I went through this exact situation about 8 months ago when my company closed down. The good news is that business closure is definitely qualifying for unemployment benefits - it's considered involuntary separation. A few tips from my experience: definitely file your claim on your last day of work (not before), have your pay stubs and any company documentation about the closure ready, and be prepared for the work search requirements to kick in after your first week. The initial application took me about 45 minutes online, and I got my first payment about 2 weeks later. Also, your employer should provide you with a separation notice or layoff letter - keep that handy as NYS Department of Labor will likely want to see it. Hang in there, the system does work even though it can feel overwhelming at first!

I'm in a similar boat - my employer just gave us notice that they're closing in 6 weeks. Reading through all these responses is really helpful! I'm wondering about one thing though - should I start gathering documents now or wait until closer to my last day? Also, has anyone had experience with how the benefit amount gets calculated? I'm trying to figure out what to expect financially while I job search.

I just wanted to jump in here as someone who went through this exact same anxiety just a few months ago. Filed my NY unemployment claim in December after getting laid off from my office job, and I was absolutely panicking about the timeline too. My experience was right in that 7-14 day range everyone's mentioning - took exactly 13 days from filing to first payment. The key things that helped me: 1. Keep doing those weekly certifications religiously - this seems to be the #1 most important thing 2. Check your online account daily but try not to obsess (easier said than done, I know!) 3. Make sure you're checking the Messages section, not just payment status 4. Have backup plans ready - I talked to my landlord early, signed up for food assistance, and looked into utility payment deferrals The waiting is honestly the worst part, but it sounds like you're doing everything right. Your situation (3 years same employer, straightforward layoff) should process pretty smoothly. One thing that really helped my peace of mind was remembering that when it does come through, you'll get backpay for all the weeks you've been certifying. So even though the wait is stressful, you're not actually losing money - just having to wait longer to access it. Hang in there! Based on what you've described, I'd be surprised if you don't hear something positive within the next week or so.

I'm going through the exact same situation right now! Filed my NY unemployment claim three days ago after getting laid off from my retail job, and I've been obsessively checking this thread and my account status every few hours. Reading through everyone's experiences here has been both reassuring and nerve-wracking - it's clear the timeline really varies depending on your specific situation. But what's giving me hope is that most people with straightforward employment situations (like yours with 3 years at the same warehouse) seem to fall into that 7-14 day range. I've already started implementing the advice from this thread: - Set up text alerts on my NY.gov account - Been checking my Messages section daily for any questionnaires or requests - Made sure my direct deposit info is correct - Got my weekly certification reminder set for Sunday mornings - Had the proactive conversation with my landlord (which went way better than expected!) The hardest part is definitely just the uncertainty and waiting. But this community has been amazing for practical tips and moral support. Really hoping we both get good news soon! Please keep us updated on how your claim progresses - it would be great to have someone on almost the same timeline to compare notes with. Fingers crossed for both of us! 🤞

I'm dealing with a similar situation right now and this thread has been incredibly helpful! I was terminated last week for attendance issues - mostly due to my public transportation being unreliable during the winter months and a few family emergencies. Reading everyone's experiences gives me confidence to file my claim even though I'm worried about the misconduct aspect. One question I have - for those who successfully appealed or got approved, how important was it to have witnesses or third-party verification of your circumstances? I have some text messages to family members about the train delays and one email to my supervisor about a family emergency, but I'm wondering if that's enough or if I need more formal documentation. Planning to file this week and start gathering everything I can find!

I went through this exact situation about 8 months ago - fired for chronic lateness due to a combination of childcare issues and car problems. Here's what I wish I had known from the start: even though it feels hopeless, you absolutely should file your claim immediately. NYS Department of Labor will initially look at it as misconduct, but the adjudication process is where you can really make your case. I gathered everything I could think of - repair receipts, text messages about childcare emergencies, even my bank statements showing daycare payments to prove I had legitimate responsibilities. The adjudicator spent about 20 minutes on the phone with me going through each incident, and I was able to explain the circumstances behind every single tardy arrival. What really helped was creating a timeline matching each attendance issue to the specific problem that caused it. Even though I didn't have formal documentation at work, I could show these were real circumstances, not just excuses. My claim was approved after the appeal. Don't give up before you even try - the system is designed to help people who face genuine hardships, not just punish everyone who gets fired.

I work for a legal aid organization that helps with unemployment cases, and I want to emphasize that withdrawing your appeal is absolutely a valid option when you've reassessed your situation. The fact that you're being realistic about your chances shows good judgment. One thing I'd add to the excellent advice already given - when you send your withdrawal request, include your full name, Social Security number, and case/appeal number to make sure they can process it quickly. Also, if you have any documentation from when you originally filed the appeal, reference that in your withdrawal letter. The Appeals Office handles these requests routinely, so don't worry about it being unusual. You're making a smart decision to withdraw rather than potentially making your situation worse at a hearing.

I withdrew my appeal a few months ago and the process was actually pretty straightforward. I called the Appeals Office first to ask about the procedure, and they told me I needed to send a written request. I sent an email with my case number, SSN, and a simple statement that I wanted to withdraw my appeal. They responded within 3 business days confirming receipt and then sent me an official withdrawal letter about a week later. My hearing was automatically cancelled once they processed the withdrawal. The whole thing took maybe 10 days total. Don't stress too much about it - you're making the right call if you know you don't have a strong case. Better to withdraw now than risk making things worse at the hearing.

UPDATE: Finally got through! The issue was that I had a "wage verification hold" on my account. Apparently my employer reported different quarterly wages than what I had stated on my application (difference of like $240 total). The supervisor was able to verify my income using my tax documents and release ALL my held payments! They're scheduled to deposit tomorrow. Such a relief. Thank you all for your help and suggestions - especially about asking for the specific hold code and requesting a claim summary. That immediately helped the supervisor identify the issue.

Congratulations on getting it resolved! This is such a helpful thread - I'm bookmarking it for future reference. It's crazy how a $240 discrepancy can hold up weeks of payments, but at least now we know to ask about wage verification holds specifically. Your persistence really paid off, and thanks for taking the time to update us with the solution!