I'm new to this community and currently dealing with the same waiting game! My NY unemployment backpay was marked as "released" this morning around 9am and I also bank with Chime. Reading through everyone's experiences here is really helpful - it sounds like most people see their deposits within 12-24 hours once it shows released. I'm trying to stay patient but it's hard when you really need the money. Has anyone noticed if the time of day it gets released affects when it actually deposits? Like if it's released in the morning vs afternoon?

I've been using Chime for my NY unemployment deposits for about 8 months now and they're definitely one of the faster options. In my experience, once NYSDOL shows "released," Chime typically processes it within 12-18 hours. The longest I've ever waited was about 30 hours, and that was during a holiday weekend. One thing I've noticed is that if your payment gets released after banking hours (around 5pm), it usually won't hit until the next business day. But since yours was released at noon, you should see it tonight or first thing tomorrow morning. Chime will definitely send you a push notification the moment it arrives, so try not to stress about constantly checking your balance!

This thread has been such a goldmine of information! I'm relatively new to the NY unemployment system (just started collecting about 6 weeks ago) and honestly had no clue that something as simple as a typo could completely lock you out of your account. Reading through everyone's experiences here has been both educational and a bit scary - it really shows how fragile and sensitive their system is to even the tiniest mistakes. The Claimyr service that Max mentioned sounds like it's been a real game-changer for so many people here. I'm definitely bookmarking that since it seems like the regular NYSDOL phone system is basically unusable based on all the horror stories shared here. The tip about creating a copy/paste document with all your exact information is brilliant too - I'm setting that up immediately to avoid any potential errors during future certifications. Oliver, huge thanks for taking the time to follow up with your resolution! It's incredibly helpful to know that these terrifying lockouts can usually be fixed pretty quickly once you actually reach the right person. And Amy, I hope the Claimyr service works out for you - sounds like you have all your documents ready to go which should make the process smooth once you get connected. This community is absolutely amazing for sharing practical solutions and supporting each other through these stressful bureaucratic nightmares!

This thread has been incredibly helpful for someone like me who's new to the NY unemployment system! I just started receiving benefits a few weeks ago and had no idea how sensitive their system is to even minor typos. Reading through everyone's experiences - especially Oliver's detailed follow-up about the SSN typo causing the lockout - has been both eye-opening and reassuring to know these issues are fixable. The Claimyr service that Max mentioned sounds like a lifesaver based on all the success stories here. I'm definitely bookmarking that since the regular NYSDOL phone lines seem to be a complete nightmare. Also setting up that copy/paste document with all my exact info right away - such a smart tip to avoid these kinds of lockouts in the future. Amy, I hope you get through to an agent quickly and get this resolved! It sounds like you're well-prepared with all your documents ready. This community is amazing for sharing practical solutions and supporting each other through these stressful system issues.

The NYS Department of Labor publishes industry rate schedules but they're not super easy to find on their website. Your best bet is to call their employer services line directly - they can tell you the starting rate for your specific NAICS code over the phone. When I was planning my business budget, I also reached out to other business owners in my industry through local business associations to get real-world examples of what they were paying. Most were pretty open about sharing their experience once I explained I was just starting out. Also worth noting that if you're planning to use contractors vs employees, that completely changes the unemployment insurance picture since you typically don't pay UI on 1099 contractors.

One thing I learned the hard way is that even if you start as a new employer at around 4.1%, you need to stay on top of your quarterly reporting deadlines or you'll get hit with penalties that can push your effective rate higher. The NYS Department of Labor requires quarterly wage reports and tax payments, and they're pretty strict about the deadlines - usually the last day of the month following the end of each quarter. I missed one deadline by two days in my second year and got slapped with a $50 penalty plus interest. Also keep in mind that if you're seasonal or have irregular staffing, it might be worth talking to an employment attorney about strategies to minimize claims impact on your future rates. Some industries have specific rules about seasonal workers that can affect your experience rating.

The whole system is ridiculous!! I've been trying to figure this out for months and every person gives me different answers. Some say you can't get unemployment at all while on workers comp, others say you can if you're cleared for light duty. NYS Department of Labor needs to make this clearer on their website instead of making people guess!

I went through something similar last year with a knee injury from a warehouse job. The key thing to understand is that NY generally doesn't allow you to collect both simultaneously because workers comp assumes you're unable to work, while unemployment requires you to be able and available for work. However, there's a narrow exception if you're medically cleared for light duty work but your employer can't or won't provide it. In that case, you might be eligible for partial unemployment benefits. You'd need documentation from your doctor showing you can do some type of work, and proof that your employer has no suitable positions available. I'd strongly recommend getting this in writing from your employer before applying, as it protects both your workers comp case and any potential unemployment claim.

just keep filing every week and eventually it will go through, took mine like a month to get approved but I got all the back pay

@Paolo Conti - I went through the exact same thing last year! The key points everyone mentioned are spot on: 1) Keep filing your weekly claims even while pending - this is crucial! 2) NY has no waiting period, so you're eligible from week 1 if approved 3) The pending status is normal while they verify everything. One thing that helped me was checking my online account regularly for any requests for additional documents - sometimes they ask for pay stubs or separation paperwork and if you miss those requests it delays everything even more. Also make sure you're documenting your job search activities because they can ask for that info during the review process. Hang in there, it's stressful but once it gets approved you should get all the back pay for the weeks you've been filing!