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I went through this process about 6 months ago and it was definitely confusing at first! One thing that helped me was calling the NYS Department of Labor employer hotline at (518) 457-2635 early in the morning (like 8:15 AM) - I had much better luck getting through then versus later in the day. Also, make sure you have your business formation documents ready when you register because they'll ask for the date you first became liable for wages. The quarterly reports aren't due until the end of the quarter after you hire, so you have some breathing room there. Good luck with your new business!
Thanks for the phone number tip! I've been dreading the phone call part but trying early morning makes sense. Quick question - when you say "business formation documents," do you mean just the Articles of Incorporation or do they need other paperwork too? I want to make sure I have everything ready before I call.
I just went through this exact process two months ago for my consulting business! The NAICS code lookup on the Census Bureau website is pretty straightforward - just search for your industry and it'll give you the 6-digit code you need. For the unemployment tax registration itself, I found it helpful to have my EIN, business formation date, and estimated number of employees ready before starting the online application. One thing nobody mentioned yet - they'll also ask for your anticipated quarterly payroll amount, so have a rough estimate ready. The whole process took me about 30 minutes once I had all the info gathered. Don't stress too much about getting everything perfect on the first try - you can always update most information later through your employer account.
Just wanted to add that even if your employer does contest your claim, don't panic! I went through this last year when my former employer tried to claim I was fired for poor performance (which wasn't true - I was actually laid off). The adjudication process took about 3 weeks, but NYS Department of Labor was thorough and fair. They asked for my side of the story, looked at my employment records, and ultimately approved my benefits. The key is to respond promptly to any requests for information and be honest about what happened. Document everything you can about your layoff - emails, notices, anything that shows it was due to budget cuts rather than your performance.
This is really helpful to know! I'm glad you shared your experience. It's reassuring that the Department of Labor actually investigates properly instead of just taking the employer's word for it. I'm going to start gathering any documentation I have about the layoff right now - I think I still have the email where my manager explained it was due to budget constraints. Thanks for the advice about responding quickly too, I'll make sure to check my account daily in case they need anything from me.
Based on what everyone's shared here, it sounds like you should be fine since you were laid off due to budget cuts. That's exactly the type of separation unemployment benefits are designed for. The "under review" status is totally normal - they're probably just waiting for the standard response period from your employer to pass. Most employers don't waste time contesting legitimate layoffs since they'd need actual documentation to support their case. Keep checking your account regularly and make sure your contact info is up to date in case they need any additional information from you. The whole process can feel stressful when you're waiting, but layoffs for budget reasons are pretty straightforward cases.
This thread has been so helpful! I was really worried my old boss might try to mess with my claim out of spite, but it sounds like the system has safeguards in place. I feel much better knowing that budget cuts/layoffs are straightforward cases and that most employers don't bother contesting them. I'll keep documenting everything and checking my account daily like you all suggested. Thanks everyone for taking the time to explain how this actually works - it's way less scary when you understand the process!
I've been dealing with NY unemployment payments and Chase for a while now, and from my experience, you should definitely see it within 1-2 business days! Chase is actually pretty reliable with these ACH transfers. Since yours was released today, I'd expect to see it hit your account tomorrow morning or Wednesday at the latest. The overnight processing usually happens between 2-6 AM, so check first thing when you wake up. I know the waiting is nerve-wracking when you really need the funds, but once you see that "released" status, you're basically in the clear. The banking system just needs to do its thing. Hang tight - it's coming!
This is exactly what I needed to hear! It's so reassuring to know that Chase is reliable with these ACH transfers. The 2-6 AM processing window is really helpful to know - now I won't be staying up all night checking my account lol. I'm feeling much more confident that it'll be there tomorrow morning. Thanks for taking the time to share your experience - it really helps calm the nerves when you're waiting for money you desperately need! 🙏
I've been through this exact situation multiple times with Chase! Once NY unemployment shows "released" status, Chase typically processes the ACH deposit overnight and you'll see it in your account within 24-48 hours. Since yours was released today, there's a really good chance you'll wake up tomorrow morning and it'll be there - Chase usually posts these around 6 AM. I always recommend setting up mobile banking alerts so you get notified the instant it hits rather than constantly checking your app. The waiting is brutal when you need the money, but once it says released, you're basically home free. Just gotta let the banking system do its thing! Keep us posted when it comes through! 💪
I'm going through the same thing right now - about 3 weeks left on my benefits and getting really anxious about what comes next. From what I've been able to piece together from the NYS DOL website, you should get a notice in the mail explaining your options, but honestly their communication isn't always clear or timely. I've been keeping detailed records of all my job search activities just in case I need to prove I've been actively looking. One thing that's helped me is setting up an appointment at my local American Job Center (you can find locations on careeronestop.org) - they have counselors who can walk you through the different programs and extensions you might qualify for. They also help with resume review and job search strategies which has been useful since I've been out of work for so long. It's free and way less stressful than trying to navigate the system on your own.
That's great advice about the American Job Center! I didn't even know those existed. I've been struggling on my own for months and it would be really helpful to have someone walk me through all the options face-to-face. Do you know if they can also help with understanding the timing of when to file for extensions? I'm still confused about whether I should wait for that notice in the mail or be proactive about it.
I'm in almost the exact same situation and this thread has been so helpful! I'm at week 24 of my benefits and starting to panic about what happens next. Based on what everyone is sharing here, it sounds like the key things are: 1) Keep filing weekly claims no matter what, 2) Watch for that notice in the mail about 3-4 weeks before benefits end, 3) Don't wait until the last minute to take action. I'm definitely going to look into the American Job Center that Tasia mentioned - having someone explain all the options in person sounds way better than trying to decode the NYS DOL website on my own. Has anyone here actually gone through the process of getting extended benefits approved? I'm curious how long that takes and if there's typically a gap in payments while they process everything.
I went through the extended benefits process about 8 months ago and there was actually no gap in my payments - they processed it pretty seamlessly once the state's unemployment rate triggered the extension. The key was that I kept filing my weekly claims like normal even when I wasn't sure what was happening. I got a notice about 2 weeks before my regular benefits ended, and then about a week later I got another letter confirming I was approved for the extension. The whole thing took maybe 10 days total from when I first heard about it to when the extended payments started showing up in my account. Just make sure you respond to any requests for information right away - I think delays happen when people don't send back paperwork quickly enough.
Paolo Conti
I'm new to this whole unemployment appeals process and reading through everyone's experiences here is really eye-opening. I had no idea that employers only win appeals around 25-35% of the time - that's actually much better odds than I expected! I'm not dealing with an appeal myself right now, but I've been worried about the possibility since my own unemployment claim is still being processed. It's really encouraging to see how people like Grant have organized their documentation and built strong cases, especially with the safety complaint angle. The advice about keeping everything chronological and letting the timeline speak for itself seems like solid strategy. Thanks to everyone sharing their experiences and knowledge here - this community is incredibly helpful for those of us navigating these complex systems for the first time.
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Gemma Andrews
•Welcome to the community, Paolo! You're absolutely right that this is such a valuable resource for navigating these systems. I'm also relatively new here and have learned so much from everyone's shared experiences. The statistics people have mentioned really are encouraging - I had no idea the success rate for employees was that high either. Even though you're not dealing with an appeal right now, it's smart to be prepared and understand the process. Reading through cases like Grant's really shows how important documentation is, and the safety complaint angle seems to be particularly strong based on what the HR folks and others have shared. Hoping your claim processing goes smoothly and you don't have to deal with an appeal at all!
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Grace Durand
I've been following unemployment appeals in NY for a while now and the statistics mentioned here are pretty accurate - employers typically win about 25-30% of appeals. What really stands out about your case, Grant, is the potential retaliation angle. Safety complaints followed by termination within weeks creates what's called a "prima facie" case of retaliation, meaning the burden shifts to your employer to prove they had legitimate reasons unrelated to your complaints. NYS takes workplace safety very seriously, and hearing officers are trained to spot these patterns. Make sure you emphasize not just that you made safety complaints, but that the "performance issues" were never formally documented or addressed through progressive discipline before termination. That gap in their documentation will work strongly in your favor. You should feel confident going into this hearing!
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