I'm currently going through a furlough situation too - started last Monday. Just wanted to confirm what others have said: yes, you can definitely file for unemployment benefits in NY as a furloughed employee! I filed my claim online the day after my last work day and it was pretty straightforward. The system asks about your employment status and there's an option for "temporarily laid off" which covers furloughs. One tip that helped me - when they ask for your employer's information, make sure you have their full legal business name and FEIN number ready. You can usually find this on your pay stub or W-2. Also, don't stress too much about the job search requirement - I've been applying to a few positions each week just to meet the requirement, but you're not expected to take another job if your employer calls you back early. The benefits have been processing normally for me so far. Hang in there - this situation is stressful but the unemployment system does work for furloughed workers!

I went through a furlough last spring and want to add one more important tip - when you file your unemployment claim, make sure to keep a copy of any communication from your employer about the furlough (emails, letters, etc.). NYS Department of Labor may ask for documentation proving that you were indeed furloughed and not just laid off or fired. Also, if your employer offers any kind of partial pay or benefits during the furlough, you'll need to report that when you do your weekly certifications. Even small amounts can affect your benefit calculation. The good news is that most furlough situations are pretty clear-cut for unemployment eligibility - you're not working, not getting paid, but still technically employed. Just be honest and thorough in all your reporting and you should be fine!

Just wanted to add my experience since I literally went through this exact same situation last week! Seeing that $0.00 waiting week was honestly terrifying - I thought I had completely messed up my application somehow. But after reading through all these responses, it's clear this is just standard NY procedure that everyone has to deal with. I'm with Navy Federal and based on everyone's timing info here, I should expect my first real payment to hit Tuesday or Wednesday after my next weekly certification. The hardest part is definitely that psychological aspect of seeing $0.00 when you're already stressed about being unemployed, but knowing it's not an error makes it so much easier to handle. Big thanks to everyone who shared their bank deposit timings - that's incredibly helpful for planning purposes! And I've already set up weekly reminders on my phone after seeing how many people emphasized not missing any certifications. This thread has been way more informative than anything I could find on the official DOL site. You guys are lifesavers! 🙏

Going through this exact same thing right now! Just filed my claim and seeing that $0.00 waiting week was definitely a shock at first. Reading through everyone's experiences here is so reassuring though - sounds like this is just standard NY procedure and not something I messed up on my application. I'm with Credit Union and hoping to see my first real payment Tuesday/Wednesday like everyone else has mentioned. The job loss stress combined with that confusing $0.00 amount is tough, but this community has been amazing for explaining what's actually happening. Already set up my weekly phone reminders after reading how important it is not to miss any certifications. Thanks everyone for sharing your timelines and bank info - way more helpful than the DOL website! 🙏

@Ana Rusula - I had similar issues with the my.ny.gov site last year! In addition to the browser tips mentioned above, I'd also suggest trying to file your claim on a weekday between 6-8 AM when server traffic is lowest. If you're still having problems after trying different browsers and the SSN format fix, there's also a local American Job Center in Rochester at 200 Midtown Plaza that sometimes helps people troubleshoot online filing issues. They can't file claims directly for you anymore, but the staff there are pretty knowledgeable about common website problems. Also, make sure your popup blockers are disabled - that was blocking some verification screens for me. Hope this helps and you get it sorted out soon!

I went through this exact same nightmare a few months ago! The SSN verification error is super common. Here's what finally worked for me: 1) Use Edge or Internet Explorer (not Chrome/Firefox), 2) Clear ALL browser data including cookies and cache, 3) Enter your SSN with no dashes/spaces, 4) Disable any ad blockers or popup blockers, and 5) Try filing between 6-8 AM when the system is less busy. If none of that works, you likely have a data mismatch in their system that requires human intervention. The Rochester American Job Center at 200 Midtown Plaza can help troubleshoot, and if you absolutely can't get through by phone, there's also a NY State Senator's office constituent services that can sometimes expedite these issues. Don't give up - it's frustrating but you'll get through eventually!

I've been dealing with the exact same nightmare since April - getting that immediate hangup every single time I call. Reading through this thread has been like finding a goldmine of actual solutions after months of useless "just keep trying" advice from everywhere else. I'm definitely going to try the Spanish line (1-888-209-8124) first thing tomorrow at 7:59am based on all the success stories here. I've got my landline ready, all documents organized, and I'm going to ask for supervisor escalation immediately like Yara suggested. One thing I wanted to add - I just discovered that some local libraries have free phone services you can use if you don't have access to a landline. The librarian at my branch mentioned they've had several people come in specifically to make unemployment calls because cell phones weren't working. Might be worth checking if your library offers this! This community support has been incredible. It's so much better than fighting this broken system alone. I'll definitely update everyone on how the Spanish line strategy works out. Fingers crossed we can add another success story to this thread! 🤞

I've been dealing with a nearly identical situation since June - stuck claim, immediate hangups, the whole nightmare. This thread has been absolutely incredible to discover! The collective wisdom here is better than anything I've found through official channels. I wanted to add one more strategy that worked for my sister last month: she had success calling during her lunch break around 12:15pm on Wednesdays. Apparently there's sometimes a brief window when call volume drops while people are at lunch. She got through after trying this timing for about a week. Also, for anyone considering the Claimyr service that Henrietta mentioned - I was skeptical too but ended up trying it after six weeks of failed calls. It worked exactly as described and I felt comfortable with their process. They just need your phone number to connect the call, then you speak directly with the NYSDOL agent yourself. Diego, with your timeline since May and housing pressure, you absolutely need to mention "financial hardship" and "potential eviction" in the first 30 seconds of any call. They have special protocols for housing emergencies that can fast-track your case significantly. The Spanish line strategy (1-888-209-8124) seems to be the breakthrough method based on multiple success stories here. Definitely try that at 7:59-8:01am with all your documents ready. This community has given you an incredible toolkit - you're going to get through this!

I'm dealing with a similar work authorization situation right now and it's incredibly stressful. From what I've researched, you typically need to maintain valid work authorization to be eligible for unemployment benefits in NY. However, I've heard that if you have a pending I-485 (adjustment of status) application, you might be able to maintain eligibility under certain circumstances. The key seems to be whether you can legally accept employment if offered. I'd definitely recommend getting in touch with both an immigration attorney and trying to speak with someone at NYS Department of Labor who specializes in these complex cases. Don't wait until the last minute - start making those calls now while you still have time to explore your options. Also, keep pushing your employer on that extension filing - 6 weeks is cutting it really close!

I went through almost this exact situation two years ago with my H-1B renewal. Unfortunately, NYS Department of Labor is very strict about work authorization - once your permit expires, you're no longer considered "able and available for work" which is a core requirement for UI benefits. Even though you've been paying in, eligibility depends on your current status, not past contributions. The one potential exception I learned about was if you have certain pending applications (like I-485 adjustment of status) that might allow you to continue working legally, but this varies case by case. My advice: 1) Push your employer HARD on filing that extension NOW - 6 weeks is really tight, 2) Consult with an immigration attorney about your specific situation and any pending applications you might have, and 3) Try to get through to someone at NYS Department of Labor who deals with complex eligibility cases (though as others mentioned, this can be frustrating). Document everything with your employer about the delay too - you might need it later. Really hoping your employer comes through for you soon!