I went through the exact same confusion when I first started my NYS unemployment claim! What really helped me was understanding that you're always certifying backwards - so when you certify on Sunday, you're telling them about the previous Sunday through Saturday week that just ended. The my.ny.gov portal will actually show you the specific dates you're certifying for right at the top when you log in, which removes all the guesswork. Since you were approved Tuesday, your first certification this Sunday will probably cover just a few days (Tuesday through Saturday). Don't stress too much about the timing - the system is pretty clear once you're actually in it, and you have all week to complete your certification if Sunday doesn't work out for some reason.

I had this same exact confusion when I started my claim! Here's what I learned after going through it: you'll certify this coming Sunday for your partial first week (Tuesday-Saturday). The key is that NYS Department of Labor certification is always retrospective - you're reporting on work status for days that already happened. When you log into my.ny.gov on Sunday, it will clearly display the exact date range you're certifying for, which takes away all the guesswork. I recommend certifying early Sunday morning (around 8 AM) when the system is most stable, and don't worry about the partial week - that's completely normal when starting mid-week. The whole process becomes routine after the first few times!

Hey Sean, I was in your exact situation 3 months ago - benefits cut off with zero explanation and that same "pending review" nightmare. After reading through all these suggestions, here's what finally worked for me: I combined the Claimyr service (yeah I was skeptical too but it actually works) with contacting my state assembly rep. The Claimyr got me through to a human who told me there was just a random flag on my account, and my assembly rep's office followed up to make sure it got resolved properly. Took about 4 days total but I got 6 weeks of back pay once it was fixed. Don't let them wear you down - you've paid into this system and deserve your benefits! Also document every call attempt with date/time in case you need to escalate further.

I'm going through the exact same thing right now - benefits stopped 10 days ago with no explanation and just that useless "pending review" status. Reading through everyone's experiences here is both horrifying and oddly comforting to know I'm not alone in this nightmare. I've tried the 8:01 AM calling trick mentioned by Zara but still haven't gotten through after 4 attempts. Based on what everyone's sharing, I think I'm going to try a combination approach: use Claimyr to handle the phone calling marathon while also reaching out to my state rep's office. The fact that multiple people here have had success with both methods gives me hope. Sean, definitely try contacting your assembly member too - seems like having someone with actual government connections advocate for you makes a huge difference. This whole system is absolutely designed to make us give up, but we can't let them win!

My cousin went through this exact situation when she was finishing her nursing program. The trick is proving you're genuinely available for work despite being in school. She had to show that her clinical rotations were flexible and she could work around them. Got approved eventually but it took some back and forth with adjudication.

I'm currently dealing with this exact situation as a part-time student working retail! From what I've learned through my own research and filing process, the key factors NYS Department of Labor considers are: 1) You must have earned sufficient wages during your base period (usually first 4 of last 5 completed quarters), 2) You must be physically able to work, 3) You must be available for work during hours when jobs in your field are typically available, and 4) You must be actively seeking work. The student status itself isn't disqualifying, but your class schedule can't severely limit your availability. I'd recommend calling during off-peak hours (early morning or late afternoon) to speak with someone directly about your specific situation, since every case is different based on your work history and school schedule.

I went through a similar situation when I was let go during a company restructuring. NYS Department of Labor considers several scenarios beyond just layoffs - including reduction in hours like your sister's case. From my experience, going from full-time to 8 hours weekly definitely qualifies as partial unemployment. The key things that helped my claim were: 1) Having documentation that the hour reduction was employer-initiated, not my choice, 2) Showing I was actively seeking additional work to make up the lost income, and 3) Being completely honest on all forms about my situation. I'd recommend your sister file as soon as possible since there can be a waiting period, and she should gather any written communication about the schedule change. The online application walks you through everything step by step.

I had a similar experience when my retail job reduced my hours from 35 to 10 per week last year. NYS Department of Labor was actually pretty reasonable about it - they approved my partial benefits claim within about 2-3 weeks. The key things I learned: make sure your sister applies online through the official NY.gov website as soon as possible since benefits can be backdated to when you first became eligible, not when you finally apply. Also, she'll need to certify weekly that she's still working those reduced hours and actively looking for additional work. One thing that surprised me was that even with partial benefits, I still had to do the work search requirement - so she should start documenting her job search efforts right away. The combination of her remaining wages plus partial unemployment should help bridge the gap while she looks for something more stable.

I'm going through the exact same situation and this thread has been incredibly helpful! My claim was approved 6 weeks ago but I still haven't received any payments. Like so many others here, I was just looking at that "approved" status on the main dashboard getting more frustrated each day. Reading everyone's experiences has shown me I need to check that Payment History section for hold codes - I had absolutely no idea that existed! It's crazy how NYS Department of Labor can show "approved" on the front page while there are apparently specific issues buried in other sections. I'm definitely going to check for those codes first thing tomorrow and also contact my former employer directly since it sounds like employer verification delays are super common. The tip about calling right at 8 AM or trying that Claimyr service also sounds promising. Thank you to everyone who shared their real experiences - this community support is way more valuable than anything I could find on the official website. At least now I have concrete steps to take instead of just waiting and stressing about my bills!

I'm dealing with this exact same frustrating situation right now! My claim has been showing "approved" for almost 4 weeks but I haven't received a single payment. After reading through all these incredibly helpful responses, I realize I've been making the same mistake as so many others - just staring at that main dashboard status instead of digging deeper into my account. I had absolutely no idea there was a Payment History section that shows actual hold codes explaining the delays. It's mind-blowing how NYS Department of Labor can display "approved" prominently while burying the real issues in a completely different part of the portal. I'm definitely going to check for those hold codes first thing tomorrow morning, and based on what everyone's shared here, I'll also contact my former employer directly to see if they received any verification requests that might be sitting in someone's inbox. The suggestion about calling right at 8:00 AM sharp or trying that Claimyr service also sounds promising if I can't resolve it through other means. Thank you to everyone who took the time to share their real experiences and solutions - this community support is honestly more valuable than anything I could find through official channels. At least now I have a concrete action plan instead of just panicking about my upcoming bills!