Hey Dylan! I actually just went through this exact same nightmare with my apartment complex last month. What finally worked for me was going to my local One-Stop Career Center in person with my ID and explaining the situation. The staff there was able to print out something called a "Benefit Year Summary" that clearly showed my claim start date, end date (Sept 4th), and total benefits received. It took about 15 minutes and was completely free. Way easier than dealing with the phone system! The document looked official enough that my landlord accepted it immediately. You can find your nearest career center on the NY DOL website under "Find a Career Center." Definitely worth trying before paying for a service or waiting on hold forever.

I'm going through a similar situation right now and this thread has been incredibly helpful! Based on what everyone's shared, it sounds like there are several viable options - from going to a career center in person to using specific terminology when calling. My landlord is also being really difficult about documentation, so I totally feel your frustration Dylan. I'm planning to try the career center approach first since it seems like the most straightforward option that doesn't involve waiting on hold forever. Really appreciate everyone sharing their experiences and solutions here!

This thread is incredibly valuable for anyone dealing with NY unemployment payment delays! I've been on the system for about 6 weeks now and fortunately haven't had any major delays yet, but reading through everyone's experiences here has really prepared me for what to expect if/when I do encounter issues. The most helpful takeaway for me is understanding that "PROCESSED" in the NYSDOL system means the payment has actually been released and any delays are typically on the banking/ACH processing side rather than an issue with your actual claim. That's such an important distinction that could save a lot of unnecessary stress! I also had no idea that reporting part-time income for the first time could cause processing delays - that's definitely something they should mention more prominently in the system or FAQ. It seems like such a common scenario based on the experiences shared here. Thanks to everyone who contributed their knowledge and experiences, especially @Norman Fraser for sharing the full journey from panic to resolution. This is exactly the kind of peer support that makes navigating unemployment so much easier!

As someone who just joined this community after recently losing my job, I can't tell you how reassuring this entire thread has been to read! I'm still waiting for my first unemployment payment to be approved, but seeing how the community came together to help @Norman Fraser understand what was happening with his delayed payment gives me so much confidence that I'm not alone in this process. The explanation about first-time income reporting causing delays is incredibly valuable - I had no idea that could happen! I'm planning to do some gig work while collecting benefits, so knowing to expect a potential delay the first time I report income will definitely help me plan my finances better. What really impressed me is how knowledgeable everyone is about the technical details - from banking ACH processing to NYSDOL system quirks. This is the kind of real-world information you just can't get from official sources. Thank you to everyone who took the time to share their experiences and help explain the process. This community is exactly what I needed to find as I navigate unemployment for the first time!

Congratulations on the new job! Just make sure you keep all your employment documentation in case NYS Department of Labor needs to verify anything later. It's always better to be over-prepared when dealing with unemployment claims.

Just want to add that you should also make sure to update your contact information with NYS Department of Labor if your employment status changes, especially if you get employer-provided health insurance. They sometimes need to verify benefit eligibility and having current info helps avoid any delays or complications. Also, if this new job doesn't work out for any reason, you'll want to have everything properly documented to potentially reopen your claim later.

Been waiting in this exact status for about 10 days now and honestly it's nerve-wracking! But seeing everyone's responses here is reassuring. Seems like most people who hit the "determining benefits" stage do end up getting approved eventually. I have all my documents ready just in case they need anything else. Thanks for asking this question OP - was wondering the same thing myself!

Just went through this exact same thing last month! My status said "determining benefits" for about 8 days and I was refreshing the portal constantly lol. Then one morning I woke up and had my first payment deposited! The key thing is they're calculating your weekly benefit amount based on your earnings history. As long as you worked enough qualifying hours and didn't quit voluntarily, you should be good. Just make sure you keep certifying weekly even while they're determining your benefits. Pro tip: set up direct deposit if you haven't already - it's way faster than waiting for the debit card. Good luck! 🤞

same boat here, thanks for asking this question! Really helpful thread.

Just to add some clarity - I went through this exact situation last year. The NYS Department of Labor website has a specific section called "Work Search Requirements" that breaks everything down. You need to document your job search activities and be prepared to provide proof if requested. This includes the employer name, position applied for, date of contact, and method of contact. I kept a simple spreadsheet that saved me when I got randomly selected for a review. Also, don't forget that you can count things like updating your resume, attending virtual job fairs, or even informational interviews as valid job search activities. The key is being genuine about your efforts and keeping good records.