I'm in a similar boat - just started working at a synagogue a few months ago and wasn't sure about the unemployment situation if things don't work out. From reading everyone's responses it sounds like most religious organizations in NY do participate in the unemployment system. It's reassuring to know that filing won't cause any issues even if there's uncertainty about eligibility. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences, this thread has been really informative for those of us working in religious organizations!

I was in a very similar situation last year when I got laid off from my job as a youth coordinator at a Methodist church in upstate NY. I was so worried about the religious exemption issue that I almost didn't file, but I'm glad I did! My claim was approved without any issues. The church had been paying unemployment taxes all along. The NYS Department of Labor representatives I spoke with said that most churches in New York do participate in the system unless they're very small operations. Don't let the religious aspect discourage you from filing - you earned those benefits through your work. The online application process was straightforward and I received my first payment within a few weeks. Best of luck with your claim!

Just remember that unemployment is taxable income so don't spend it all thinking it's free money. You'll owe taxes on it next year unless you have them withhold taxes from your weekly payments.

Just went through this process myself after getting laid off from my retail job. One thing to keep in mind is that your benefit amount is based on your earnings during your "base period" which is usually the first 4 of the last 5 completed calendar quarters before you filed. So if you just started that warehouse job recently, your benefits might be calculated on lower wages from a previous job. Also, there's a one-week waiting period before you start receiving benefits, so factor that into your budget planning. The $440/week estimate sounds about right for your wage level though.

Thanks everyone for all the helpful info! Based on what I'm reading here, it sounds like calling right at 8am is my best bet to get through and have them manually add my Chime account. If that doesn't work, I'll probably go with the debit card option since paper checks take forever. Really appreciate everyone sharing their experiences - this community is so helpful when dealing with these frustrating government systems!

Just wanted to add that I had success using a local credit union account when Chime wasn't working. Opened an account at a small credit union near me and the direct deposit went through immediately with no issues. The fees were way lower than the NY debit card option too. If you can't get through to NYSDOL by phone, credit unions seem to be a solid backup plan that works with their system!

I'm dealing with a similar situation right now! Just wanted to add that if you're having trouble with the phone options, another thing that worked for my cousin was using the "Contact Us" form on the NY DOL website. It's under the "Get Help" section. She explained her phone number change issue in detail and included her SSN and old phone number in the message. They actually responded within 3 business days (which is pretty fast for government stuff) and sent her instructions to verify her identity and update her contact info. Not as fast as calling, but it's another option if you're getting nowhere with the phone lines. Just make sure to be super detailed about your situation and include all your identifying info so they can help you right away. Good luck getting this sorted out! 💪

I just went through this exact same headache last month! What finally worked for me was a combination of approaches. First, I tried the password reset with my old number like @61d990d64ed3 suggested, but that didn't work since I no longer had access to that phone. Then I found out about the "Account Recovery" option that @b9ced393b56c mentioned - that's KEY! It's separate from the regular password reset and lets you verify with your SSN and security questions instead of needing the old phone number. If that doesn't work, definitely try the technical support line at 518-457-9000 that @1dc1fac72b82 shared - press 3 then 2 for account access issues. Be very specific that it's a phone number change problem. I also had success with the online contact form as a backup plan. The most important thing is DON'T PANIC! I know it feels like you're going to miss your certification, but they can backdate it once you get access restored. I was stressed for nothing. You've got multiple good options here - one of them will definitely work! Keep us posted on what ends up working for you! 🙌

Just want to add - make sure you have your Social Security number, driver's license, and employment info for the last 18 months ready when you file online. The system will ask for details about your previous employers including dates, wages, and reason you left each job. Having this info organized beforehand will make the application process much smoother and reduce chances of delays.

Just went through this process myself a few months ago. One thing I wish someone had told me - even though you can file immediately, there's a mandatory one-week waiting period before you can receive your first payment. So even if your claim gets approved quickly, you won't get paid for that first week. Also, make sure you set up direct deposit when you file - getting checks by mail can add another few days to each payment. The whole process from filing to first payment took me about 3.5 weeks, but that first payment covered weeks 2-3 of unemployment since week 1 is the waiting period.