Just to add - if you're also receiving any actual public assistance like food stamps or emergency rental assistance, those would need to be disclosed separately. But regular UI benefits from NYS Department of Labor are definitely earned income, not public assistance.

I was in a similar situation a few months ago and can confirm what others have said - unemployment is definitely NOT public assistance in NY. It's earned income that you're entitled to because you worked and paid into the system. When I filled out rental applications, I listed it under "temporary income" and included my benefit determination letter from NYS DOL. Most landlords understood once they saw the official documentation. Just be upfront about it being temporary and maybe mention any job interviews or prospects you have lined up. Good luck with your apartment search!

Just wanted to add my experience here - I had the same mobile login nightmare for about a month! What finally worked for me was using Firefox mobile with these specific steps: 1) Clear all site data for labor.ny.gov, 2) Enable desktop mode in Firefox settings, 3) Turn off any VPN if you're using one, 4) Make sure you're on a stable connection, and 5) Try logging in during early morning hours (like 6-7 AM) when server load is lighter. The mobile site is absolutely broken but this combo has been working consistently for me for the past few weeks. Also pro tip - bookmark the direct login page once you get in because navigating through their homepage on mobile is another nightmare entirely! Hope this helps someone avoid the frustration I went through 🤞

Just wanted to share what's been working for me after struggling with this for months! I've been using Microsoft Edge mobile with these specific steps: 1) Force stop the app completely and clear all Edge data, 2) Open Edge and immediately go to settings to enable "Request desktop site" before navigating anywhere, 3) Turn off WiFi and use cellular data (seems to work way better with their servers), 4) Navigate directly to labor.ny.gov/signin rather than going through the homepage, and 5) Log in during non-peak hours (I've had best success between 5-7 AM). The key thing I discovered is to NEVER switch between desktop/mobile modes once you're on the site - their session management is completely broken and will lock you out. Also if you get any kind of error, don't try to refresh or go back - just close Edge entirely and start the whole process over. It's absolutely insane that we need these elaborate rituals just to access unemployment benefits in 2025, but this method has gotten me through consistently for the past 3 weeks. Hope it helps someone else avoid the endless login loop nightmare! 🤞

To clarify for the original poster - based on what you've described with 2 years at your previous job and 6 weeks at your current job, you would almost certainly qualify for unemployment benefits if you were laid off. Your previous job earnings would definitely count toward your base period requirements. The key is having sufficient total earnings and having worked in multiple quarters, which you clearly have.

Just wanted to add some additional info that might be helpful - if you do end up needing to file for unemployment, make sure you have all your wage information ready from both jobs. NYS DOL will need your W-2s or pay stubs to verify your earnings during the base period. Also, since you mentioned potential layoffs, know that if you're laid off through no fault of your own, you should definitely qualify based on your work history. The 3-month gap between jobs won't hurt you as long as your total earnings meet the threshold. Keep documentation of everything just in case!

update: just got my payment this morning! so it was just delayed by one day like the other person said. hope everyone else gets theirs soon too

Thanks for the update @CaptainAwesome! That's reassuring to hear. I'm still waiting on mine but feeling a bit less anxious knowing others are starting to receive their delayed payments. For anyone else still waiting, it might be worth setting up text alerts through your bank if you haven't already - that way you'll know immediately when it hits your account instead of constantly checking.

I'm actually having the same issue! Certified Sunday and nothing in my account today. I've been receiving benefits since November 2024 and this is the first delay. Glad I'm not the only one experiencing this - makes me feel a bit better that it's probably a system issue rather than something with my specific claim.

UPDATE: My payment just hit my account about an hour ago (Thursday morning)! Just one day late. Hopefully yours arrives today too!