending status. The uncertainty is definitely the hardest part - you keep wondering if you missed something or if there's an issue you should know about. I've been doing my weekly certifications even though it feels strange certifying when you don't know if you're approved yet, but everyone here seems to agree that's the right move. The phone system has been completely useless for me too - I've tried calling 3 times and can never get through. Reading through everyone's experiences here has been incredibly helpful though. It's reassuring to know that 2-3 weeks seems to be the normal timeline even for straightforward layoffs, and that most people do eventually get approved. I'm going to try the early morning calling tip and maybe set up that tracking spreadsheet someone mentioned. Thanks for asking this question - I think a lot of us are wondering the same thing and it's really comforting to know we're not alone in this stressful waiting game!

I've been claiming for about 6 months now and can confirm that Tuesday is the most reliable day. I certify every Sunday night around 8pm and almost always see the deposit Tuesday by noon. The few times it was delayed to Wednesday were during weeks with federal holidays. One tip - make sure your direct deposit info is correct in your NY.gov account because any banking issues can cause delays. Also keep all your job search documentation handy just in case they audit your claim, which can happen randomly and will hold up payments until resolved.

Been claiming for about 3 months now and my payments have been pretty consistent on Tuesdays when I certify on Monday mornings. One thing I learned the hard way - if you have any changes to report (like picking up a part-time job or temporary work), make sure to report it accurately during certification. I once didn't report some odd jobs I did and it flagged my account for review, which delayed payments for almost 2 weeks. The NYS Department of Labor is pretty strict about accuracy. Also, if you're getting paid by check instead of direct deposit, add an extra 3-5 business days for mail delivery.