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I'm going through this exact same situation right now - been collecting for about 6 weeks and kept wondering when my benefits would go up. This thread has been a huge wake-up call that I need to stop waiting for increases that aren't coming and start budgeting more strategically. The $504 weekly amount mentioned by the original poster is actually close to what I'm getting, and reading everyone's experiences makes it clear this is just the reality we have to work with. I'm definitely going to look into the SNAP application and local food banks that people have mentioned. It's frustrating that the system doesn't account for inflation, but at least now I can plan realistically instead of living in false hope. Thanks everyone for sharing such detailed experiences - this is exactly the kind of practical information that's impossible to find on the official NYS DOL website.
You're absolutely right @Roger Romero - this thread has been like a crash course in unemployment reality that you just can t'get from the official sources! I m'about 7 weeks into my claim and was in the exact same boat, waiting for some magical increase that clearly isn t'happening. What really hit home for me reading through everyone s'experiences is how much time and mental energy I was wasting hoping for something that doesn t'exist in the NY system. That energy is much better spent on the practical stuff people have shared here - applying for SNAP, researching local food banks, looking into utility assistance programs. It s'definitely not the news any of us wanted to hear, but at least now we can make informed decisions about budgeting and supplemental resources instead of living in uncertainty. The community knowledge here is invaluable compared to trying to decode the confusing official websites!
I've been on unemployment for about 10 weeks now and this thread perfectly captures the frustration and confusion I went through in my first month. Like so many others here, I kept waiting for some kind of increase that never materialized. My weekly benefit is $492 and it's been exactly that every single week. What finally helped me was doing exactly what people are suggesting here - I stopped hoping for increases and started aggressively pursuing every assistance program I could find. I got approved for SNAP which freed up about $200/month from my unemployment for other expenses, signed up with three different local food banks, and got on my utility company's low-income discount program. The psychological shift of accepting that your benefit amount is truly fixed and then focusing all your energy on maximizing those dollars through other resources makes a huge difference. It's definitely not fair that there are no cost-of-living adjustments, but once you accept that reality, you can actually start making strategic decisions about your finances instead of just hoping and waiting.
This is such helpful perspective @Chloe Zhang! I'm only about 3 weeks into my unemployment journey and was definitely falling into that same trap of waiting around for increases that clearly don't exist. Your point about the psychological shift is really important - I can see how much mental energy I've been wasting on false hope instead of focusing on practical solutions. The fact that SNAP freed up $200/month from your unemployment budget is a huge deal when you're working with a fixed amount. I need to stop procrastinating on those applications and start treating this like the fixed income situation it really is. Thanks for sharing the reality check along with the actionable steps - it's exactly what newcomers like me need to hear to get our heads in the right space for dealing with this system!
I'm dealing with a similar situation right now - had to quit my job because my employer kept changing my work location with no notice, making my commute impossible with public transit. It's been really encouraging to read everyone's experiences here! One thing I learned from my case worker is that NYS Department of Labor also considers it good cause if the job changes violate the terms of your original employment agreement. So if you were hired with the understanding of a consistent schedule and they completely changed that, it strengthens your case. The waiting is definitely the hardest part, but it sounds like you have solid documentation. Keep your chin up - the system does work when you have legitimate reasons like yours!
That's such a great point about the original employment agreement! I never thought about it that way, but you're absolutely right - I was hired with the understanding that I'd have a consistent schedule that would allow me to arrange proper childcare. The constant last-minute changes definitely violated what we agreed to when I took the job. It's really reassuring to hear from everyone who has been through similar situations. The waiting is definitely nerve-wracking, but reading all these success stories gives me hope that my case will work out too. Thank you for sharing your experience!
I went through this exact same situation about 8 months ago - retail manager constantly changing my schedule at the last minute, making childcare a nightmare. The good news is that NYS Department of Labor absolutely recognizes this as good cause for quitting! What really helped my case was creating a timeline document that showed my original schedule versus all the changes, along with screenshots of the text messages. I also included a brief statement from my daycare provider confirming how the schedule changes affected my childcare arrangements. My adjudication took about 5 weeks, but I was approved. The key is being thorough with your documentation and clearly explaining how the schedule changes made it impossible to continue working. You've got this!
I went through something similar recently - my claim was pending for about 5 days before it cleared automatically. In my case, it turned out they were just backlogged from a system update. One thing that helped me was logging into my account multiple times throughout the day to see if any new correspondence showed up, even when there were no initial messages. Sometimes they post updates or requests for information that don't trigger email notifications right away. Also, if you're really stressed about the timing for rent, you might want to reach out to your landlord now to give them a heads up about the potential delay - most are understanding about unemployment processing delays.
That's really good advice about checking multiple times a day for updates. I never thought about the system not sending email notifications right away. I'm definitely going to start doing that. And you're right about talking to my landlord - I've been putting that off because I was hoping it would resolve quickly, but better to be proactive. Thanks for sharing your experience, it helps to know others have gone through the same thing and it worked out.
I work for a local nonprofit that helps people navigate unemployment benefits, and from what I've seen, pending status during your first few weeks is actually pretty common. NYS DOL has automated flags that can trigger reviews for new claims - things like verifying your previous employer information, double-checking your benefit calculation, or just random quality assurance checks. The good news is that if it's just a routine review and there are no actual issues, the payment usually gets released retroactively once it clears. I'd recommend documenting everything (screenshots of your claim status, dates you filed, etc.) just in case you need it later. If you're still pending by early next week, try calling first thing Monday morning around 8:05 AM - that's when you have the best chance of getting through to someone.
This is really helpful information, especially coming from someone who works with these cases regularly. I had no idea about the automated flags for new claims - that explains why my first two weeks went through smoothly and now this third one is pending. The tip about calling at 8:05 AM on Monday is gold, I'm definitely going to try that if it's still pending. I've already started taking screenshots like you suggested. It's reassuring to know that the payment should be retroactive if it's just a routine review. Do you know if there's any way to tell the difference between a routine review versus an actual problem that needs my attention?
One thing to keep in mind is that the 26 weeks runs from when you first start collecting, not from when you file your claim. There's usually a one-week waiting period before your first payment, but that week still counts toward your 26-week total. Also, if you have any disqualifications (like being fired for misconduct), it could reduce your total weeks available. I'd recommend creating a budget assuming you'll get the full 6 months, but have a backup plan ready just in case. The job market is tough right now, especially in manufacturing, so use every week of those benefits to find the best opportunity you can.
This is really helpful advice, thank you! I didn't realize the waiting period still counted toward the 26 weeks. That's good to know for planning purposes. I'm definitely going to create that budget assuming 6 months and start putting together my backup plan now. You're right about the manufacturing job market being tough - I'm already seeing that most of the openings are paying significantly less than what I was making. At least having those full benefits will give me time to be more selective and maybe even consider retraining if needed.
I went through this exact situation two years ago after being laid off from a factory job. The 26 weeks (6 months) is correct for New York, but here are a few things that really helped me maximize those benefits: First, start your job search immediately even though you're not required to for the first week - the earlier you start networking and applying, the better your chances of finding something before benefits run out. Second, consider using some of that time to update your skills - there are free online courses through the NY Public Library system and WorkforceNY that can make you more competitive. Third, don't forget to file your weekly certification every Sunday night - I almost missed a week once and it caused a huge headache. Finally, keep detailed records of all your job search activities from day one, even if it's more than the minimum required. Having everything documented saved me when they did a random audit. The manufacturing sector has been hit hard, but there are opportunities in logistics, warehousing, and even some green energy projects if you're open to learning new skills. Hang in there!
This is incredibly thorough advice - thank you so much! I hadn't thought about using library resources for skill updates, that's brilliant. I'm definitely going to look into those WorkforceNY programs you mentioned. The tip about filing weekly certifications on Sunday nights is gold too - I can see how easy it would be to forget and then deal with complications. I really appreciate you sharing your experience with the audit process as well. It sounds like keeping detailed records from the start is way smarter than scrambling later. The green energy angle is interesting - I hadn't considered that sector but it makes sense with all the infrastructure investment happening. Did you end up finding something in a different industry, or did you stick with manufacturing?
NebulaKnight
I'm going through this exact same timeline right now! Completed ID verification last Thursday (so about a week ago) and have been stuck on "adjudication in progress" ever since. Reading through everyone's experiences here is really reassuring - sounds like the 1-3 week wait after ID verification is pretty standard. The most frustrating part is not knowing if there's an issue or if it's just normal processing time. I've been continuing to certify weekly even though everything shows $0, and I set up the text alerts someone mentioned to avoid obsessively checking my account. Based on all the timelines shared here, it sounds like we should both see movement in the next week or so. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences - it really helps to know this waiting period is normal and that the back payments do eventually come through!
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Yuki Sato
•I'm in almost the exact same timeline as you! Completed my ID verification last Wednesday (so about 8 days ago) and also stuck on "adjudication in progress" with all my weekly claims showing $0. It's such a relief to read through all these experiences and see that the 1-3 week wait is totally normal. I was starting to worry there was some hidden issue with my claim, but it sounds like this is just how long the system takes to do their final review. The text alerts tip is genius - I've been driving myself crazy checking the portal multiple times a day. Based on everyone's timelines here, hopefully we'll both see some movement soon! It's comforting to know we're not alone in this waiting game and that the back payments do eventually come through.
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Sebastián Stevens
I'm dealing with the exact same situation right now - completed ID verification 6 days ago and still showing "adjudication in progress" with $0 weekly claims. Reading through everyone's timelines here is incredibly helpful and reassuring. It sounds like the 10-21 day range after ID verification is pretty typical, with most people seeing their status change around the 2-week mark. The hardest part is definitely not knowing if it's normal processing or if there's some issue lurking. I've been continuing to certify weekly and just set up those text alerts someone mentioned to stop myself from constantly refreshing the portal. Based on all these shared experiences, it seems like patience is really the only option, but at least we know the system does eventually work and those back payments will be worth the wait. Thanks to everyone for sharing their timelines - it makes this stressful process feel much more manageable knowing we're all in this together!
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Yuki Ito
•I just joined this community and I'm so glad I found this thread! I completed my ID verification with NYS Department of Labor on Monday (so 4 days ago) and have been panicking about the "adjudication in progress" status with all my weekly claims showing $0. Reading everyone's detailed timelines here is such a huge relief - I was convinced something was wrong with my claim, but it sounds like this 1-3 week waiting period after ID verification is completely normal. The consistency in everyone's experiences (most seeing changes around the 2-week mark) gives me so much peace of mind. I'm definitely going to set up those text alerts and stop obsessively checking my account 10 times a day. Thank you all for sharing your stories - it's amazing how much less stressful this process feels when you know others are going through the exact same thing and that it does eventually work out!
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