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If I could give 10 stars I would If I could give 10 stars I would Such an amazing service so needed during the times when EDD almost never picks up Claimyr gets me on the phone with EDD every time without fail faster. A much needed service without Claimyr I would have never received the payment I needed to support me during my postpartum recovery. Thank you so much Claimyr!
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I had this exact same issue a few months ago! Turned out my previous employer had reported my wages under a slightly different Social Security number (they had one digit wrong). The NYS Department of Labor couldn't match my earnings to my claim, so it defaulted to $0. I had to visit a local Department of Labor office with my Social Security card and W-2 forms to get it straightened out. Once they corrected the SSN mismatch, my weekly benefit amount was updated within about a week and I received all the back payments I was owed. Definitely worth checking if your employer might have made a similar error when reporting your wages.
@Paolo Longo This is so helpful! I m'having the exact same $0 benefit issue and this SSN mismatch possibility never occurred to me. When you discovered the error, was it something the DOL staff could see immediately in their system when you showed them your documents? I m'wondering if I should call my old employer first to verify they have my correct SSN on file, or if it s'better to just go straight to the local office with my paperwork. Also, did you need to bring anything else besides your Social Security card and W-2 - like pay stubs or your separation notice?
@Paolo Longo This is super helpful! I ve'been dealing with the same $0 weekly benefit issue and calling NYS Department of Labor has been a nightmare. When you went to the local office, did they require you to make an appointment first or could you just walk in? Also, I m'curious - after they corrected the SSN error, did you have to do anything else to trigger the system to recalculate your benefits, or did it happen automatically? I want to make sure I understand the full process before I make the trip to resolve this.
I'm going through the exact same thing right now! Filed my claim 3 weeks ago, got approved, but every weekly certification shows $0 benefit amount. It's so frustrating because I know I earned enough to qualify for benefits. Reading through these comments has been really eye-opening - I had no idea there were so many different things that could cause this issue. I'm going to check my online account for any pending issues first, and if that doesn't show anything I'll try visiting a local office with my W-2 and pay stubs. Has anyone had success getting this resolved recently, or is the system still really backed up?
@Gianna Scott I m'dealing with this exact same issue right now! Just wanted to add that I found it helpful to screenshot everything in my online account before making changes - including the $0 benefit amount, payment history, and any messages. That way if something gets worse or changes unexpectedly, I have proof of what it looked like before. Also, when I called my former employer to verify my info, I asked them to email me confirmation of what they have on file SSN, (employment dates, final wages so) I d'have documentation if there were discrepancies. The more paper trail you can create, the better when dealing with NYS DOL. Really hoping we both get this sorted out soon!
@Gianna Scott I m'in the exact same boat - filed 3 weeks ago, approved, but stuck with $0 weekly benefits! Reading through everyone s'experiences here has been incredibly helpful. It sounds like there are so many potential causes: wage reporting errors, SSN mismatches, incorrect certification answers, address issues, or missing documentation. I m'planning to start with the easiest fixes first - double-checking my personal info is current, reviewing my weekly certification answers, and uploading my W-2 and pay stubs through my.ny.gov. If that doesn t'work within a couple weeks, I ll'try the local office route that @Paolo Longo and @Summer Green had success with. It s frustrating but'at least now I know there are actual solutions and it s not just'the system being broken. Definitely keep us posted on what works for you!
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Same situation here! Started my claim two weeks ago and was confused about the timing. Got my first payment yesterday and it was exactly what the NYS Department of Labor calculator said I'd get.
The weekly schedule is pretty straightforward once you get used to it. I've been on unemployment for about 6 weeks now and here's what I've learned: You certify every Sunday (I usually do it Sunday morning to get it out of the way), and then the payment shows up in my account every Wednesday around 9 AM. The amount stays consistent as long as you don't have any earnings to report. One tip - set up direct deposit if you haven't already because it's much faster than waiting for a debit card to arrive in the mail. Also keep track of your work search activities because you'll need to report those when you certify each week.
Thanks for the detailed breakdown @Freya Johansen! That's super helpful. I'm still waiting on my direct deposit setup to go through - do you know how long that usually takes? And for the work search activities, do you just keep a simple list or is there a specific format NYS Department of Labor wants?
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Yes, definitely mention that you're actively looking for other work! That's actually a requirement for unemployment benefits - you need to demonstrate that you're able, available, and actively seeking employment. The fact that you're job searching shows NYS Department of Labor that you're not just sitting around waiting for your old position to come back, which strengthens your case. Keep records of your job search activities too (applications submitted, interviews attended, etc.) since they may ask for proof during your weekly certifications. Your situation with the indefinite budget-related leave and active job search sounds like it should qualify, but getting that documented properly in your initial filing is crucial.
This is exactly what I needed to hear! I've been worried about filing because I wasn't sure if being on "leave" would disqualify me, but it sounds like my situation is actually pretty textbook for unemployment benefits. I've already started job searching and have been keeping a spreadsheet of applications, so I should be good on that front. One quick question - when you say "documented properly in your initial filing," do you mean I should upload the HR email as supporting documentation, or just reference it in the application text? I want to make sure I give them all the relevant details upfront rather than having to explain later.
@Jackson Carter Both! I d'upload the HR email as supporting documentation AND reference the key details in your application text. When filling out the initial claim, there s'usually a section where you can explain your separation from work - use that space to clearly state it s'an indefinite unpaid leave due to budget constraints, not disciplinary action. Having the documentation uploaded gives them something concrete to review, but explaining it in your own words in the application ensures they understand the situation right away. Don t'assume they ll'read the attachments first - make your case clear in both places.
I went through this exact situation about 6 months ago with NYS DOL. My advice: file immediately and be completely transparent about your circumstances. When I filed, I made sure to emphasize three key points: 1) The leave is indefinite with no concrete return date, 2) It's budget-related, not performance-related, and 3) I'm actively available for other employment. The initial determination took about 2-3 weeks, but they approved my claim. The biggest mistake people make is waiting too long to file - you can't get retroactive benefits for weeks you didn't claim. Even if there's uncertainty about eligibility, it's better to file and let them make the determination rather than lose out on potential benefits while you're financially struggling. Document everything and be prepared to explain your situation clearly if they call for additional information.
This is super reassuring to hear from someone who actually went through it successfully! I've been hesitant to file because I wasn't sure if it would complicate things with my employer when I eventually go back, but you're absolutely right that losing weeks of potential benefits while struggling financially is worse than the uncertainty. Did NYS DOL require any additional documentation from your employer during the review process, or was your explanation and the HR communication sufficient? I'm trying to prepare for all possibilities since my employer has been pretty vague about the whole situation.
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I'm dealing with something really similar right now - left my job in February for what I thought was a better opportunity, then got let go in July when they had "restructuring." Just got my denial letter last week and I'm feeling pretty overwhelmed by all the paperwork they want me to fill out. Reading through everyone's responses here is giving me hope though! It sounds like the key is really emphasizing that most recent job separation. I'm going to focus on that layoff and make sure I have all my documentation ready. Has anyone had success with the online appeal system, or is it better to do everything by phone/mail? The DOL website is kind of confusing about which method is fastest. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences - this community has been a lifesaver during this stressful time!
I went through the online appeal system and it was actually pretty straightforward once I got the hang of it. The key is to upload everything as PDFs and make sure your file sizes aren't too big. I found it faster than trying to get someone on the phone, honestly. Just make sure to keep copies of everything you submit and take screenshots showing you successfully uploaded your documents. The system will give you a confirmation number - save that! Also, don't stress too much about the paperwork being perfect. Focus on clearly explaining the timeline and why you were laid off from your most recent job. You've got this! 💪
I'm in almost the exact same boat! Quit my job in December for what seemed like an amazing opportunity, then got laid off in May when the company had "financial difficulties." Just got my denial letter yesterday and I'm honestly freaking out a bit. Reading through all these responses is making me feel so much better though. It sounds like focusing on the layoff from the most recent job is key, and that appeals actually work! Quick question for those who've been through this - when you're filling out the paperwork, do you mention the previous job you quit at all, or just focus entirely on the most recent employment? I don't want to accidentally hurt my case by bringing up the voluntary quit again. Also seeing a lot of mentions about Claimyr here - has anyone else used it successfully? The $20 seems worth it if it actually gets me through to a human being instead of sitting on hold for hours. Thanks everyone for sharing your stories - it's really helping me feel less alone in this process! 🙏
Klaus Schmidt
omg yes the payment timing is SO confusing!! i thought i was getting paid for the current week and couldn't understand why my first check was taking forever lol. also found out the hard way that if you mess up your weekly claim you have to wait until the next week to fix it, there's no going back and editing
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Sasha Ivanov
•Correct, once submitted you cannot edit that week's claim. If you made an error, you should call NYS Department of Labor to report it rather than waiting. Small mistakes usually don't cause major issues but it's better to be proactive.
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Zara Mirza
•@Sasha Ivanov is absolutely right about calling if you make an error. I learned this the hard way when I accidentally reported earnings from the wrong week and it flagged my account for review. Took 3 weeks to sort out because I didn t'call immediately. The phone system is frustrating but it s'better than letting errors compound. Pro tip: keep notes of what you report each week so you can catch mistakes early.
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Mei Wong
Just went through this same confusion last month! The one-week delay really threw me off initially. One thing that helped me track everything was creating a simple spreadsheet with the filing date, week ending date, expected payment date, and actual payment received. Also, if you're worried about the timing, you can check your payment history in the my.ny.gov portal under "Payment History" - it shows the status of each week's claim (processed, pending, paid, etc.). This really helped me understand the pattern and catch when something was off with a particular week's claim.
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Javier Mendoza
•That's such a great idea about the spreadsheet! I'm definitely going to set that up. I checked my payment history like you suggested and it shows my first claim as "processed" but no payment date yet. Does that mean it's still coming or should I be worried? Also, when you say one-week delay, does that include the first payment too or does the first one take even longer?
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Danielle Mays
•@Mei Wong That spreadsheet idea is brilliant! I wish I had thought of that when I first started. The processed "status" usually means your payment is in the pipeline and should hit your account within 1-2 business days. For the first payment, it typically takes an extra 2-3 business days beyond the normal timeline while they set up your payment profile, so don t'panic if it s'taking a bit longer than subsequent payments. I d'only start worrying if it s'been more than a week since it showed processed "status."
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