I'm completely new to seasonal work and just discovered this community through some online searching about unemployment benefits. I recently completed my first seasonal job working at a local pumpkin patch and corn maze that ran from September through November, and I honestly had no clue that seasonal workers could be eligible for unemployment benefits! This entire thread has been such a revelation - I was literally planning to just live off my savings until I could find another seasonal position in the spring. Reading through everyone's detailed experiences and success stories with NYS DOL has completely changed my perspective and given me the confidence to actually file a claim. I'm particularly grateful for all the practical advice about the $2,600 base period minimum, keeping detailed job search documentation, and being transparent about seasonal employment patterns. The fact that there's actually a system in place to support workers like us during transition periods is incredible. I'm planning to gather all my employment documents this weekend and file my first application early next week. Thank you all for creating such a supportive and informative community - it's amazing to find people who actually understand the realities of seasonal work instead of just suggesting we get "regular" jobs!

I'm also brand new to seasonal work and just found this incredible thread! I recently finished my first seasonal job at a local Christmas tree lot and was completely stressed about how to handle the gap until next holiday season. Reading through everyone's experiences has been such a relief - I had absolutely no idea that seasonal workers could qualify for unemployment benefits in New York! Like so many others here, I was just planning to burn through my savings and hope for the best. The detailed advice about the $2,600 base period requirement, keeping job search spreadsheets, and being honest about seasonal work patterns is exactly what I needed to hear. It's amazing to discover there's actually a support system designed for workers like us instead of being penalized for choosing seasonal employment. I'm definitely going to file my claim this week after gathering all my employment documents. Thank you to everyone who shared their success stories and practical tips - this community is such a valuable resource for navigating the unique challenges of seasonal work!

I'm going through this exact same situation right now! Filed my claim about 10 days ago and have been absolutely stressed seeing those $0s everywhere. I was convinced something was wrong with my application. This thread has been incredibly helpful - it's amazing how many of us are dealing with the identical experience. The NY system really should explain that this is normal processing instead of just showing $0 with no context! I got a document request in my portal yesterday asking for my W2 forms, which I uploaded immediately after reading everyone's advice here. Based on the timelines people are sharing, it sounds like I should see movement within the next week or two. Already set up my Sunday certification reminder - definitely don't want to miss out on that backpay! It's so reassuring to hear from people who actually made it through this process successfully. The waiting is nerve-wracking when you need these benefits, but knowing this is just how their system works makes it much more bearable. Thanks to everyone sharing their experiences - you're providing way better information than the actual NY unemployment website! 🙏

I'm currently dealing with this exact same issue! Filed my claim about a week ago and seeing those $0 amounts everywhere was honestly terrifying. I was convinced I'd somehow messed up my application or didn't qualify. This thread has been such a lifesaver - it's incredible how many people are going through the identical experience right now. The NY unemployment system really needs better communication during processing. A simple "Claim under review - processing typically takes 2-4 weeks" message would save so much unnecessary anxiety! I haven't received any document requests in my portal yet, but based on everyone's timelines here it sounds like I should expect something soon. Just set up my Sunday certification reminder after reading all these comments - seems like that weekly certification is absolutely crucial even when everything shows $0. The waiting is stressful when you're depending on these benefits to pay bills, but reading all these success stories about getting backpay makes me feel so much more confident. It's amazing how this community provides the clarity that the actual NY unemployment website completely fails to give. Thanks to everyone sharing their experiences and timelines - you're helping so many anxious newcomers like me understand this confusing process! 🙏

Just wanted to share my recent experience since it might help others. I got audited in February 2025 after being on unemployment for about 4 months. It wasn't as scary as I thought it would be, but I'm really glad I had been keeping decent records. They asked for documentation from 8 specific weeks of my claim - not the whole thing. I had to provide proof of job searches, any income I reported, and explain a gap where I had marked "yes" to being available for work but hadn't applied to jobs that week (I was sick with the flu). The whole process took about 3 weeks from when I got the letter to when they approved everything. I submitted everything through the online portal and got an email confirmation that my benefits would continue. My advice: definitely keep those detailed records everyone mentioned. I used a simple Google Sheet with columns for date, company, position, how I applied, and any follow-up. Saved me a lot of stress when the audit came!

Thanks for posting this question - I've been wondering the same thing! I'm about 6 weeks into my claim and have been pretty casual about record keeping, but reading all these responses is making me realize I need to step up my game. I've been doing my job searches but mostly just saving confirmation emails in a random folder. Sounds like I need to get way more organized with a proper spreadsheet and screenshots. Better to be over-prepared than scrambling if I get selected for an audit. Has anyone found a good template or system for tracking all this stuff? I'm thinking I'll start with what @Isaac Wright suggested but wondering if there are any other details I should be capturing that might not be obvious.

I just wanted to thank everyone in this thread - you've all been incredibly helpful! I'm new to this community but have been struggling with NY unemployment issues for the past month. After reading through all these suggestions, I'm planning to try the incognito browser method for my ID.me problems first thing tomorrow, and if that doesn't work, I'll use the early morning calling strategy with the specific menu sequence that several people mentioned. It's both reassuring and frustrating to know so many others are dealing with the same broken system, but at least we're helping each other navigate it. This kind of peer support is exactly what we need when the official channels are so unreliable. Will definitely update with my results to help the next person who finds this thread!

Just wanted to jump in here as someone who recently went through this exact same ordeal! The ID.me verification issues are incredibly common right now - I think their system is just overwhelmed. What worked for me was actually a combination of several suggestions I'm seeing in this thread: I used incognito mode, cleared all my browser data first, and then tried with Firefox instead of Chrome. The key thing I learned is to make sure you're entering your information EXACTLY as it appears on your original documents - even tiny differences in spacing or punctuation can cause failures. For the phone system, I had success with the 7:58 AM approach on Wednesday mornings specifically. Also pro tip: if you do get through to someone, ask them to add notes to your file about the ID.me issue so future agents can see what's been tried. The whole system is definitely broken but these workarounds do help! Hang in there everyone - persistence really does pay off eventually.

This is really helpful information! I've been on unemployment for about 6 weeks now and have been hesitant to take on any part-time work because I was worried about losing my benefits entirely. The way everyone explained the partial benefit calculation makes so much sense - I had no idea NYS Department of Labor actually encourages part-time work while job searching. I'm definitely going to start applying for some part-time positions now since I know I can still receive reduced benefits. Thanks for sharing your experiences, especially about the importance of reporting everything honestly!

I went through this exact situation last year! I was working about 15 hours a week at $12/hour while collecting unemployment. The key thing to remember is that NYS Department of Labor has what's called a "partial benefit formula" - as long as you earn less than your weekly benefit rate, you'll still get some unemployment money. In my case, I was getting $320/week in benefits and earning about $180/week from part-time work. After they applied the formula (they subtract 25% of your earnings from your benefit), I ended up with $275 in unemployment plus my $180 in wages, so $455 total per week instead of just the $320 I would have gotten sitting at home. Just make sure you report EVERYTHING when you certify - even if you worked one day or made $20, report it. The system is designed to help you transition back to full-time work, not punish you for trying to earn some money.