I'm going through this exact same situation! Filed my claim about 8 days ago after a layoff and still showing pending status. The waiting is absolutely nerve-wracking, especially when you're trying to plan your finances around when benefits might start coming in. I've been religiously doing my weekly certifications based on all the advice here, even though it feels weird certifying for weeks when you don't even know if you're approved yet. One thing that's helped me cope with the uncertainty is creating a daily routine - I check my account once in the morning with my coffee instead of obsessively refreshing throughout the day. The phone system has been a complete nightmare for me too - I think I've tried calling 5 times and either can't get in the queue or get disconnected after hours of waiting. Reading everyone's experiences here is really comforting though - it sounds like 2-3 weeks is pretty standard even for straightforward layoffs, and the pending status doesn't mean anything is wrong. We just have to trust the process even though it's incredibly stressful when you need those benefits!

I'm currently in the same situation - filed my claim 7 days ago and still showing pending status. The waiting is definitely anxiety-inducing, especially when you're used to having more certainty about your finances. What's been helpful for me is remembering that the NYS Department of Labor processes thousands of claims, so even though 10 days feels like forever to us, it's actually still pretty early in their timeline. I've also been keeping a simple checklist to make sure I'm doing everything right: weekly certifications (check), all required documents uploaded (check), contact info updated (check). Sometimes having that visual confirmation that you've done everything correctly can help ease the worry that something went wrong with your application. One thing I learned from a friend who went through this last year is that the system often updates overnight, so if you're going to check, early morning tends to be when you'd see any changes. Hang in there - based on everyone's experiences here, it sounds like we're all still well within the normal processing window!

I'm really sorry you're dealing with this stress, Connor! From what I've read in all these responses, it sounds like you're in a much better position than you think. The fact that your write-ups are for minor things like being a few minutes late or folding issues definitely works in your favor - those don't meet the legal standard for misconduct in New York. I'd also suggest taking photos of your work schedule and any documentation showing you've been a reliable employee overall. Sometimes it helps to show a pattern of good performance despite these recent nitpicky write-ups. One more tip - if they do fire you, ask for the termination reason in writing. Some employers will be vague verbally but more honest in writing, which can help your case with NYS Department of Labor. You've got 8 months of work history and what sounds like a pretty clear case of being terminated for non-misconduct reasons. Try not to let the anxiety consume you - focus on what you can control like gathering your documentation and being ready to file immediately if needed.

I'm new to this community but I've been following unemployment issues in NY for a while. One thing I wanted to add that I haven't seen mentioned yet - when you file your claim, NYS Department of Labor will ask about your reason for separation. There's actually a specific category for "discharged for reasons other than misconduct" which sounds like exactly what your situation would fall under. Also, since you mentioned this is your first real job since college, make sure you have all your wage information ready when you apply - they'll need details about your earnings for the past 18 months to calculate your benefit amount. The good news is that retail jobs like yours rarely involve the kind of serious misconduct that would disqualify you from benefits. From everything you've described, it sounds like your employer is just trying to manage you out rather than dealing with any real performance issues. Stay strong and don't let them pressure you into quitting - that would definitely hurt your unemployment eligibility!

omg yes get that fixed!! I worked somewhere that did this by accident for like 6 months before anyone noticed

Definitely sounds like a payroll error! As others mentioned, FUTA is entirely the employer's responsibility - you should never see it deducted from your paycheck. In New York, employees don't pay into unemployment insurance at all, unlike some other states. I'd recommend bringing your pay stub to HR right away and asking them to explain the deduction. They'll likely need to correct it and reimburse you for any amounts already taken. Also keep documentation of this in case you need to reference it later when dealing with NYS Department of Labor for any unemployment benefits.

I had a similar situation last year with a seasonal job that ended. One thing to keep in mind is that when you reopen, they'll ask about your job search activities during the gap period. You don't necessarily need to have been actively searching the entire 6 weeks your claim was closed, but you should be prepared to explain what you were doing (like if you were expecting to be called back to work, dealing with personal issues, etc.). Also, make sure you file your weekly certification as soon as your claim is reopened - don't wait! The system can be glitchy and sometimes there's a delay between when you reopen and when the weekly filing option becomes available. If you run into any technical issues with the my.ny.gov site, try using a different browser or clearing your cache.

I just went through this exact situation a month ago! The key thing is to make sure you're still within your benefit year before trying to reopen. You can check this on your my.ny.gov account - it should show your benefit year dates somewhere in your claim summary. When I reopened mine, I had to answer questions about why I became unemployed again and confirm I was able and available for work. The process took about 3-4 business days for me, and then I could start filing weekly certifications again. One heads up - they may ask you to do a phone interview if there are any questions about your job separation, so make sure you have documentation about when and why your temp job ended. The reopening process is definitely better than filing a new claim since it preserves your original weekly benefit amount!

Have you tried contacting your local One-Stop Career Center? They sometimes have direct lines to NYS DOL staff that can help resolve holds faster than the main helpline. Also, if you're facing financial hardship, you might qualify for emergency assistance programs through local social services while waiting for your unemployment to clear. I had a similar hold that turned out to be a system glitch - they were waiting for wage verification from an employer that had already been submitted. Keep documenting all your attempts to contact them in case you need to escalate later.

I went through this exact situation last year and it turned out to be an identity verification hold that wasn't showing up in my portal. The NYS DOL has been implementing more fraud prevention measures that can trigger silent holds. Try logging into your NY.gov ID account (not just the unemployment portal) and check if there are any identity verification requests there. Also, double-check that your direct deposit information matches exactly what's on file with your bank - even small discrepancies in how your name appears can cause payment holds. If you're still stuck after checking these, try calling right when they open at 8 AM on weekdays - I had better luck getting through early morning rather than later in the day.