just file asap and see what you get! took me 3 weeks to get my first payment but it was worth the wait. make sure you do your weekly claims every sunday

One thing to keep in mind is that you'll need to report any severance pay you received when you file - that can delay when your benefits start. Also, if you're planning to do any freelance or part-time work while collecting, you need to report those earnings each week. They'll reduce your benefit amount dollar-for-dollar after the first $143 you earn in a week. The whole process can be confusing but definitely file sooner rather than later since there's usually a waiting period.

I went through this exact situation when I moved from NY to PA about 8 months ago. Here's what actually happened: You cannot transfer benefits between states - you'll need to file a completely new claim in PA once you establish residency there. The good news is that PA will use your NY work history to calculate your benefits, but the bad news is their weekly benefit amounts are typically lower than NY's. Make sure you do a few things before you move: 1) Report your address change to NY unemployment immediately through your online account, 2) Complete your final weekly certification in NY, and 3) Apply for PA benefits as soon as you're eligible (usually after establishing residency). There will likely be a gap in payments - mine was about 3 weeks. PA's system is slower than NY's (if you can believe that). Also, be prepared for PA to have different job search requirements than what you're used to in NY. One last tip - if you're having trouble reaching NY unemployment by phone to properly close out your claim, I had success using a callback service that eliminated the endless hold times. It's worth it to make sure everything is handled correctly to avoid any fraud issues later.

I'm going through a similar situation right now - just started the process of moving from NY to PA while on unemployment. From what I've researched and heard from others here, you definitely can't transfer benefits directly between states. Each state has its own system and rules. What I'm planning to do: 1) Call NY unemployment ASAP to report my move (using that claimyr service everyone's mentioning since I can't get through either), 2) File for PA benefits as soon as I establish residency there, and 3) prepare financially for a gap in payments. One thing I learned from reading through these comments - make sure you're crystal clear about your availability for work when talking to NY unemployment. If you can still commute back to NY for jobs, there might be interstate benefit options, but if you're moving too far into PA, you'll need to start fresh with their system. The IP address flagging thing someone mentioned is scary - definitely don't want to get accused of fraud on top of everything else. Going to make sure I handle the transition properly even if it means a few weeks without income. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences, this thread has been incredibly helpful!

I had this exact same issue a few months ago! What finally worked for me was logging into the NY.gov portal and going to the "Unemployment Insurance" section, then clicking on "Benefit Payment Information" (not Payment History). From there, there's a small link that says "View/Print Benefit Payment Summary" - it's kind of hidden in the menu on the left side. This generates an official-looking document with the NYS DOL letterhead that shows all your payment dates, amounts, and benefit year. The format is much cleaner than trying to print individual payment records. Just a heads up though - you might need to disable your browser's pop-up blocker for the PDF to generate properly. Hope this helps!

If you're still having trouble finding the right section, try this step-by-step: 1) Log into ny.gov, 2) Click "Unemployment Services", 3) Look for "Online Services" menu, 4) Click "View and Maintain Account Information", 5) Then "Monetary Determinations and Payment Information". There should be a "Payment Summary" option that creates a printable PDF with official formatting. I know the navigation is confusing - I probably clicked through a dozen different menus before I found it! The key is looking for anything that says "summary" or "statement" rather than just "history". Also, if you need something really official-looking, you can request a "Benefit Verification Letter" which some landlords prefer over payment stubs.

One important thing to note: whether you file by phone or online, you still need to CERTIFY weekly by either method. A lot of people file their initial claim and think that's it, but you have to certify every week to actually get paid. You can certify by phone using their automated system at 1-888-581-5812 or through the website. Just wanted to mention this since it's a common issue for first-time filers.

Yes, they'll send you instructions after your claim is processed. In New York, you can certify starting Sunday for the previous week ending Saturday. You have until the following Saturday to certify, but I recommend doing it Sunday or Monday to get your payment as quickly as possible. You'll need to report any work/earnings for the week and confirm you were ready, willing and able to work. The process takes about 5 minutes once you get the hang of it.

Thanks everyone for clearing this up! I had no idea it was entirely employer-funded through their unemployment taxes. I was actually worried I hadn't been paying enough into the system somehow. It's good to know that when I file my claim with NYS Department of Labor, I'm accessing benefits that my previous employers have already paid for through their tax contributions. Makes the whole process feel more legitimate and less like I'm asking for a handout.

This is really helpful information! I'm in a similar situation and was also confused about the funding. One thing I'm still wondering about - does the amount of benefits I can receive depend on how much my employer paid in taxes, or is it based on my earnings history? I want to make sure I understand how the benefit calculation works with the NYS Department of Labor system.