I went through this same process earlier this year and can share my timeline! After getting my determination letter and completing the waiting week, my first payment came through in exactly 16 days. The waiting was absolutely brutal - I was checking my account and the NYSDOL website multiple times daily 😅 A few things that helped me stay sane during the wait: • Set up account alerts with my bank so I'd get notified immediately when any deposit came through • Kept a simple calendar marking when I certified each week • Saved all confirmation numbers from my weekly certifications The most important thing is definitely keeping up with those weekly certifications - I've heard horror stories of people missing one week and having to start over. Also, don't panic if your payment history shows "pending" for a while, that's totally normal. You're so close now that you have the determination letter! That's really the hardest part. The payment will come, just try to hang in there! 💙

I'm in the exact same situation! Got my determination letter last Friday and just finished my waiting week on Sunday. The anxiety is real - I keep refreshing my account hoping something will change 😅 It's really helpful reading everyone's experiences here. Sounds like 2-3 weeks is pretty typical, though some people wait longer. I'm making sure to certify every week religiously and keeping all my confirmation numbers. The uncertainty is the hardest part, but at least we're all going through this together! Hoping we all see our payments soon 🤞

I just want to echo what everyone else has said - you're definitely fine to continue collecting until your actual start date! I was in this exact situation about a year ago with a 2.5 week gap between accepting an offer and starting work. The most important thing is being transparent on your weekly claims about having the job lined up. NYS Department of Labor actually expects these kinds of transition periods and the system handles them smoothly. When I filed my weekly certifications, I simply reported that I had accepted employment with a future start date and continued to answer all the other questions honestly. Everything went perfectly and my benefits stopped automatically once I reported my first week's earnings. Don't stress about it - this is a completely normal situation that thousands of people go through!

I'm currently in this situation too and this thread has been incredibly reassuring! I accepted a job offer yesterday that doesn't start for 3 weeks due to their new hire orientation schedule. I was really anxious about whether I should immediately stop my weekly claims or continue filing. Based on all the experiences shared here, it's clear that continuing to collect benefits while being completely honest about having a future job offer is the right approach. The consistent message from everyone who's actually been through this process is that NYS Department of Labor expects and handles these transition periods routinely. I'm going to follow the advice here - keep filing weekly, report the job offer honestly when prompted, and stop only when I actually start working and earning wages. Thanks to everyone for sharing their real-world experiences - it's made this whole situation so much less stressful!

been there done that. took night classes at SUNY while collecting benefits for almost a year. never had an issue as long as i kept applying for jobs and was honest about my availability

I was in almost the exact same situation last year! I enrolled in part-time evening classes while collecting unemployment and it worked out fine. The key things that helped me: 1) I made sure my class schedule was only evenings/weekends so I was available for work during normal business hours, 2) I kept detailed records of all my job applications and interviews to show I was actively seeking work, and 3) When I filled out my weekly certifications, I answered "yes" to being available for work since I truly was available during typical work hours. NYS Department of Labor never questioned it. Just be prepared to drop a class if you get a job offer that conflicts with your schedule - your unemployment benefits depend on you being willing to accept suitable work. Good luck with school and the job search!

The key thing to remember is that PFL and unemployment serve different purposes under NYS Department of Labor rules. PFL is administered through your employer's insurance carrier, while unemployment is directly through NYS Department of Labor. Make sure you understand which benefit better fits your current needs before making the switch.

I'm dealing with a similar situation right now. From what I've learned, you definitely need to be strategic about timing. Since you're already on unemployment, you might want to calculate whether PFL would provide better financial support for your family caregiving period. PFL typically pays about 67% of your average weekly wage (up to a cap), while unemployment varies. Also consider that PFL has a maximum duration of 12 weeks per benefit year, so you'll want to make sure that timeframe aligns with your mom's care needs. It's worth calling both programs to get exact figures for your situation before making the switch.

I went through this exact situation last year. You CAN attend school while on unemployment in NY, but you need to be strategic about it. I enrolled in a part-time evening program and made sure to document that I was available for work during normal business hours. The key things: 1) Keep doing your job searches and applying to positions, 2) Be honest on your weekly certifications about your availability, and 3) Make sure your class schedule doesn't conflict with potential work opportunities. I actually ended up getting a better job because of the skills I learned while on unemployment. Just don't try to hide it - be upfront with DOL if they ask about your activities.

I'm currently in a similar situation and have been researching this extensively. From what I've learned, New York does allow you to attend school while collecting unemployment, but you need to be very careful about how you handle it. The main requirement is that you must remain "able and available" for work. This means if an employer calls you for an interview or job offer, you need to be able to accept it immediately. I'd recommend calling the Department of Labor directly to discuss your specific program before enrolling - each situation can be different depending on the type of classes, schedule, and duration. Better to get official guidance upfront than risk having to pay benefits back later. Also consider looking into whether your program might qualify for any workforce development programs that could provide additional support while you're transitioning.