I'm currently dealing with the waiting week situation too and wanted to share what I've learned from my experience. Filed my claim on a Tuesday and was initially confused about when the waiting week actually starts, but after calling NYS Department of Labor (took forever to get through), I found out that your benefit year and waiting week both start on the Sunday of the week you file your claim, regardless of what day you actually submitted it. So even though I filed on Tuesday, my waiting week ran from the previous Sunday through Saturday. The key thing is to keep filing those weekly certifications even during the waiting week - I know it feels pointless since you're not getting paid, but skipping it will definitely mess up your claim timeline. Also, if anyone is struggling financially during this period like the original poster mentioned, check if your local social services office has emergency assistance programs. Some counties in NY offer one-time emergency rent assistance while you're waiting for unemployment benefits to kick in. It's not much but every little bit helps when you're in a tight spot.

Hey everyone! Just wanted to jump in and share my recent experience since I see a lot of confusion about the waiting week timing (totally understandable - the whole system is confusing at first). I filed my unemployment claim with NYS Department of Labor about 3 weeks ago and just got my second payment, so I'm through the worst of it now. The waiting week thing definitely threw me off initially, but here's what actually happened in my case: I filed on a Thursday, my waiting week ran Sunday to Saturday (so it included the Sunday BEFORE I even filed, which was weird), and then I was eligible for my first payment the following week. The most important thing I learned is to set up direct deposit immediately if you haven't already - it speeds up payments significantly compared to waiting for a debit card to arrive in the mail. Also, don't panic if your first payment seems to take forever after the waiting week ends. Mine took about 3-4 business days to actually hit my account after I certified for that week. One last tip - screenshot everything in your online account, especially your payment history and any correspondence from NYS Department of Labor. It helps if you ever need to call them about issues. Hope this helps anyone who's currently stressing about the timeline like I was!

Just wanted to jump in as another person who was completely confused by this exact question when I started filing! I've been on NY unemployment for about 6 weeks now and that "refuse job offers" wording had me spiraling at first. You're 100% correct to answer "No" - the question is basically asking "did you turn down any work?" and since you didn't receive any offers to turn down, the answer is definitely no. The interviews that didn't pan out don't count as refusing anything because there was no actual offer made. I learned the hard way to keep detailed records after reading horror stories online. Now I maintain a simple Google Sheet tracking every application (company, position, date applied, any follow-up). Takes maybe 2 minutes per week but gives me peace of mind knowing I have documentation if they ever audit me. Also highly recommend taking screenshots of your weekly certifications like others mentioned - I've heard too many stories about the system "losing" people's submissions. The whole process is unnecessarily stressful but you're definitely handling it correctly. Keep answering "No" with confidence! 👍

Just wanted to add my perspective as someone who went through this exact same confusion when I first started filing! I'm about 3 months into my NY unemployment claim and that "refuse job offers" question completely threw me off initially. You're absolutely doing it right by answering "No" - the question is asking if you turned down any work, and since you haven't received any actual job offers to turn down, "No" is the correct answer. The failed interviews don't count because there was no offer to refuse in the first place. I wish I had found a thread like this when I started because I spent way too much time overthinking every single question! The wording is intentionally confusing but once you realize they're just asking about actual job refusals, it becomes much simpler. One thing I'd definitely recommend is starting a basic job search log now - just company names, positions, and dates applied. I didn't do this at first and had to scramble to recreate everything when I got nervous about potential audits after reading stories online. Also take screenshots of your weekly certifications - the system glitches more than it should. Don't stress too much about it though - you're clearly being honest and thorough, which is what really matters. The confusing language makes everyone second-guess themselves but you've got the right approach! 👍

Don't give up! Even if the initial denial sticks, you can still appeal to an Administrative Law Judge if you lose the first hearing. I've seen people win at that level even after losing the initial appeal. The key is having documentation and being able to clearly explain your version of events.

I work in HR and see this situation a lot. The key thing to understand is that "misconduct" in unemployment terms is very specific - it has to be willful or deliberate violation of company rules that the employee knew about. Simple poor performance or being a bad fit doesn't qualify as misconduct. If they truly just laid you off due to slow sales but are now claiming misconduct to NYS Department of Labor, that's dishonest on their part. Gather any documentation you have - your termination letter, employee handbook, performance reviews, etc. During the appeal hearing, you'll be able to cross-examine your former employer and they'll have to provide specific examples of the alleged misconduct. Don't let them get away with this if you were honestly just laid off.

From my experience working in HR, the NYS DOL wants to see that you're genuinely available for work that matches your abilities. For diabetes specifically, you should answer "yes" to being able and available for work, but be prepared to explain any reasonable accommodations you might need (like scheduled breaks for blood sugar monitoring). The system is designed to help people with disabilities find suitable employment, not penalize them. Document everything in your job search - apply to positions that can reasonably accommodate your needs, and note any accommodation requests in your log. This shows you're making good faith efforts to find work within your capabilities.

I went through something similar when I was laid off last year. I have Type 2 diabetes and was worried about how to handle the certification questions. What I learned is that you should absolutely mark yourself as able and available for work if you can perform jobs with reasonable accommodations. The NYS DOL considers diabetes a disability that can be accommodated in most workplaces. When I spoke with a claims specialist, they explained that as long as you're actively searching for positions that can accommodate your needs (regular meal breaks, flexible scheduling for medical appointments, etc.), you're meeting the work search requirements. I kept detailed notes about which jobs I applied to and any accommodation discussions I had with employers. My claim was never flagged and I received benefits without issues. The key is being honest about your limitations while demonstrating you're genuinely seeking work within those parameters.

I'm having the exact same messaging system error and this thread has been incredibly helpful! I've been stuck for 2 weeks trying to get through about my pending claim. I'm going to start with @Aaron Lee's browser switching suggestion since that seems like the quickest potential fix - I've been using Edge so I'll try Firefox first. If that doesn't work, I'll move on to @Zainab Omar's incognito method that so many people have had success with. The early morning calling strategy at 8:03 AM that @Zoe Wang confirmed also sounds promising as a backup plan. It's really encouraging to see so many people sharing solutions that actually worked instead of just complaining about the broken system. I'll definitely report back if any of these methods work for me - this community support is exactly what we need when dealing with these technical nightmares!

I'm dealing with the exact same messaging system error! This thread has been a lifesaver - I've been stuck for almost 3 weeks now with my claim pending and that "error processing request" message every time I try to send anything through the secure messaging system. I'm definitely going to try @Aaron Lee's browser switching suggestion first since that sounds like the quickest fix - I've been using Chrome so I'll try Firefox tomorrow. If that doesn't work, I'll move on to @Zainab Omar's incognito method that multiple people have confirmed works. The early morning calling strategy at 8:03 AM that @Zoe Wang tested also gives me hope as a backup. It's honestly ridiculous that we need all these workarounds just to communicate about our benefits, but I'm so grateful for everyone sharing real solutions that actually work. I'll definitely update this thread with my results - fingers crossed one of these methods finally gets me through!