Just wanted to chime in as someone who's been collecting NY unemployment for about a year now! That waiting week is definitely confusing when you first see it - I remember staring at that $0.00 amount thinking I had messed something up. But it's 100% normal and everyone has to go through it. Think of it as NY's way of making sure you're legitimately unemployed before they start sending payments. After your waiting week ends, you should start seeing your actual benefit amount in your next weekly certification. I'm with KeyBank and typically get deposits on Tuesday mornings around 7am. The key things to remember: never miss a weekly certification (even during the waiting week!), set up direct deposit if you haven't already, and unfortunately that first week's money is gone forever - you won't get it back later. The system definitely has its quirks but once you get into the rhythm of weekly claims, it's pretty reliable. And pro tip - if you ever need to call them, try calling right when they open at 8am on Tuesday or Wednesday. Those seem to be the best times to actually get through. You're almost past the hardest part though - hang in there! 💪

Just went through this exact same situation a few months ago! That $0.00 waiting week is completely normal - everyone who files for NY unemployment has to do it. It's basically the state's way of confirming you're actually unemployed before they start cutting checks. After that waiting week ends, your next weekly certification should show your actual benefit amount. I bank with HSBC and typically see my deposits hit on Tuesday mornings around 6am. The frustrating part is that waiting week money is gone forever - you don't get it back retroactively. But once you're past that first hurdle, payments are pretty consistent as long as you keep up with your weekly certifications. Make sure you don't skip any weekly claims, even during that $0.00 week! Missing even one can really mess up your timeline and then you'll be stuck trying to get through on their phone lines which is a nightmare. Set up a weekly reminder on your phone if you haven't already - trust me on this one! You're almost through the hardest part. Once you see that first real payment come through, the whole process becomes much more manageable. Hang in there! 💪

I completely understand your concern - I was in a similar situation last year and had the same worries! The NYS DOL does have comprehensive monitoring systems in place, but they're really focused on catching deliberate fraud rather than honest reporting errors. They use cross-referencing with employer wage reports, new hire databases, and quarterly filings to verify information. What gave me peace of mind was keeping detailed records of everything - even small cash jobs or gig work - and always erring on the side of over-reporting rather than under-reporting. The weekly certification process is your protection as long as you're truthful. I also learned that partial work is allowed and can actually extend your benefit period if reported correctly. The anxiety you're feeling actually shows you're taking it seriously and want to do the right thing, which is exactly the attitude that keeps you safe in this system!

I've been collecting unemployment for about 3 months now and had similar concerns early on. What really helped ease my anxiety was realizing that the DOL's monitoring systems are actually designed to work WITH honest claimants, not against them. I keep a simple notebook where I jot down any work I do (even if it's just a few hours of freelance work) before I fill out my weekly certification. The peace of mind that comes from knowing I'm being completely transparent is worth the extra effort. One thing that surprised me was learning that you can actually call the DOL if you're unsure about whether something needs to be reported - they'd rather help you report correctly than have you stress about it. Your diligence in reporting everything shows you're handling this exactly right!

I just started collecting NY unemployment this month and this entire thread has been absolutely incredible! I was doing the exact same Sunday morning panic routine as everyone else - multiple alarms, stressing if I wasn't logged in by 8 AM, thinking I'd lose everything if I missed that "deadline." Reading through all these experiences has completely changed my understanding of how flexible the system actually is. I had no idea you could certify any day through Saturday! I've already experienced those frustrating Sunday crashes where the site just crawls or times out completely. Based on all the feedback here, I'm definitely switching to either Monday or Tuesday morning certifications to avoid those weekend system issues entirely. The real payment timing details everyone shared are pure gold - knowing that certifying later in the week just delays payment by a day or two is so much more practical than the vague "2-3 business days" messaging from NYSDOL. This community is already proving to be way more valuable than the official resources for understanding how things actually work in practice. Thank you to everyone for being so generous with sharing your real-world knowledge and experiences!

This thread has been absolutely amazing to read through! I just started collecting NY unemployment three weeks ago and I've been living in constant Sunday morning anxiety, setting multiple alarms and thinking I'd lose my benefits if I didn't certify by some magical early hour. Reading everyone's experiences about the full week flexibility has been such a relief - I genuinely had no idea you could certify any day through Saturday! I've definitely experienced those Sunday system crashes already where pages just won't load or take forever to respond. The Monday/Tuesday morning certification strategy sounds perfect for avoiding all that weekend stress. What I find most valuable is hearing everyone's actual payment timing experiences - knowing that certifying on Monday typically means getting paid Wednesday instead of Tuesday is so much more practical than the vague "2-3 business days" on the official NYSDOL site. It's incredible how much real-world knowledge this community shares that you just can't find anywhere in the official documentation. Thank you to everyone for being so helpful and sharing your experiences - this discussion is going to save so many people from unnecessary certification anxiety!

Hey Luca! Just wanted to add that you should also make sure you're meeting the work search requirements while your claim is pending. In NY you need to make at least 3 work search contacts per week and keep records of them. You can do this through job applications, contacting employers directly, or attending job fairs. Don't forget to log these in your weekly certification - it's required even during the pending period. Good luck with your claim!

Just went through this same situation a few months ago! The waiting week elimination is still in effect for 2025, so you should get paid for your first week of unemployment once approved. One thing I wish someone had told me earlier - make sure you have direct deposit set up in your my.ny.gov account because paper checks can add extra delays. Also, keep all your employment documents handy (last pay stub, separation notice if you got one) in case they need additional verification. The restaurant industry layoffs are usually pretty straightforward for approval since it's clearly not your fault. Hang in there!

That's fantastic news! So glad you got it resolved. This thread is going to be super helpful for others dealing with the same issue. The "waiting week suspension flag" explanation really cleared things up for everyone. Thanks for updating us - it's always great to hear when these problems actually get fixed!

Amazing outcome! This whole thread is like a masterclass in navigating NY unemployment issues. The fact that @Morgan Washington provided such detailed insider knowledge about the "waiting week suspension flag" was incredibly valuable. And @Anna Stewart's Claimyr recommendation seems to be a game-changer for actually getting through to agents. It's frustrating that this kind of technical glitch is so common, but at least now we know exactly what to ask for when calling. Definitely bookmarking this thread for future reference - this should be required reading for anyone dealing with NY unemployment claims!