One important thing to consider - if you do qualify based on previous W-2 wages, you'll need to be available for work and actively job searching. Running your sole proprietorship while collecting benefits could be tricky depending on how much time you're dedicating to it. NYS Department of Labor requires you to be able and available for full-time work.

I went through this exact situation last year. As a former sole proprietor who had some W-2 income, I was able to qualify for benefits. The key is that NYS Department of Labor looks at ALL your covered wages during the base period, not just your most recent employment status. Since you mentioned having part-time W-2 work last year, definitely check your wage history first. Also, when you do apply, be completely transparent about your consulting business status - they'll ask about any self-employment income during your weekly certifications. If your business truly has no income coming in and you're genuinely seeking employee work, you should be fine. Just make sure you can document your job search efforts.

Going through the exact same thing right now! I certified on Wednesday morning and it's Friday evening with absolutely nothing in my payment history. Usually it shows up within a few hours like you said. After reading all these comments, it sounds like there's definitely some kind of system-wide issue happening this week. I'm going to check my message center tomorrow morning and try calling right when they open at 7:30am. If that doesn't work, I might have to bite the bullet and try Claimyr since so many people here are saying it actually works. It's just crazy that we have to pay a service to get through to our own state agency! Really hoping this resolves for all of us soon - the stress of not knowing if your payment is coming when you have bills due is awful. Keep us updated if you hear anything!

I'm experiencing the exact same issue! Certified on Tuesday and it's now Saturday with absolutely nothing showing in my payment history. This is really stressful because I have my electric bill due Monday and was counting on this payment. After reading through everyone's experiences here, it's somewhat reassuring to know this seems to be a widespread problem this week rather than something specific to my account. I'm going to follow the advice here and check my message center first thing Monday morning, then try calling right at 7:30am when they open. If I can't get through after a few attempts, I think I'll have to try that Claimyr service that so many people are recommending - it sounds like it actually works even though it's frustrating we have to pay extra just to reach our own state agency. Thanks to everyone sharing their experiences and solutions, it really helps to know we're not alone in this mess!

Just want to add that attending career workshops or job training programs also count as work search activities. I went to a resume writing workshop at my local workforce center and it counted toward my weekly requirement.

I've been collecting unemployment for about 6 months now and wanted to share some additional tips for work search activities. Besides the standard job applications, you can also count networking events, informational interviews, and even reaching out to former colleagues about potential opportunities. I keep a spreadsheet with all my activities including company names, dates, contact info, and type of activity. The key is being consistent and genuine in your search efforts - don't just do the bare minimum of 3 activities if you're serious about finding work. Also, if you're in a specialized field, don't be afraid to reach out directly to hiring managers on LinkedIn - this counts as a work search activity too!

OP, I just went through this nightmare last month! Here's what worked for me: 1) Mail your forms to the Albany address that @Natasha Petrova mentioned if you have the barcode forms - use certified mail with tracking. 2) Fill everything out in BLACK INK ONLY (learned this the hard way). 3) Write your claim number on EVERY single page. 4) Take photos of everything before you send it. 5) If you need to talk to someone urgently, I had success with Claimyr - got connected to an agent who expedited my case. The whole verification process took about 2.5 weeks once they received my documents. Hang in there, it does get resolved eventually! Also check your online inbox daily once the site is working - they send important updates there.

This is so frustrating! I'm in a similar boat - got the identity verification forms two weeks ago and the website has been completely unusable. I've been trying to log in at different times of day but keep getting those timeout errors. Really worried about my rent payment too. Did anyone find out why so many people are getting these verification requests all of a sudden? It seems like half the people I know on unemployment got these forms around the same time. Also, for those mentioning Claimyr - is there a cost to use that service? At this point I'm willing to try anything to get through to an actual human being. The phone lines are impossible and I've been calling for days with no luck.

I went through this exact same situation when I lost my bartending job in Rochester last year. You can definitely apply for both programs at the same time - they're totally separate systems and won't interfere with each other. I actually recommend starting your unemployment application first thing tomorrow morning (the NYS DOL website is way less glitchy early in the day) and then doing your SNAP application right after. Make sure you have your last few pay stubs, any layoff paperwork, and your ID ready for both. The restaurant industry layoffs are super common, so both agencies are used to handling these cases. Don't stress about making mistakes - you can always update information later if needed. The important thing is getting your applications in ASAP so you can start getting the help you need. Hang in there - these programs exist exactly for situations like yours!

I'm also in the restaurant industry and went through this process about 8 months ago when my place shut down during the slow season. Just wanted to add that if you're having trouble getting through to NYS DOL on the phone (their lines are constantly busy), you can also check your claim status online through the NY.gov portal. Also, when you do your SNAP application, they might ask about any tips you received that weren't reported on your paystubs - just be honest about your average tip income even if it wasn't officially documented. The caseworkers understand how restaurant pay works with tips and base wages. One more thing - if you have any pending final tips or last paycheck coming, mention that during both applications so they have the complete picture. Both programs are designed to bridge you over until you get back on your feet, so don't feel bad about needing them. That's exactly what they're for!