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One thing to keep in mind is that the base period they use for calculating benefits is typically the first 4 of the last 5 completed calendar quarters before you file. So if you file in January 2025, they'd look at your earnings from January 2024 through September 2024. Since you've been working consistently for 8 months, you should have enough quarters to qualify. Also, don't forget that you need to have earned at least $2,600 in your highest quarter AND have total base period earnings of at least 1.5 times your highest quarter amount to be eligible.
This is super helpful Rachel! I didn't realize there was a minimum earnings requirement beyond just having worked in multiple quarters. So if I made $500/week consistently, that's $6,500 per quarter which should meet the $2,600 minimum, and my total base period earnings would be way more than 1.5 times my highest quarter. Thanks for breaking down the base period calculation too - I was confused about which quarters they actually look at.
Just wanted to add that you should also check if your employer has been properly reporting your wages to the state. I had an issue where my part-time employer wasn't submitting my wage reports correctly, which delayed my claim processing. You can verify this by checking your Social Security earnings record or through the NY.gov portal. Also, if you do end up filing, make sure to keep detailed records of your job search activities since you'll need to certify that you're actively looking for work each week to continue receiving benefits.
That's a really good point about checking wage reporting! I hadn't thought about that potential issue. How do you verify through the NY.gov portal exactly? Is it under the same section where you can check your wage history that someone mentioned earlier? I want to make sure everything is properly documented before I potentially need to file.
Same thing happened to me but with my car breaking down constantly. Filed anyway and got approved after they investigated. The key is showing it wasn't intentional misconduct.
I work in HR and can tell you that attendance issues don't automatically disqualify you from unemployment benefits. The NYS Department of Labor looks at whether the behavior was willful misconduct or due to circumstances beyond your control. Childcare emergencies can be considered compelling circumstances. Make sure to file your claim immediately and be completely honest about the situation. Keep any documentation you have about the childcare issues - texts, emails, etc. Even if your claim goes to adjudication, don't give up. Many people win their appeals when they can show the attendance problems weren't due to deliberate misconduct.
This is really helpful advice, especially coming from someone in HR! I'm definitely going to gather all those texts from my babysitter and any emails I sent to my supervisor about the childcare issues. It's reassuring to know that they actually look at the circumstances rather than just automatically denying for attendance. How long does the adjudication process typically take when they're investigating these types of cases?
I'm going through the exact same thing right now! Got my $0 deposit yesterday morning and have been stuck on pending for almost 3 weeks. Filed my claim in early February after my restaurant job ended when they cut staff due to slow business. Reading through everyone's experiences here is both reassuring and terrifying - sounds like the $0 deposit is definitely normal and means they're verifying our bank info, but the timeline seems to be all over the place! Some people get their actual payment in 2-3 days while others are waiting months. I've been certifying every single week religiously and checking my account status obsessively. Definitely going to start checking my portal messages daily now since so many people mentioned important notifications hiding there with no email alerts. Planning to try calling right at 8am tomorrow too. If I don't see any movement by early next week I might have to bite the bullet and try that claimyr service everyone keeps mentioning - sounds like actually talking to a human is the only way to figure out what's causing these pending delays. This whole system is such a nightmare but at least now I know I'm not alone! Thanks for asking this question OP, really needed to see other people dealing with the same frustrating situation 🙏
Alice, I'm literally in the exact same boat! Got my $0 deposit this morning and been pending for 2.5 weeks now. Filed in mid-January after my company did unexpected layoffs. This thread has been such a relief - I was starting to panic that my claim was broken but now I understand the $0 deposit is actually their standard verification process before sending real money. The timeline variation is crazy though! Reading about people getting paid in days vs others waiting months is both hopeful and scary. I'm definitely taking everyone's advice to check portal messages religiously since it sounds like they hide critical stuff there. Also going to start the 8am calling routine tomorrow. If we don't see progress by Friday maybe we should both try claimyr - seems like getting an actual person on the phone is the key to unlocking whatever's causing our claims to be stuck in limbo. Stay strong, we'll figure this out! 💪
I'm in the same exact situation! Got my $0 deposit this morning and have been stuck on pending for 3 weeks now. Filed in late January after my company did layoffs. This thread is incredibly helpful - I was starting to worry something was seriously wrong with my claim, but now I understand the $0 deposit is actually their way of testing bank info before sending real payments. The timeline differences are pretty wild though - some people get paid within days while others wait months! I've been certifying every week without fail and checking my status constantly. Definitely going to start checking my portal messages daily since so many people mentioned important notifications get buried there with no email alerts. Also planning to try calling right at 8am starting tomorrow. If I don't see any movement by next week I might have to try that claimyr service everyone keeps talking about - sounds like actually getting a human on the phone is the only way to figure out what's causing these pending delays. Thanks for posting this question OP, it's reassuring to know so many of us are dealing with the same frustrating situation right now! 🤞
I just wanted to share my experience since I struggled with this same issue recently! One place that hasn't been mentioned yet is if you've ever used the "forgot password" feature on your ny.gov account - sometimes they send reset emails that include your unemployment number as part of the account verification process. Also, if you've received any unemployment debit cards in the mail (like KeyBank cards for NY unemployment), your claim number is often printed on the paperwork that comes with the card or on the card carrier itself. I ended up finding mine on the little paper insert that came with my debit card that I almost threw away! It's really frustrating that such basic information is so hard to locate - they definitely need to make this more user-friendly. But don't give up, everyone's suggestions here are incredibly helpful and between all these different places to check, you'll definitely find your unemployment number!
That's such a great point about the password reset emails! I never would have thought to check those for my unemployment number. And the debit card paperwork tip is really valuable too - I remember getting one of those KeyBank cards but I probably tossed all the documentation without looking at it carefully. It's amazing how many obscure places this number can be found. This entire thread has been so incredibly helpful - it's like everyone has become unemployment number detectives sharing all their discoveries! Reading through all these experiences makes me realize that NYS DOL really needs to hear about how confusing their system is for users. Maybe they don't realize how much time people are spending just trying to find basic information about their own claims. Thanks for adding even more places to search - between everyone's suggestions here, I think we've covered every possible hiding spot!
I'm dealing with this exact same frustration right now! I've been searching for my unemployment number for days and it's driving me crazy. Thank you so much to everyone who shared all these different places to look - I had no idea there were so many possible locations. I'm going to start with checking my ny.gov account under "View Claim Details" and then work through all the other suggestions like email confirmations, bank statements, and even my phone screenshots. It's honestly unbelievable that finding your own unemployment number requires this much detective work, but I'm feeling much more hopeful now that I have all these strategies to try. This community is amazing for helping each other navigate such a poorly designed system!
I'm so glad this thread has been helpful for you! I went through this same nightmare a few weeks ago and I know exactly how frustrating it is. One thing I'd suggest is to start with the easiest options first - definitely check that "View Claim Details" section since multiple people have confirmed finding it there labeled as "UI Number." Also, don't forget to look in your spam/junk email folder since those confirmation emails sometimes end up there. The mobile app suggestion is worth trying too since some people said the number shows up more clearly there than on the website. It's absolutely ridiculous that we have to go through all this just to find our own basic account information, but you're definitely not alone in this struggle. Keep us posted on what works for you - and don't give up, it's definitely somewhere in your records!
Seraphina Delan
Wait are we talking about the same thing? I thought payment released meant it was already in your account? I'm so confused by all this unemployment terminology. My claim status says pending but I filed my weekly claim on Sunday like always.
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Danielle Mays
•No, 'payment released' means NYS Department of Labor has approved and sent the payment to your bank, but your bank still needs to process it. 'Pending' means your weekly claim is still being reviewed and hasn't been approved for payment yet.
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Keisha Robinson
Don't panic! I've been on unemployment for about 6 months now and the timing can definitely vary. If your payment was released yesterday and you have direct deposit set up, you should see it by tomorrow or Friday at the latest. Banks typically process unemployment deposits in the early morning hours, so check your account first thing when you wake up. Since you mentioned rent is due soon, you might also want to reach out to your landlord to let them know there could be a day or two delay - most are understanding about unemployment timing issues. Keep an eye on your bank account and if you don't see anything by Friday evening, then I'd start making calls to your bank.
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Zadie Patel
•This is really helpful advice! I'm also new to unemployment and the waiting is nerve-wracking. Good point about contacting the landlord - I never thought about giving them a heads up about potential timing delays. Question though - if the payment doesn't show up by Friday, is it better to call the bank first or NYS Department of Labor? Want to make sure I'm calling the right place if there's an issue.
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