I'm going through the exact same thing right now - filed my claim 2.5 weeks ago after being laid off and still showing pending. The uncertainty is really getting to me, especially with bills piling up. Reading through everyone's experiences here is both reassuring and nerve-wracking at the same time! It sounds like anywhere from 2-5 weeks is possible depending on various factors. I've been doing my weekly certifications faithfully and trying to stay patient, but it's hard when you're watching your savings drain. Thanks to everyone who shared their timelines and tips - it really helps to know we're not alone in this frustrating process. @Zoe Christodoulou I hope both our claims get approved soon!

I'm about 3 weeks into waiting for my NYS DOL claim approval and wanted to share what finally helped me get some clarity. After reading @CosmicCadet's suggestion about Claimyr, I decided to try it since the regular phone lines were impossible. It actually worked - got connected to an agent within an hour instead of the usual endless busy signals. Found out my claim was held up because they needed to verify my work history with a previous employer from 2 years ago (apparently they randomly audit employment history sometimes). The agent was able to expedite the verification request and said I should hear back within a week. Just wanted to let everyone know that if you're past the 3-week mark and getting nowhere with regular channels, it might be worth trying alternative methods to actually speak with someone. The waiting is brutal but there's usually a specific reason for delays that can be resolved once you find the right person to talk to. Hang in there everyone!

same boat here, filed last month and still waiting. at least you know what to expect now. the waiting is the worst part but once it gets going the payments come regularly

Don't panic - you're actually in a pretty normal spot right now! The "claim pending" status is typical for the first week or two. Here's what helped me when I went through this process: 1) Set up email/text alerts in your my.ny.gov account so you don't miss any requests for documents, 2) Start keeping a job search log RIGHT NOW even before approval - I use a simple spreadsheet with company name, position, date applied, and contact method, 3) File your weekly claim this Sunday regardless of pending status (this tripped me up initially), and 4) Be patient with the determination letter - mine took about 10 business days. The system is slow but it does work eventually. You've got this!

Does anyone know if this 4-hour rule applies to self-employment income too? I do some freelancing on the side and I'm trying to figure out how to properly report my hours.

Just wanted to add that if you're planning to adjust your work hours to stay under the 16-hour threshold, make sure to communicate with your employer about why you need specific hour limits. I had to explain to my manager that working 15 hours vs 16 hours makes a $187 difference in my weekly benefits. Most employers are understanding once you explain the situation, especially if you're a reliable worker. Some even prefer part-time employees who are clear about their availability limits. Also, keep track of EVERY minute you work - including training time, meetings, and even time spent reading work emails at home, as all of this counts toward your total hours reported to NYSDOL.

As someone who's been lurking in this community for a while but just created an account, I have to say this thread has been incredibly educational! Maxwell's complete journey from confusion to resolution is exactly what I needed to see. I'm currently in week 2 of waiting after my monetary determination letter and was starting to panic, but reading about the 5-week timeline for employer disputes gives me much more realistic expectations. What really stands out to me is how proactive everyone has been about sharing specific, actionable advice - from checking status codes to preparing documentation to using services like Claimyr when traditional methods fail. The collaborative problem-solving here is amazing. I'm definitely following the advice about gathering all my documentation now. My employer hasn't contested anything yet, but after seeing how common these disputes are, I want to be prepared. The timeline document suggestion from Ashley is brilliant - I'm creating one today while everything is still fresh. Thanks to Maxwell for sharing his complete experience and to everyone who contributed their knowledge. This thread should definitely be a reference guide for anyone dealing with unemployment claims!

This entire thread has been absolutely incredible to follow! As a newcomer to this community, I'm blown away by how Maxwell's journey unfolded and how everyone came together to help troubleshoot the delays. The progression from initial confusion about the 3-week wait to discovering the "employer dispute - pending hearing" status code to final resolution really illustrates how important it is to dig deeper when payments are delayed beyond the normal timeframe. What strikes me most is how the system seems deliberately opaque - getting a monetary determination letter that makes you think approval is imminent, but then having to hunt through payment history for cryptic status codes to understand what's actually happening. Without this community's collective knowledge about checking those codes, Maxwell might still be wondering what was wrong. The documentation advice everyone shared is invaluable - creating timelines, saving all written communications, keeping coworker contacts, even screenshotting company portals. I'm definitely implementing all of these strategies proactively for my own claim. The 5-week timeline for employer disputes gives much more realistic expectations than the initial hope for quick approval after the monetary letter. Huge thanks to Maxwell for documenting the entire journey and to everyone who shared their experiences and wisdom. This thread is a perfect example of why communities like this are so essential for navigating confusing government processes!

Welcome to the community! Your approach sounds really solid based on everything discussed here. For finance specifically, I'd highly recommend prioritizing the Python for finance and financial modeling courses - those technical skills are in huge demand right now and employers definitely take notice when candidates have quantitative programming abilities. From what I've seen in finance job postings, anything involving data analysis, Python/R programming, or advanced Excel modeling tends to carry significant weight. Risk management courses are also valuable, especially if you're targeting roles at banks or investment firms where regulatory knowledge is important. One tip specific to finance: many of the courses offer hands-on projects where you build actual financial models or analyze real datasets. I'd suggest documenting not just completion of modules, but also saving copies of any models or analyses you create. These become portfolio pieces you can reference in interviews and show tangible proof of your new skills. Also consider looking into any courses that lead to recognized certifications in finance - like CFA Institute or Bloomberg Market Concepts integration. Those credentials can really differentiate your applications. Your documentation plan sounds thorough and should definitely meet audit requirements. The fact that you're being so strategic about course selection from the start puts you ahead of the game. Finance employers really value candidates who show initiative in staying current with industry tools and techniques, so this investment should pay off in your job search!

I've been on NY unemployment for about 2 months and this thread has been absolutely invaluable! I'm in graphic design and have been taking Coursera courses on UX/UI design and Adobe Creative Suite updates. Based on all the excellent advice shared here, I've been spending 1-2 hours per session, documenting everything thoroughly, and treating it as genuine professional development. What's really helped me is creating a portfolio project after completing each course. For example, after finishing a course on user experience design, I redesigned a nonprofit's website and documented the process. This gives me concrete examples to discuss in interviews and shows practical application of the skills I'm learning. I've also started participating actively in course discussion forums and peer reviews, which creates additional documentation of engagement. The certificates and completion screenshots are great, but having those forum discussions shows deeper involvement with the material. One tip I'd add: I keep a separate document where I write brief case studies of how I applied each course to real projects. This has been incredibly useful for interview prep - I can give specific examples of recent learning and how it enhanced my design process. The success stories here about getting interviews after mentioning Coursera training are so encouraging! I referenced my recent UX courses in three applications last week and already heard back from two companies wanting to discuss my skills further. Thanks to everyone who shared their audit experiences and documentation strategies. This community support has made navigating unemployment requirements so much clearer!