I've been getting unemployment for about 3 months now and wanted to add my experience with different banks. I actually switched from PNC to Chime during my unemployment period and noticed a big difference in timing. With PNC, my payments would show up Tuesday around 6-8am, but with Chime they started hitting Monday night around 11pm-midnight since Chime processes ACH transfers faster. So if anyone is having consistent delays with their current bank, it might be worth considering switching to one of the online banks that process deposits quicker. Also, I've found that setting up account alerts for any incoming deposits helps reduce the anxiety of constantly checking - you'll get a text the moment it hits!

I've been on unemployment for about 2 months and have Navy Federal Credit Union. My payments typically hit around 1-2am Tuesday morning, which seems pretty consistent with what everyone else is saying. One thing I learned is that the my.ny.gov website sometimes takes a while to update the payment status, so don't panic if it still shows "processing" even after you've certified - the actual payment usually goes out on schedule regardless. Also, if you're new to this like I was, I highly recommend downloading your bank's mobile app and turning on push notifications for deposits. It saves you from obsessively logging in to check your balance every few hours! The whole system definitely has a learning curve but once you get used to the timing it becomes much less stressful.

Just went through this exact nightmare myself last month! After reading through all these suggestions, here's what finally worked for me: I combined the mobile site approach with the early morning timing (around 5 AM) and used Firefox in private mode with ALL extensions disabled. The key was having every single piece of information written down beforehand - employment dates, addresses, SSN, bank info, etc. - so I could fill everything out without any pauses or navigation. What really saved me though was realizing that the desktop site and mobile site are completely different systems. When the desktop version kept crashing at the identity verification step, the mobile version (m.ny.gov) actually let me upload my documents successfully. Also make sure you're on a stable wifi connection, not cellular data, especially for the file uploads. If you're still stuck after trying these technical fixes, honestly the callback services like Claimyr that people mentioned here do work. I was super skeptical but desperate, and they got me connected to an actual DOL agent who found a backend flag on my account that was causing all the crashes. Sometimes it's not the website itself but account-level issues that only a human can fix. Don't give up! This system is intentionally frustrating but beatable with the right strategy. You've earned these benefits and deserve them! 💪

I just went through this EXACT same ordeal a few weeks ago! After fighting the NY unemployment website for almost a month, I finally got through using a combination of strategies people have mentioned here. What worked for me was switching to the mobile site (m.ny.gov) at around 4 AM using Safari in private browsing mode with a VPN to get a fresh IP address. The key insight that saved me was realizing my account had some kind of backend flag that was causing the crashes - no amount of browser troubleshooting was going to fix it. I ended up using Claimyr after being skeptical for weeks, and they got me connected to a live DOL agent who cleared the flag in literally 5 minutes. Turned out my previous employer had submitted conflicting information that was causing the system to error out every time I tried to submit. My advice: try the technical fixes first (mobile site, off-peak hours, clean browser), but if you're still crashing after a week of attempts, there's probably an account-level issue that only a human can resolve. Don't waste months like I did thinking it was just the website being glitchy - sometimes you need that direct agent contact to get unstuck. Hang in there! The system is absolutely broken but it IS beatable with persistence and the right approach.

One thing to keep in mind is that your benefit amount will also depend on when you earned that $65k - they look at your "base period" which is typically the first 4 of the last 5 completed calendar quarters before you file. So if you file now, they'd look at your earnings from roughly Q1 2024 through Q4 2024. If you had periods of lower earnings or gaps in employment during that time, it could affect your weekly benefit amount even if your most recent salary was $65k.

Just wanted to add that you should file as soon as possible since there's usually a one-week waiting period before you start receiving benefits. Also, make sure you have all your employment records ready - they'll need your W-2s or pay stubs from the base period to verify your earnings. The sooner you get everything submitted correctly, the faster they can process your claim and calculate your exact weekly benefit amount. Good luck with your job search!

The NYS Department of Labor will look at whether you willfully violated company policy or if there were circumstances beyond your control. Health issues that prevent you from working are usually considered beyond your control. Make sure you have documentation ready in case they request it during the adjudication process. Also keep doing your job search activities while you wait for the decision on your claim.

I went through something similar - was discharged for attendance issues related to a chronic condition. The NYS Department of Labor approved my claim because I was able to show that my absences were health-related and not willful misconduct. Key things that helped me: 1) I was honest about the discharge reason when filing, 2) I had medical documentation ready (even partial records help), and 3) I emphasized that I intended to return to work and wasn't abandoning the job. The adjudication took about 4-5 weeks but it was worth the wait. Don't let the discharge discourage you from applying - you have a good chance of approval given the medical circumstances.

Reading through all these comments makes me realize I'm not going crazy - the NYS Department of Labor system really is as broken as it feels when you're in the middle of it. I've been unemployed for 2 months now and honestly, dealing with their bureaucracy has become more stressful than the actual job loss. The constant uncertainty about whether my benefits will come through, the hours spent on hold only to be disconnected, the confusing forms that seem designed to trip you up - it's like they've turned getting help into a full-time nightmare. What really bothers me is how this system is supposed to be there for people during one of the most vulnerable times in their lives, but instead it adds this whole extra layer of anxiety and frustration. I shouldn't have to become an expert in government bureaucracy just to access benefits I paid into when I was working. The real "problem of unemployment" isn't just being out of work - it's having to fight tooth and nail with the very system that's supposed to help you get back on your feet.

What really struck me reading through everyone's experiences is how the NYS Department of Labor system seems to create this psychological burden that goes way beyond the financial stress of unemployment. I'm dealing with my first unemployment claim right now and I keep second-guessing myself - did I fill out that form correctly? Am I meeting the job search requirements the right way? Did I report my freelance income properly? The constant anxiety about making a mistake that could jeopardize my benefits is exhausting. It's like they've designed the system to make you feel guilty for needing help in the first place. I find myself spending hours double-checking everything because I'm terrified of triggering some review process that will delay my benefits even longer. The irony is that this mental energy could be much better spent on actually finding a new job, which is supposedly what the system is trying to encourage. Has anyone else found themselves in this constant state of anxiety about whether they're "doing unemployment right"?