I completely understand the anxiety around this! I was in a similar boat after being laid off in 2023 and collecting benefits for about 4 months. What helped me get over the worry was realizing that unemployment insurance is literally designed for situations exactly like ours - it's not charity or something to be ashamed of, it's insurance we all pay into through our paychecks specifically so it's there when we need it. I ended up landing a great position and the topic never even came up during the process. Your skills and qualifications are what matter to employers, not whether you used a safety net program while searching. You've got this!

I'm going through something similar right now! I was laid off in January and have been collecting benefits while job searching. Reading all these responses is so reassuring - I had no idea that employers can't access unemployment records. I've been debating whether to mention it during interviews when they ask about my employment gap, but it sounds like I can just focus on explaining that I was laid off and am looking for the right opportunity. It's wild how much mental energy we spend worrying about things that employers probably don't even think twice about. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences - this thread is exactly what I needed to see today!

OMG I'm so glad you asked this question! I've been freaking out about the same thing. Just lost my job at a restaurant downtown and filed last Friday. Been googling constantly trying to figure out if I'd have to wait a whole week with no income. This thread is so helpful - I was about to panic.

Just wanted to confirm what others have said - NY definitely eliminated the waiting week back in March 2020 and it's been permanent since then. I went through this process about 6 months ago and got paid starting from my first eligible week. The 10 days you've waited is totally normal for initial processing. NYS DOL usually takes 2-3 weeks for that first payment to hit your account, especially if you're doing direct deposit setup for the first time. Keep doing those weekly certifications and you should see movement soon. If it goes past 3 weeks total, that's when I'd start making some calls.

One more thing to check - make sure your employer has your correct Social Security number on file. Sometimes wage reporting issues are just because of mismatched SSNs rather than non-payment of taxes. You can verify this by looking at your most recent pay stub.

I went through something similar with a small business that wasn't properly reporting wages. One thing that helped me was calling the NYS Department of Labor's employer services line directly to report the issue. They can put a hold on your case while they investigate, which at least prevents it from being automatically denied. Also, keep all your pay stubs and any documentation showing you worked there - you'll need proof of employment and wages earned. The process took about 6 weeks in my case, but I eventually got my benefits backdated once they sorted out the employer compliance issue.

ALL income needs to be reported to NYS Department of Labor, even cash payments. There's no minimum threshold that exempts you from reporting. The system is designed to reduce your weekly benefit amount based on what you earned, not to disqualify you entirely unless you're working full-time. Many people don't realize this and get into trouble thinking small amounts don't count.

I went through something similar last year and can share what happened. I forgot to report about $200 in odd jobs over a few weeks. When I realized my mistake, I immediately called NYS Department of Labor (took forever to get through) and voluntarily reported it. They were actually pretty understanding since I came forward on my own. They calculated an overpayment of about $85 that I had to pay back, but no penalties since it was clearly an honest mistake and I self-reported. The key is being proactive - don't wait for them to find it during an audit. Document everything about the work you did (dates, amounts, who paid you) before you contact them. It shows you're being thorough and honest about the situation.

The whole system is set up to fail people. 26 weeks isn't enough time to find decent work especially in specialized fields. Meanwhile they make it nearly impossible to even talk to someone at NYS Department of Labor about your options.

Have you looked into other assistance programs while job searching? Even though UI extensions aren't available right now, you might qualify for SNAP benefits, emergency rental assistance, or job training programs through your local workforce development office. I know it's not the same as unemployment benefits, but it could help bridge the gap. Also worth checking if any local nonprofits or community organizations have emergency assistance funds for people transitioning between jobs.