Just keep filing your weekly claims religiously, even if nothing is happening with your main claim. I learned that the hard way - missed a week and had to do all this paperwork to get it back. Also make sure you're doing your job searches because they'll ask about that later.

I'm in a similar situation - filed my claim about 10 days ago and still haven't heard anything back. The online portal just says "pending" with no timeline. What's frustrating is that there's no way to know if you're in the normal 2-3 week processing window or if something is wrong with your application. I've been calling the helpline but can never get through. Has anyone found a way to actually speak to someone at the NYS Department of Labor?

DOL employee here (not in NY but another state with the same system). There are a few reasons this happens: 1. Most likely: their system does quarterly reviews and sometimes flags accounts for verification even if there's no actual break 2. If you certified later in the day than usual (like evening vs morning), some systems flag this as unusual activity 3. If you used a different device or IP address to certify 4. Random selection for fraud prevention Just answer the questions accurately based on your real situation. If you haven't returned to work, say no. If it asks for an EIN, you can usually leave it blank if you haven't worked anywhere new. If your payment doesn't come through within 3-4 business days, then you need to call. But 9 times out of 10, this resolves itself without any problems.

This exact same thing just happened to me last week! I was so confused because I've been religiously certifying every single Sunday since I got laid off in September. The break in claim questions totally threw me off - I thought I had somehow messed up my claim without realizing it. After reading through everyone's responses here, I'm feeling much better about it. Sounds like it's just their system being glitchy as usual. I answered the questions honestly (no return to work, left EIN blank) and my payment actually came through normally on Tuesday. So hopefully yours will too! The NY unemployment system really needs a complete overhaul. It's wild that we're all dealing with the same random glitches and nobody at DOL seems to know what's causing them. At least we have this community to help each other figure things out! 🤝

I feel your pain with those KeyBank card fees! I just switched to direct deposit last week and it was such a hassle. The website kept giving me error messages, so I ended up calling the automated line at 888-209-8124 early in the morning around 7:30am. Press 2 for payment options, then 3 for direct deposit. Have your routing and account number ready. If that doesn't work, you might need to talk to a human - I've heard good things about that claimyr service people are mentioning here. Just make sure to double-check all your bank info because any mistakes will delay your payments. Good luck!

I'm going through the exact same thing right now! Been on the KeyBank card for about a month and those fees are ridiculous. I tried the website like 10 times and it keeps crashing when I get to the payment method section. Reading through all these comments, it sounds like calling early morning is the way to go. Has anyone had success with the automated line recently or is it still buggy? I'm hesitant to pay for a service like claimyr but if the phone system is as broken as the website I might not have a choice. This whole system is so frustrating when you're already dealing with being unemployed!

Hey Zara! I went through something similar when I was making about $590/week at my previous job. Just wanted to share a few practical tips that helped me: First, gather all your pay stubs from the past year before you even think you might need to file - NYS likes documentation and it speeds up the process. Second, if you do get laid off, consider setting up direct deposit right away since paper checks can take longer. Also, don't forget that you can work part-time while collecting benefits as long as you report it properly - this might help bridge the gap between your $268-ish weekly benefit and your $1200 rent. The earnings you can make without affecting benefits changes, so definitely ask about that when you file. One last thing - start networking now if possible, because the 3 weekly job search activities go by faster when you have a plan. Best of luck with everything!

I'm in a really similar situation - working retail and making about $580/week with potential layoffs coming up. This thread has been incredibly helpful! Based on what everyone's sharing, it sounds like I should expect around $250-270 per week in benefits. I'm definitely going to start gathering my pay stubs and documentation now like @Mae Bennett suggested. One thing I'm wondering about - has anyone dealt with seasonal employment affecting their base period calculation? I worked part-time retail last holiday season before getting my current full-time position, so I'm not sure how that factors into the quarterly earnings they look at. Also really appreciate the tip about Claimyr - the thought of trying to reach NYS Department of Labor by phone sounds like a nightmare!

Welcome to the community Jamal! I went through this exact same process about 6 months ago when I got laid off from my digital marketing role. With your $58K salary, you should definitely be getting close to that $504 maximum - I was making $55K and ended up with $489/week. A few things I wish someone had told me upfront: - Your first payment will likely take 10-14 days after approval (mine was 11 days with direct deposit) - Those Sunday certifications are CRITICAL - I set reminders for 8am and 6pm every Sunday because missing even one creates major headaches - Definitely opt for tax withholding if you haven't already - I chose 10% federal and saved myself from a nasty surprise at tax time - Keep detailed records of everything - screenshot your weekly certifications, payment dates, any correspondence The calculation is based on your highest earning quarter in the base period, so if you had a good quarter with bonuses or extra hours, that's what they're using. One last tip from someone who's been there - if you run into any issues that require talking to an actual person at DOL, the regular phone system is basically useless. I tried for days to get through when I had a payment issue. Finally used a service called claimyr.com that handles the hold time and connects you when an agent picks up. Best $20 I ever spent after wasting hours trying to get through myself. Queens rent is no joke, but you should have decent coverage while job hunting. Marketing is definitely picking back up - I actually just landed a new role last month! Hang in there and feel free to ask if you have any other questions. This community has been super helpful throughout my whole unemployment journey.

Hey Jamal! Just went through this exact same thing when I got laid off from my accounting job a couple months ago. With your $58K salary, you should definitely be getting close to the max - I was making $56K and ended up with $492/week. Few things that saved me a lot of headaches: - First payment took about 9 days after approval (I had direct deposit set up) - DEFINITELY set multiple alarms for Sunday certifications - I use 10am and 7pm reminders because missing one is a nightmare - Opt for tax withholding if you haven't already! I chose 10% federal and it's been a lifesaver come tax time - Screenshot everything - the system can be glitchy and having records saved me when there was a payment delay The calculation is based on your highest quarter in the base period, so if you had any bonuses or overtime in Q4 last year, that probably bumped you up closer to the max. One more thing - if you run into any issues that need actual human help, the DOL phone system is basically impossible. I tried for literally 6 hours over two days when I had a verification issue. Finally used claimyr.com and got connected to an agent in 45 minutes who fixed everything immediately. Totally worth it to avoid the hold time nightmare. Queens rent is brutal but you should have decent coverage while job hunting. Marketing jobs seem to be picking up lately - hang in there and feel free to ask if you have any other questions! This community has been super helpful during my whole unemployment experience.