Just wanted to add that you can also appeal your benefit calculation if you think there's an error. I had to do this when they missed including wages from a job where I worked the last few weeks of a quarter. The appeal process took about 6 weeks but they corrected my weekly amount from $298 to $421. Make sure to gather all your pay stubs and W-2s before filing an appeal though - they'll want documentation of all your earnings during the base period. The deadline to appeal is usually 30 days from when you receive your monetary determination letter.

One thing that caught me off guard was that the base period might not be what you expect - it's not the most recent four quarters, but the first four of the last five completed quarters. So there's actually a lag period where your most recent earnings might not count yet. When I filed in March, they were looking at my earnings from the previous January through December, not including January-February of the current year. This is called the "standard base period." If your earnings were higher in more recent quarters, you might be able to request they use the "alternate base period" which shifts everything forward by one quarter. Worth asking about if you think your recent earnings would give you a higher benefit rate!

I'm on day 2 of my unemployment claim review and honestly, finding this thread has been such a relief! I was starting to panic thinking maybe I missed something in my application or that the "under review" status meant there was a problem. It's really comforting to see so many people sharing similar experiences and that the 7-10 business day timeline seems pretty standard for layoff cases. I got laid off from my marketing job due to budget cuts, so hopefully that should be straightforward like everyone's saying. The lack of transparency from NYS DOL is definitely frustrating - even a simple progress indicator would help so much with the anxiety. Thanks to everyone who's shared their timelines and experiences here. It really helps to know this waiting period is normal even though it feels like torture when you're worried about paying rent!

I'm on day 10 of waiting for my unemployment claim review after being laid off from my retail job when the store closed permanently. Reading through everyone's experiences here has been incredibly reassuring! It sounds like I'm right at the edge of that typical 7-10 business day window that most people have mentioned. The "under review" status has been driving me absolutely crazy - I've definitely been one of those people checking the portal multiple times a day hoping for some kind of update. It's wild how much stress this process creates when you're already dealing with the uncertainty of unemployment. The suggestion about limiting portal checks to once daily is brilliant and something I really need to implement. Thanks to everyone who shared their timelines - it really helps to know this waiting period is completely normal even though it feels endless when bills are piling up!

Also remember you can collect for up to 26 weeks in NY (longer if there are extensions), and you need to do the weekly job search requirements. Make sure you keep track of your job applications because they can ask for proof at any time.

Just wanted to add that if you're in marketing like Wesley, you might want to look into freelance or contract work while collecting benefits. In NY, you can earn up to 25% of your weekly benefit rate without it affecting your unemployment payments. So with a $504 weekly benefit, you could earn about $126 per week from side work. This can help bridge the gap financially while you're job hunting. Just make sure to report any earnings when you do your weekly certification.

Don't stress too much about it if you've been reporting everything honestly! I was on unemployment for about 6 months last year and had the same worries. The key thing is that NYS DOL has to prove you did something wrong - they can't just randomly decide you owe money. Most overpayment cases happen when people either don't report work income, work while claiming they're available, or provide false information. Since you mentioned you've been reporting your temp jobs, you're already doing the right thing. The system is actually pretty good at catching discrepancies early on, so if you were going to have issues, you'd likely know within a few weeks rather than months later.

I totally understand your anxiety about this - I was the same way when I was collecting benefits. One thing that really helped ease my mind was setting up a simple spreadsheet to track everything: dates I filed claims, any work I reported, amounts I earned, etc. That way if anything ever comes up, you have your own records to back up what you reported. Also, remember that the vast majority of people who file honestly never have issues. The horror stories tend to get shared more than the success stories where everything goes smoothly. You're being proactive by asking about this, which shows you're taking it seriously and doing things right.

Based on recent NYSDOL data, here's what most claimants can expect in 2025: - Simple claims (clean work history, employer doesn't contest): 1-2 weeks - Standard claims (typical situation): 2-3 weeks - Complex claims (multiple employers, eligibility questions): 3-6+ weeks The most important thing is to keep certifying weekly while you wait and respond immediately to any requests for additional information. About 70% of delays are caused by missing documentation or unanswered questions.

Just wanted to add that you should also make sure to keep detailed records of your job search activities from day one, even while waiting for approval. NY requires you to make at least 3 job contacts per week once benefits start, and they can ask for proof retroactively. I learned this the hard way when they requested my job search log during a random audit. Keep a simple spreadsheet with company names, dates, positions applied for, and contact methods. It'll save you headaches later!