There are some exceptions though. If you work for the school in a non-instructional capacity (like maintenance or administration) and you're truly laid off for the summer with no guarantee of work, you might qualify. Also, if you work multiple jobs and lose your non-school job, you could potentially get partial benefits. The key is whether you have that 'reasonable assurance' of returning.

As someone who's dealt with this exact situation, I can tell you it's really frustrating! I worked as a substitute teacher for 2 years and was always told I couldn't get benefits during summer because of the "reasonable assurance" rule. Even though substitute work isn't guaranteed, most districts consider you to have reasonable assurance if you've been on their sub list and they expect to call you back. The tricky part is that every district handles this differently - some give more definitive answers about summer employment than others. I'd suggest checking with your district's HR department first to see what they consider your status to be, then apply if you think you might qualify. Worst case, NYS Department of Labor will make the determination and you'll know for sure.

Hey Katherine! I just went through this exact process about 6 weeks ago and wanted to share my experience to hopefully help calm your nerves a bit. I was also staying with family (my brother) who kept asking about the money situation daily - so I completely understand that added pressure! My timeline was: Completed ID.me on a Friday → Payment status changed from "on hold" to "pending" the following Wednesday → Got paid that Friday with all 5 weeks of back pay in one lump sum. So about 7 calendar days total, 5 business days. The key things I learned: 1) That status change from "on hold" to "pending" in your online account is your first real sign that things are moving, and 2) Most people do get ALL their back weeks paid at once, not just going forward. For dealing with your uncle, what worked for me was being super specific about the timeline. I told my brother "based on everyone's experience, it takes 3-8 business days to process, so let's check back next Tuesday." Having that concrete date really reduced the daily check-ins! Since you completed ID.me yesterday, I'd watch for that status change early next week. If you're still showing "on hold" by next Thursday, that's when I'd definitely call NYSDOL. But honestly, you did the hardest part - the verification itself. Now it's just waiting for their system to catch up. You should have your money soon! 🤞

Just wanted to add my voice to everyone else who's been through this recently! I completed my ID.me verification about 3 weeks ago and was in the exact same situation - staying with family who kept asking when the money would come through every single day. My timeline ended up being: ID.me completed on a Wednesday → payment status stayed "on hold" until the following Tuesday → changed to "pending" Tuesday afternoon → got paid Friday morning with all 6 weeks of back pay plus current week in one deposit. So about 9 calendar days total, but only 7 business days. The thing that saved my sanity with family pressure was showing them screenshots from threads like this one to prove that waiting 3-8 business days is completely normal. Once they saw it wasn't just me being slow to follow up, they stopped the daily questions. Since you just completed ID.me yesterday, I'd expect to see your payment status change from "on hold" to "pending" by early next week. That status change is your first sign it's actually moving through their system. If you don't see anything by Thursday, definitely call, but based on everyone's experiences here, you should be getting paid soon! The verification part is honestly the hardest step - now you're just waiting for their system to process it. Hang in there! 💪

The system is so slow now compared to before. Used to be you could get money within a week but now everything takes forever because they're understaffed and the computer systems are ancient. Just be patient and keep filing those weekly claims religiously.

I'm in a similar situation - just filed my claim two days ago and the waiting is nerve-wracking! From what I'm reading here, it sounds like 2-3 weeks is typical if everything goes smoothly. @Ben Cooper, definitely start filing your weekly claims right away - I called the Department of Labor help line yesterday (took forever to get through) and they confirmed you need to certify weekly even while your initial claim is still pending. The rep told me that's one of the biggest mistakes people make that delays their payments. Hang in there!

I'm going through the same thing right now - filed my claim about 10 days ago and the waiting is nerve-wracking! What helped me was calling the customer service line early in the morning (like right at 8am when they open) - I actually got through after about 45 minutes on hold. The rep told me that as long as I keep filing my weekly claims and there are no red flags, I should expect to hear something within the next week or two. She also mentioned that the first payment usually comes about a week after you get your approval letter. Definitely keep an eye on your my.ny.gov account for any status updates. We're all in this together!

I'm in a similar boat - filed my claim about 8 days ago after being laid off and haven't heard anything yet. The uncertainty is really stressful when bills are piling up. One thing I found helpful was creating a my.ny.gov account if you haven't already - you can track your claim status there and see if there are any issues that need attention. Also, I've been keeping detailed records of all my weekly certifications just in case. The waiting game is brutal but from what I'm reading here it sounds like 2-3 weeks is pretty normal. Hoping we both hear good news soon!

definitely try to reschedule but if you absolutely cant make it write down exactly what happened and why you missed it. keep records of everything in case you need to appeal later

I went through this exact same situation last year! First priority is definitely calling to reschedule - try calling right when they open at 8am, that's when I had the most luck getting through. If you absolutely cannot reach them in time, make sure you document EVERYTHING about your mandatory work training (get it in writing from your supervisor, take photos of the notice, etc.). When I missed mine due to a work conflict, I immediately sent a fax explaining the situation with documentation attached. They still initially denied my claim, but I appealed with all my documentation and got it overturned within about 4 weeks. The key is showing you made every effort to contact them beforehand and that you had a legitimate work-related conflict. Don't panic - this is fixable!