Hey! I'm dealing with the exact same thing right now - filed 3 weeks ago and still waiting on my first payment after the waiting week. Been certifying religiously every Sunday but nothing yet. Really stressing about bills piling up. Has anyone had luck calling the main number or is it still impossible to get through? Might have to try that claimyr thing people are mentioning...

Just went through this same situation last month! For me, the first payment came exactly 3 weeks after completing my waiting week. The key thing is to make sure you're logging into your account and checking for any "action items" or document requests - sometimes they need additional verification and won't tell you unless you check. Also double-check that your direct deposit info is correct in your profile. Once mine started, I got all the backpay in one lump sum which was actually pretty nice. Hang in there, the wait is nerve-wracking but it does come through!

I've been through this same situation! When I first started collecting unemployment in NY, I was so anxious about when the payments would actually show up. From my experience over the past 6 months, if you certify on Sunday, the money typically hits your account Tuesday or Wednesday. The key thing is to make sure you certify as early as possible - I always do mine Sunday evening right when it becomes available. Also, double-check that your direct deposit info is 100% correct in your my.ny.gov account because even a small typo can cause major delays. One time my payment was delayed by a week because I had an old routing number in there. Hope this helps ease your worry - the system does work once you get into the rhythm of it!

I just went through this exact same process a few weeks ago! The waiting period after your first certification is definitely nerve-wracking, especially when you have bills due. In my experience, NYS unemployment payments typically arrive within 2-3 business days after certifying. Since you filed on Sunday, you should see the money by Tuesday or Wednesday. One thing that helped me was setting up text alerts through my bank so I'd get notified immediately when the direct deposit hit. Also, make sure you have the my.ny.gov app downloaded - it makes it much easier to check your payment status and certify each week. The good news is once you get into the routine, the timing becomes pretty predictable. Hang in there!

The whole system is honestly a nightmare to navigate. Between the confusing website, impossible phone lines, and constant delays, it's like they don't want you to get benefits. But unfortunately it's the only safety net we have. Just be prepared for lots of frustration and bureaucratic nonsense.

One thing that really helped me when I first applied was gathering all my documents beforehand. Make sure you have your driver's license or state ID, Social Security card, and detailed employment info for every job in the last 18 months - employer names, addresses, phone numbers, dates of employment, and reason you left each job. Also have your bank account info ready for direct deposit setup. The application process goes much smoother when you're not scrambling to find paperwork halfway through.

honestly the whole system is confusing... i tried to apply when i was in school and they kept asking me weird questions about my availability. took forever to get through to anyone at NYS Department of Labor to explain what they actually wanted

Make sure you're ready to accept work that conflicts with your class schedule if they offer it, because that's what 'able and available' means in practice

Reading through all these experiences has been incredibly helpful! I'm currently in week 4 of waiting for payments with no explanation from the system. I haven't worked in other states recently, but I'm wondering if there are other common verification issues that cause similar delays? For those who successfully got through to agents, what other types of holds or flags did they mention besides the interstate wage verification? I'm trying to prepare for when I finally reach someone so I can ask about the right things. Also, has anyone had success with the secure messaging system, or is calling really the only way to get these issues resolved?

This thread has been so incredibly helpful! I'm in week 9 of waiting for my first payment and was starting to think I was the only one dealing with this nightmare. Reading about everyone's interstate wage verification issues is eye-opening - I worked remotely for a company based in California for about 3 months last year while living here in NY, and I bet that's what's causing my delay too. The fact that the system gives us absolutely zero indication that these verifications are happening in the background is infuriating. We're left thinking we did something wrong or our claims got lost when really it's just bureaucratic delays behind the scenes. I've been trying to call for weeks with no success, but I'm going to try the Claimyr service that @facf45268409 mentioned since traditional calling clearly isn't working. Thank you all for sharing your experiences and advice - this community support is literally the only thing keeping me sane right now!