Just wanted to say I'm in the same boat with Grubhub. It's reassuring to know others are dealing with this too. The weekly claim form really wasn't designed for gig workers.

I went through this exact same situation last year with DoorDash and NYS Department of Labor. Here's what worked for me: Report it under "self-employment earnings" and use the gross amount before any deductions. Keep detailed records of your weekly earnings from the DoorDash app because they may ask for documentation later. Also, make sure you understand the earnings threshold - if you make over a certain amount in a week, you might lose that week's benefits entirely. The good news is once you get the reporting format right, it becomes routine. Don't give up!

If you're having trouble getting through to NYS Department of Labor to ask questions about your specific situation, I found this service called Claimyr that helped me reach an actual agent. You can check it out at claimyr.com - they have a video demo at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI that shows how it works. Really helped when I had questions about my claim that I couldn't get answered through the regular channels.

Just wanted to add that when you do file your claim, make sure to have all the details about your pension ready - like the monthly amount, start date, and which employer it's from. The online application will ask about any income you're receiving, and being upfront about the pension from the start helps avoid any delays or complications later. I've seen people get their claims held up because they didn't report it initially and then had to explain it later. Good luck with your application!

I went through this same headache a few months ago! One thing that really helped me was calling the NYS DOL technical support line specifically for website issues - it's different from the regular unemployment line and usually has shorter wait times. The number is on the my.ny.gov help page. They can sometimes reset your verification questions or walk you through alternative ways to access the payment section. Also, if you're really stuck and have a payment coming soon, you can request they put a temporary hold on direct deposit while you sort this out - better to get a paper check than have it bounce around between accounts. Just make sure to follow up because those holds don't automatically lift themselves.

I went through this exact same situation when my bank closed my account unexpectedly! Here's what worked for me: First, try calling the DOL customer service line right at 8:00 AM sharp - that's when your best chance is to get through. Have your Social Security number, claim number, and new bank routing/account numbers ready. If the online verification questions aren't working (happened to me too), the phone rep can bypass that and update your info directly. They'll give you a confirmation number - write it down because there's no email confirmation. The change typically takes 1-2 payment cycles to take effect, so if you have a payment due soon, ask them to put a temporary hold on direct deposit so you get a paper check instead of having it bounce back. Also, definitely call your new bank to let them know unemployment deposits are coming - they can watch for any returned payments from your old account. The whole process took about 20 minutes on the phone once I got through. Good luck!

ugh the whole base period thing is such BS... like why cant they just use your last 12 months of work like a normal person would expect

I went through this exact same situation! The key thing to remember is that your base period is always one quarter behind because of processing delays. So even though you worked July-August 2024, those wages won't show up until your next benefit year if you need to reapply. It's frustrating but the system is designed this way to ensure all employer wage reports are complete. Make sure to keep all your pay stubs from that restaurant job - sometimes there can be discrepancies between what you earned and what employers reported to NYS Department of Labor.

To answer your original question more completely - after you apply, expect to receive several pieces of mail from NYS Department of Labor. First will be your monetary determination showing your benefit amount, then instructions for filing weekly claims, and possibly requests for additional documentation depending on your situation. The key is to respond to everything promptly and keep filing those weekly claims even if your first payment is delayed. Most people get their first payment within 2-3 weeks if there are no complications with their claim.

Just went through this process myself a few months ago and wanted to add a couple things that helped me. First, create your NY.gov account BEFORE you need it - the system can be slow and you don't want to deal with account setup when you're stressed about filing. Second, keep screenshots of everything you submit because the system occasionally glitches and loses information. Also, if you're worried about the job search requirement, LinkedIn Easy Apply jobs count toward your three weekly contacts, which makes it much easier to hit that number. The whole process is definitely overwhelming at first but once you get into the routine of filing weekly claims it becomes pretty straightforward.