As someone who just went through this exact same experience last week, I totally feel your stress! The gap between "released" and "actually in your account" is so confusing when you're new to NY unemployment. I had a release date on a Wednesday and didn't see the deposit until Friday - that 2 business day window is real. What really helped me was learning that the release date is just when NYSDOL finishes processing on their end, but then your bank needs 1-2 business days to actually move the money through the ACH system. Since your release was on the 3rd (which I think was a Monday?), you should definitely see it by today or tomorrow. The weekend definitely adds to the delay since banks don't process ACH transfers on weekends. Hang in there - once you get used to the timing, it becomes much less stressful!

This thread is incredibly helpful! I'm brand new to NY unemployment (just filed my first claim last week) and I was getting really anxious about the timing differences between release dates and actual deposits. Reading everyone's experiences here has taught me more about how the system actually works than hours of reading the official NYSDOL website. The tip about certifying on Sunday mornings is brilliant - I had no idea that timing your certification could help avoid weekend delays. I'm definitely setting up those bank notifications too so I'm not constantly refreshing my account balance. It's amazing how much of the stress comes from just not understanding the 1-2 business day ACH processing window. Thank you all for sharing your real-world experiences - this community is so much more valuable than any official FAQ!

I'm new to this community and facing almost the exact same situation! I have an LLC for freelance content writing that I established in late 2022, made very minimal income from it (around $400 total), and it's been completely dormant since I was laid off in January. Like you and so many others here, I disclosed the LLC ownership upfront when applying for unemployment, but I've been really anxious about whether I'm handling the weekly certifications properly. Reading through all these responses has been incredibly helpful - it's amazing how many people are dealing with nearly identical situations! The consistent advice about being transparent with ownership while accurately reporting zero work activity really gives me confidence. I've been answering "no" to the self-employment questions since I'm genuinely not doing any work through the LLC, but seeing everyone else's experiences validates that I'm on the right track. I'm definitely going to start that weekly activity tracking log that multiple people have recommended - it seems like such a smart way to document everything just in case. Thank you for posting this question and thank you to everyone who shared their experiences. This community is such a valuable resource for navigating these confusing unemployment situations!

I'm new to this community and dealing with almost the exact same situation! I have an LLC for freelance photography that I set up in 2023 for some wedding shoots, but it's been completely dormant since I got laid off from my marketing job in December. Like you, I disclosed the LLC when I first applied for unemployment but have been really stressed about the weekly certifications. Reading through all these responses has been such a relief - it's incredible how consistent everyone's advice is about being transparent with ownership while accurately reporting no work activity. I've been answering "no" to the self-employment questions each week since I'm genuinely not doing any photography work, but I was second-guessing myself until I found this thread. The weekly activity log idea that several people mentioned is brilliant - I'm definitely going to start tracking "no LLC activity" each week along with keeping my bank statements that show zero transactions. It's so reassuring to see that multiple people have successfully handled this situation by being upfront from the beginning and staying consistent with their reporting. Thank you for asking this question - it's exactly what I needed to read to feel confident about how I'm handling my claims!

I work as a benefits counselor and see this situation frequently. You're absolutely right to apply now even though it's been a couple months. NYS Department of Labor is pretty forgiving with late applications - the one year filing window gives people flexibility for situations exactly like yours. Since you were fired rather than laid off, make sure you have any documentation about the circumstances ready in case they request it during the adjudication process. The fact that you didn't think you qualified initially is actually a common reason people cite for delayed filing, and the department understands that the eligibility rules aren't always clear to applicants. Good luck with your application!

I was in a very similar situation - got fired in September but didn't apply until December because I thought being terminated disqualified me automatically. Turns out that's a huge misconception! The NYS Department of Labor actually approved my claim after adjudication because my firing was due to a restructuring situation, not misconduct. The hardest part was just getting started with the application on ny.gov, but once I did it was pretty straightforward. You definitely won't get those October-December weeks back, but don't let that stop you from filing now. Every week you delay is another week of potential benefits lost going forward. I'd also recommend keeping detailed notes about your termination circumstances since they'll likely ask follow-up questions during the review process.

Don't forget you also need to file Form 940 annually for FUTA and quarterly Form 941s that include unemployment taxes. The wage base amounts change every year too - make sure you're using 2025 figures. NYS Department of Labor will send you separate quarterly reports for state unemployment insurance.

Ugh the whole system is so confusing! I spent weeks trying to figure this out when I started my business. Between federal forms and NYS Department of Labor requirements it felt like I needed an accounting degree just to pay my taxes correctly.

I got audited last year and it was a nightmare! They wanted proof for 6 random weeks going back 3 months. Luckily I had everything documented but some people in my situation didn't and lost their benefits. Make sure you save confirmation emails, take screenshots, and keep a log with specific details about each application.

I've been documenting my job search for 8 months now and here's what works for me: create a folder on your phone/computer for each week, then save screenshots of every application confirmation page, job posting, and any emails you receive. For LinkedIn Easy Apply jobs, I screenshot both the job posting and the "application sent" confirmation. For company websites, I save the confirmation email and take a screenshot of the application form before submitting. I also write down the time I spent on each application since NYS Department of Labor considers time spent as part of the work search activity. Haven't been audited yet, but my case worker told me this level of documentation would definitely satisfy their requirements if I ever am.