Hey! I'm new here but went through the exact same thing a couple months ago. My waiting week was processed mid-December and I was so stressed about the timing too. In my case, I filed on Sunday and got the payment on Thursday morning - so 4 business days total. The key thing is to make sure you keep filing your weekly certifications on time even if you don't see the money yet. I made the mistake of panicking and calling repeatedly (waste of time as others mentioned), but the payment did come through. Also double-check that your bank doesn't hold deposits - some smaller banks have longer processing times for government payments. Good luck with your rent!

I'm going through this same situation right now! Filed my weekly certification on Sunday and my waiting week was processed last Friday. It's so nerve-wracking waiting for that first payment, especially when you have bills coming up. From reading everyone's responses here, it sounds like 3-4 business days is pretty normal for the first payment. I'm hoping to see mine by Thursday too. The hardest part is not knowing exactly when it'll hit your account - I keep checking my bank app every few hours! At least we're not alone in this waiting game.

I completely understand your concern about your former employer - it shows you're a considerate person. But here's the thing: you didn't choose to get laid off, and unemployment benefits exist precisely for this situation. Your employer has been paying into the unemployment insurance fund as part of doing business, just like they pay for workers' comp or other insurance. When you file a claim, they don't get a direct bill - instead, it may slightly affect their experience rating for future tax calculations. Think of it this way: if your house burned down, you wouldn't hesitate to file an insurance claim because it might affect the insurance company's profits, right? This is similar - you and your employer have been paying premiums (through payroll taxes) for this exact coverage. File your claim and focus on finding your next opportunity.

@Sean, I work in HR and can confirm what others have said - employers pay unemployment taxes as part of their regular payroll obligations, not per claim. Your former employer's experience rating might be slightly affected over time, but one claim from a legitimate layoff won't cause them financial hardship. In fact, if they laid you off due to lack of work, they were already anticipating potential unemployment costs as part of their workforce reduction decision. Don't let misplaced guilt prevent you from accessing benefits you've earned. The system exists specifically to help workers like you transition between jobs through no fault of your own.

I went through this exact situation last year with my photography LLC. Since you mentioned having W-2 wages from your part-time job, that's actually really important - those wages likely make you eligible for benefits even with the LLC. The key is being completely transparent about your business status when you file. I had to provide documentation showing my LLC had essentially no income and wasn't actively operating. NYS Department of Labor will want to know if you're available for work and actively seeking employment, which can be tricky if you're still technically operating the business. I'd recommend gathering all your financial records for both the LLC and your W-2 job before filing, and be prepared to explain that while you own the LLC, you're not currently generating income from it and are seeking traditional employment.

I'm dealing with a very similar situation right now - I have an LLC that I set up for consulting work, but contracts have completely disappeared over the past few months. From what I've researched, the fact that you had W-2 wages from your part-time job is actually really good news for your eligibility. NYS Department of Labor looks at your "base period" wages to determine benefits, and W-2 income definitely counts toward that. The tricky part is proving that your LLC isn't actively operating versus just being slow. I've been told by others in similar situations that you need to be very clear that you're seeking traditional W-2 employment and not just waiting for freelance work to pick up. Document everything - bank statements showing minimal business income, any steps you've taken to wind down operations, and your active job search for regular employment. The key seems to be demonstrating that you're genuinely unemployed and available for work, not just a business owner having a rough patch.

The whole system is so confusing honestly. I filed too early once and they told me I had to wait and refile. Then another time I waited too long and missed out on a week of benefits. There should be clearer instructions on the website about timing.

Based on my experience, here's the exact timeline: File your initial claim application on the Monday after your last day of work (so the Monday after next Friday in your case). Once your claim is approved (usually takes 2-3 business days), you can then file your first weekly certification for that same week you became unemployed. The important thing is that you must be totally unemployed during the entire week you're claiming - so if Friday is your last day, you'd claim the full week starting that Monday. Don't overthink it - just make sure you have all your employment documentation ready and file as soon as you're eligible. The system will guide you through the process once you start.

I actually just helped my roommate through this exact situation last month! She was a senior working part-time at a retail store and got her hours cut to basically nothing. She was super worried about the student thing too, but she got approved without any major issues. The biggest thing that helped her was keeping really detailed records of her work schedule alongside her class schedule for the past year - it showed she'd been successfully managing both for a long time. She also made sure to apply online first thing in the morning when the system was less busy, then followed up with the phone interview. The whole process took about 3.5 weeks from application to first payment. One tip she shared was to be really specific about your availability in hours (like "Monday 8am-6pm, Wednesday 12pm-10pm" etc.) rather than just saying "I can work around classes." NYS Department of Labor wants to see concrete proof that you have substantial time available for employment. Since you've been doing 25 hours/week for two years, you're in great shape! Don't stress too much about it.

Just wanted to add another perspective as someone who successfully collected unemployment as a student in NY! I was working at a bookstore while finishing my degree and lost my job due to store closure. The application process was actually pretty straightforward once I understood what they were looking for. The key things that helped me: 1) I emphasized my consistent work history while enrolled (similar to your situation with 2 years of steady employment), 2) I provided specific available hours rather than vague statements about flexibility, and 3) I kept detailed records of my job search efforts focused on positions that matched my schedule and experience. NYS Department of Labor did ask about my class schedule during the phone interview, but they were mainly interested in confirming I had genuine availability for work. Since you're graduating soon and have been successfully balancing 25 hours/week with coursework, you should have no problem demonstrating both your work history and availability. The process took about 4 weeks for me, but it was worth it for the financial support during my final semester. Don't let the student status worry you - you've earned these benefits through your contributions!