Just to clarify the calculation for everyone - NYS uses your base period which is the first 4 of the last 5 completed calendar quarters before you file. So if you file in January 2025, your base period would be October 2023 through September 2024. They take your highest quarter earnings, divide by 26, and that's your weekly benefit rate (up to the maximum of $504 in 2025). If you don't have enough wages in the standard base period, you might qualify for the alternate base period which uses more recent quarters.

If your benefit amount seems wrong, I'd definitely recommend filing an appeal or requesting a wage investigation like others mentioned. I had a similar situation where my benefits were calculated using an old part-time job instead of my recent full-time position. The NYS Department of Labor recalculated after I provided additional documentation, and my weekly benefit went from $165 to $312. Don't just accept it if you think there's an error - you have rights to challenge the determination. The worst they can say is that the original calculation was correct, but you might discover missing wage reports or other issues that can be fixed.

Also wanted to add - if you're really stuck without any device, some community centers and workforce development offices have computers you can use for government stuff like this. Call 211 and they can help you find locations near you. Don't let them suspend your benefits over something like this!

Just went through this same situation last month! If you have a smartphone, that's totally fine to use. Download the Teams app and test it beforehand to make sure your camera/mic work. Also heads up - they might ask you to show your ID on camera, so have that ready. The whole thing was way less stressful than I thought it would be. Good luck! 🤞

This is happening to SO many people right now! I've been dealing with the same thing for the past week - three payments showing "released" but my bank account is still empty. After reading through all these comments, I'm definitely going to call tomorrow and specifically ask about manual review flags and backend processing errors like @StellarSurfer mentioned. It's crazy that we have to become detective investigators just to get our own benefits! Has anyone had luck with calling at a specific time of day? I've been trying in the mornings but wondering if afternoons might be better. This whole system is such a mess and it's causing so much unnecessary stress when people are already struggling 😔

Just wanted to add my experience for anyone else dealing with this - I had the exact same issue last year where payments showed "released" for almost 3 weeks but never hit my account. Turns out there was some kind of security flag on my account that nobody mentioned until I got the right rep. What finally worked for me was calling and specifically asking them to check for "payment holds," "security reviews," and "processing flags" on my account. Don't let them give you the basic "everything looks good" response - ask them to actually pull up your payment details and check the status codes. Also, if the first rep can't help, politely ask for a supervisor or to have your case escalated. It's frustrating that we have to be so persistent but unfortunately that seems to be the only way to get real help with these payment issues. Hang in there everyone! 🙏

hang in there! mine took 6 weeks but eventually got approved and they paid me for all the back weeks

I'm going through the exact same thing right now - filed in early February after my retail job ended and it's been "pending adjudication" for almost 4 weeks. The uncertainty is killing me because I have no idea if there's an actual issue or if it's just taking forever. I've tried calling so many times that I've memorized the automated message. At least it helps to know other people are dealing with this too and that there's still hope it'll get resolved eventually.

I had my phone interview about 6 months ago and wanted to add a few things that really helped me feel prepared. Beyond the basics everyone mentioned about separation reason and job search activities, they also asked me about any unions I might have been part of and whether I received any final paychecks or benefits after my last day of work. They wanted to know the exact dollar amounts of my final pay too. One thing that really put me at ease was that the interviewer actually started by explaining the purpose of the call and letting me know it was just a standard part of the process - not because there was any problem with my claim. They also told me at the beginning that I could ask them to repeat any question if I didn't understand it clearly. My biggest advice is to speak slowly and clearly since it's over the phone, and don't be afraid to take a moment to think before answering. The interviewer was patient and gave me time to gather my thoughts. The whole thing felt very routine and professional, nothing like an interrogation. You're going to do fine!

I just had my phone interview last week and wanted to share what really helped me prepare! Beyond all the great advice here about job separation and search activities, they also asked me about my wage history - specifically my earnings in the base period they used to calculate my benefits. Make sure you have your pay stubs or tax documents handy because they might ask you to verify the amounts they have on file. They also asked if I had any dependents and whether my spouse was working (this can affect benefit calculations). One thing that surprised me was they asked about my education level and any professional licenses or certifications I have - I think they use this info to understand what types of jobs you're qualified for. The interviewer was really thorough but not at all aggressive about it. They even thanked me at the end for being prepared and cooperative! The key is just having all your employment and financial info organized beforehand. Don't worry too much - it sounds way scarier than it actually is. Most of us here got through it just fine and you will too!