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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.
That's really helpful advice! I didn't realize I should focus on the teaching job loss rather than the photography business when applying. Do you know if there's a minimum amount you need to have earned from W2 wages to qualify? I'm trying to figure out if my part-time teaching income would have been enough to meet the threshold.
I've been getting my unemployment benefits for about 6 months now and I can confirm what others are saying - it's typically Wednesday morning between 3-6 AM on the KeyBank card. The timing can vary a bit depending on bank processing, but Wednesday is pretty consistent as long as you certify by Monday evening. One tip: if you have the KeyBank Way2Go mobile app, you can set up notifications so you'll get an alert as soon as the deposit hits your account. That way you don't have to keep checking manually!
I've been collecting unemployment for about 4 months now and can share my experience with timing. For the KeyBank Way2Go card, I usually see my deposit hit between 2-4 AM on Wednesday morning, but I've had it come as late as 8 AM a few times. The key thing is making sure you certify by Monday evening - if you wait until Tuesday, it might delay your payment by a day. Also, keep in mind that if there are any banking holidays or system maintenance, it could push the deposit to Thursday. I'd recommend checking your my.ny.gov account to make sure your weekly claim shows as "processed" - that's usually a good indicator that the payment is on its way.
This is really helpful information! I'm new to collecting unemployment benefits and wasn't sure about the timing. Good to know about checking the my.ny.gov account to confirm the claim is processed - I'll make sure to do that. Quick question: if my claim shows as "processed" but the money doesn't show up by Thursday morning, should I be concerned or is that still within the normal range?
The whole system is set up to fail people. 26 weeks isn't enough time to find decent work especially in specialized fields. Meanwhile they make it nearly impossible to even talk to someone at NYS Department of Labor about your options.
Have you looked into other assistance programs while job searching? Even though UI extensions aren't available right now, you might qualify for SNAP benefits, emergency rental assistance, or job training programs through your local workforce development office. I know it's not the same as unemployment benefits, but it could help bridge the gap. Also worth checking if any local nonprofits or community organizations have emergency assistance funds for people transitioning between jobs.
Great advice about looking into other assistance programs! I hadn't thought about SNAP or rental assistance as options. Do you know if there are any specific job training programs in NY that might be particularly helpful for someone who's been out of work for a while? I'm wondering if retraining in a different field might be worth considering at this point.
I've been dealing with the same frustration! After reading through everyone's advice here, I'm going to try a combination approach: calling right at 8 AM on a Tuesday or Wednesday (avoiding Mondays and Fridays), using the main 1-888-209-8124 number, and having my phone ready to dial at exactly 7:59:59 AM. If that doesn't work, I might look into that Claimyr service someone mentioned. It's ridiculous that we have to strategize this much just to reach our own state unemployment office, but at least this community has some solid practical tips. Will report back on how the early morning strategy works!
That's a really smart combination approach! I've been following this thread and taking notes on everyone's strategies too. The timing consensus seems pretty clear - early morning on Tuesday-Thursday is the sweet spot. I'm curious about the Claimyr service as well, especially after Dylan mentioned it only took 20 minutes to get connected. Might be worth the cost if the DIY approach doesn't work out. Definitely interested to hear how your 7:59:59 AM strategy goes - that level of precision timing feels like it shouldn't be necessary but apparently that's what it takes with this system!
I've been struggling with this exact same issue! Reading through everyone's strategies here is incredibly helpful. I've been calling around 4:30 PM after work and always getting that "we are currently closed" message, so knowing they actually close at 5 PM explains why I keep missing them by just a few minutes. The 7:59:59 AM precision timing approach that Malik suggested sounds intense but honestly might be what it takes. I'm going to try the Tuesday morning 8 AM strategy with the main 1-888-209-8124 number. It's frustrating that getting basic help requires this level of tactical planning, but I really appreciate everyone sharing what actually works. This community is saving me from weeks more of failed attempts!
Laila Fury
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
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Maya Jackson
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!
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