The maximum amount payable is essentially your "unemployment insurance account balance" for the benefit year. Think of it like a savings account that gets $625 deposited each week you're eligible, but once you've withdrawn all $16,250, that's it for regular benefits. A few important points to keep in mind: - Your benefit year runs for 52 weeks from when you filed, but you can only collect benefits for a maximum of 26 weeks within that period - If you earn money from part-time work, your weekly benefit will be reduced dollar-for-dollar after the first $143 you earn, but this can help stretch your benefits longer - Extensions like Extended Benefits (EB) are separate programs that kick in only when unemployment rates are high enough in NY - they're not guaranteed - If you move to another state, you may need to transfer your claim, but your maximum amount stays the same My advice: treat those 26 weeks as your safety net while you actively job search. Don't count on extensions being available. The job market can be tough, but starting your search immediately gives you the best chance of finding something before your benefits run out. Also, make sure you're meeting the work search requirements each week - usually 3 work search activities per week in NY. Document everything!

The maximum amount payable is basically your total benefit "allowance" for the entire benefit year. In your case, $16,250 ÷ $625 = exactly 26 weeks of full benefits. Here's what I learned when I was in your shoes last year: **The key things to understand:** - This is your total pot of money for 52 weeks, but you can only collect for 26 weeks max - Once you hit $16,250 total collected, regular benefits stop - Extensions (like EB) are rare and only happen when state unemployment rates are very high **Pro tips from my experience:** - Set up a simple spreadsheet to track your remaining balance after each payment - If you do any gig work or part-time jobs, report the income - they'll reduce your weekly benefit but it stretches your total benefits longer - Start job searching aggressively from week 1, don't wait until you're close to running out **About extensions:** They're not automatic and not guaranteed. Extended Benefits only activate when NY's unemployment rate hits specific thresholds for consecutive periods. Don't bank on them being available. The reality is that 26 weeks goes by faster than you think, especially if you're being picky about jobs (which is understandable). Use this time wisely - network, upskill, and cast a wide net. Good luck!

I'm dealing with this exact same situation right now - filed my claim about 2 weeks ago and still showing pending status. The uncertainty is definitely the hardest part, especially when you're trying to budget without knowing when benefits might start. I've been religiously doing my weekly certifications and checking my account daily (probably too often!). One thing that's helped me manage the anxiety is remembering that "pending" doesn't mean "denied" - it just means they're still processing. I also started keeping a simple log of when I filed, when I do my weekly claims, and any updates I see, just so I have a timeline if I ever need to reference it. Reading everyone's experiences here is really reassuring - it sounds like 2-4 weeks is pretty normal for straightforward layoffs, even though it feels like forever when you're living it. Hang in there, and thanks for asking this question because I think a lot of us are wondering the same thing!

I'm going through the exact same thing right now! Filed my claim 9 days ago after being laid off and still stuck on pending status. The lack of communication is definitely the most stressful part - you just have no idea if everything is processing normally or if there's some issue you need to address. I've been calling the NYS Department of Labor phone line but like you, I keep getting disconnected after waiting forever on hold. It's frustrating because all you want is some basic information about whether your claim is moving through the system. Reading through everyone's responses here has been really helpful though - it sounds like 10 days is still pretty early in the process, even though it feels like an eternity when you're waiting for those benefits. I've been doing my weekly certifications religiously just in case, and I'm going to try some of the phone tips people mentioned here like calling right at 8 AM. Hang in there - we're all in this together and it sounds like most people do eventually get approved!

Just wanted to add my experience for anyone with Discover Bank - my payments consistently hit around 5:45am on Tuesday mornings! I'm about 3 months into collecting and the timing has been super reliable. For first-timers waiting, I totally get the anxiety - my first payment took 16 days but came with full back pay. One thing that really helped me was creating a simple calendar reminder for my weekly certification (I do it every Sunday evening) and then just expecting the payment the following Tuesday. Way less stressful than constantly wondering when it'll come. Also if you're really worried something went wrong, the automated phone system someone mentioned earlier is clutch - just call and check your claim status without the hassle of trying to reach a human. The waiting game is rough but everyone's experiences here show it really is predictable once you know the pattern! 💙

Just wanted to share for anyone with Marcus by Goldman Sachs - my payments hit consistently around 6:30am on Tuesday mornings! I'm about 6 weeks into collecting now and the timing has been super reliable. My first payment took about 18 days after approval but came with all the back pay which was such a relief. What really helped me during that initial waiting period was setting up a simple note in my phone with my certification date and expected payment date, so I could stop doing the mental math every day about when it "should" arrive. Also discovered that Marcus has really good email alerts for deposits which saved me from constantly checking the app. For anyone still in that first payment anxiety phase - I totally get it, but everyone here is right that once you get into the rhythm it becomes so much more predictable. The Tuesday morning routine is actually kind of comforting now! Hang in there 💪

UGH the whole NYS Department of Labor system is so confusing about timing! They should just let you file 24/7 like every other government system. Why make it complicated with specific hours?? And don't even get me started on how the website crashes every time there's high volume.

I've been filing my weekly claims every Sunday at 6 AM sharp for the past 6 months and it's become part of my routine. Pro tip: have your login info ready and maybe prepare your answers to the weekly questions the night before so you can get through it quickly. The system is definitely most reliable early in the morning - I've noticed it gets slower and sometimes glitchy later in the day when more people are using it.

One thing I learned from my own experience is that you should also check if your employer is offering any other benefits during the severance period, like continued health insurance coverage. Sometimes companies will maintain your benefits during severance which can affect how you report things to NYSDOL. Also, keep detailed records of all your severance payments and dates - if there are any issues with your claim later, having that documentation will save you a lot of headaches. The key is being completely transparent about everything when you file!

Just wanted to chime in as someone who went through this exact situation about 6 months ago. I was laid off from a tech company after 4 years and received 10 weeks of severance. The waiting period was definitely stressful, but everything worked out exactly as described here. A few things I learned that might help: 1. File your initial claim online the day after your last day of work - don't wait until severance ends. This gets your claim in the system and they'll calculate your waiting period. 2. Keep checking your online account during the severance period. NYSDOL will sometimes request additional documents or clarification, and responding quickly helps avoid delays once you become eligible. 3. Your weekly benefit amount will be calculated based on your regular wages from the base period, not the severance. So if you were making good money before the layoff, your benefits should reflect that. 4. Start your job search during the severance period if possible. You'll need to be actively seeking work once benefits kick in, and having a head start really helps. The system actually works pretty well once you understand it. Hang in there - those 8 weeks will go by faster than you think!