I've been getting NY unemployment for about 5 months now with Ally Bank (online bank). My payments are consistently 1-2 business days after showing "released" - usually on the faster side since online banks often process ACH transfers quicker than traditional brick-and-mortar banks. What really helped me in the beginning was understanding that "released" just means the state has authorized the payment, but it still has to go through the federal ACH network which has its own processing times. It's like when you mail a letter - dropping it in the mailbox doesn't mean it instantly arrives at its destination. For anyone still anxiously waiting, I'd recommend checking if your bank has a "pending transactions" section in their app or website. Sometimes you can see the deposit there before it officially posts to your available balance. Also, if you're really stressed about it, most banks have 24/7 customer service that can tell you if they see any pending unemployment deposits coming through their system. Hang in there - the money is coming!

I'm also waiting on my first NY unemployment payment and this whole thread has been incredibly helpful! I'm with Capital One and it's been 3 business days since my payment showed "released" - was starting to get really worried but sounds like 3-5 days for the first payment is totally normal. The tip about setting up bank alerts is brilliant, just did that so I can stop obsessively checking my account balance every hour. It's so reassuring to hear from people who've been through this process multiple times that the money always comes through eventually. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences and timeline details - really helps calm the nerves when you're new to the whole system!

I remember being so stressed about this same thing! The word 'separation' made it sound like something bad was happening with my claim. But it's totally normal - every unemployment claim has to go through separation determination. As long as you were truly laid off and didn't quit voluntarily, you should be fine once they complete their review.

I went through this exact same thing when I got laid off from my retail job last month! The separation review is just their standard process to make sure you qualify for benefits. Since you mentioned you were laid off due to slow business, that's considered "lack of work" which definitely qualifies you for unemployment. The "under review" status just means they're verifying the details with your former employer. In my case, it took about a week and a half before the status changed to approved. Try not to stress about it - as long as you were honest about being laid off and didn't quit or get terminated for misconduct, you should be good to go once they finish the review process.

Sorry to hear about your layoff Ethan. Yes, you absolutely qualify for unemployment benefits since your position was eliminated due to downsizing - that's considered involuntary separation through no fault of your own. When you file your claim online at labor.ny.gov, you'll need your Social Security number, driver's license, employment history for the past 18 months, and details about your separation. The system will ask your employer to verify the reason for termination, but since they already told you it was downsizing and not for cause, you should be good to go. File as soon as possible since there's typically a one-week waiting period before benefits begin. Don't worry too much about proving it wasn't your fault - the burden is on the employer to show misconduct if they want to contest your claim.

Hey Ethan, really sorry to hear about your situation but you're definitely eligible for unemployment benefits since you were laid off due to downsizing. That's exactly what the system is designed for - involuntary job loss through no fault of your own. I went through something similar a few years back and the process was pretty straightforward once I got started. Make sure to file your initial claim online at labor.ny.gov as soon as possible since benefits are calculated from when you file, not when you lost your job. You'll need basic info like your SSN, employment dates, and your employer's details. Since your manager already confirmed it was downsizing and not performance-related, you shouldn't have any issues with approval. The hardest part is usually just waiting for that first payment to come through. Hang in there!

just wanted to say thanks for asking this question, I was wondering the same thing but felt dumb for not knowing where to look!

I actually found a workaround for this! If you go to the "Payment History" section on my.ny.gov, it shows all your weekly payments. You can add those up and subtract from your total benefit amount in the monetary determination letter. I made a simple spreadsheet to track it since the state system doesn't do it for you. Also, your benefit year is usually 52 weeks from when you filed, and the maximum is typically 26 weeks of benefits (though this can vary). Hope this helps!

Just be careful because some severance agreements DO include salary continuation which would count as earned income. Read your severance paperwork carefully to make sure it's truly a lump sum dismissal payment.

I went through this exact situation a few months ago. Emma is right - lump sum severance is typically not considered earned income for unemployment purposes in NY. The key thing is that it's a one-time payment for job loss, not wages for work performed. I'd still recommend keeping all your severance paperwork just in case NYSDOL ever asks for documentation, but you shouldn't need to report it on your weekly claims. Just make sure you're still actively looking for work and reporting any actual earnings from new employment!