I just went through this process about 6 weeks ago and wanted to share my timeline to help ease some anxiety. Filed my initial claim on a Monday, status showed "under review" for about 10 days, then switched to "approved" on a Thursday. Got my first payment the following Tuesday - so roughly 2 weeks total from filing to money in my account. The payment covered 3 weeks since I had been filing my weekly certifications the whole time (which you should definitely start doing immediately!). One thing that helped speed things up was making sure I had all my documents ready and responded to any DOL requests within 24 hours. Also, don't panic if your status doesn't change for several days - that seems to be normal. The system updates in batches rather than real-time.

I'm currently waiting on my unemployment claim too - filed about 10 days ago and still showing "under review" status. Reading through everyone's experiences here is really helpful! It sounds like the 2-3 week timeframe is pretty standard, though some cases take longer if there are complications. One thing I learned from calling the DOL office is that they're processing claims in the order they were received, so there's not much we can do to speed it up beyond making sure we respond quickly to any requests for additional info. The most important thing seems to be filing those weekly certifications even while waiting - I almost missed doing that the first week because I didn't realize it was required before approval. Hang in there everyone, sounds like the money does eventually come through!

I was in a similar situation a few months ago and ended up missing my interview despite trying everything to reschedule. Here's what I learned: if you absolutely can't reach them before Tuesday, call immediately AFTER you miss the interview to explain what happened. I called within an hour of my missed appointment and was able to get it rescheduled for the following week. The rep told me that calling right after shows good faith effort and they're more likely to work with you. Also, if you're collecting partial benefits while working part-time, make sure to emphasize that the training is mandatory for your current employment - they understand work obligations better than personal conflicts. Keep trying those early morning calls though, 8am sharp seems to be the sweet spot!

I've been through this exact scenario twice with NYS DOL. First time I panicked and just missed it - big mistake, they denied my claim. Second time I was smarter about it. Here's what worked: I called the main line at 7:58am and kept hitting redial until I got through (took about 20 minutes but worth it). When I explained I had mandatory work training, they were actually pretty understanding since I'm on partial benefits. They rescheduled me for the next day at 10am. The key things that helped: 1) I called BEFORE the interview, not after 2) I had my training documentation ready 3) I explained I was actively working part-time (they seem more flexible when you're working). If you truly can't get through, send an email to the address on your interview notice AND call immediately after the missed appointment. Don't give up - I know people who've gotten rescheduled even after missing their first interview if they can prove work conflict.

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!

The whole system is messed up if you ask me. Self employed people pay taxes but get no unemployment protection. Meanwhile people who worked traditional jobs get benefits. Makes no sense!

Ryan, definitely try applying if you had that W2 income from the community college teaching job! The key is whether you earned enough in covered wages during your base period (usually the first 4 of the last 5 quarters). Even if your photography business was your main income, those W2 wages could make you eligible. The worst they can do is deny you, but you might be surprised. Just make sure when you apply that you focus on the loss of your teaching work rather than the photography business decline, since only the W2 employment counts toward eligibility.

you should be fine as long as you werent just skipping work to go to the beach or something lol. medical stuff is usually protected

I went through something similar a few months ago. Got fired for attendance due to anxiety/depression episodes that kept me out of work. NYS Department of Labor approved my claim after about 4 weeks of adjudication. The key things that helped me were: 1) I had documentation from my therapist about my condition, 2) I could show I followed company call-in procedures when possible, and 3) I was honest about my medical situation in the initial application. Don't wait for them to ask - mention your health issues upfront when you file. It shows you're being transparent and it's not like you're trying to hide anything. Good luck!