I went through this exact situation about 8 months ago and here's what I learned: You absolutely need to contact your local One-Stop Career Center BEFORE enrolling in any classes. They can help determine if you qualify for programs like WIOA or TAA that will actually pay for your training. I ended up getting approved for a web development bootcamp that was 100% covered, and I was able to continue receiving UI benefits throughout the program. The key is getting the proper approval first - don't just enroll and hope for the best. Each local office has slightly different procedures, so definitely go in person if you can rather than trying to navigate this over the phone.

I actually went through this process last year and want to echo what others have said about getting approval first. The key thing to understand is that NYS has what's called "approved training" which lets you attend school while still collecting UI benefits. When I went to my local One-Stop Career Center, they explained that as long as your training is approved and you're still able to work (meaning you'd leave class for a job interview or accept a job if offered), you're good. On your weekly claims, you'll answer "yes" to attending school but you'll also indicate it's approved training. The staff there were actually really helpful once I got connected to the right person - they have lists of approved programs and can even help with funding through WIOA. Don't let the phone system discourage you from pursuing this - the in-person help is much better.

honestly the whole system is so confusing and they dont explain anything clearly on the website

From my experience, they primarily focus on your base period earnings (the first 4 of the last 5 completed quarters) for benefit calculations. However, if there are any flags in your application or if employers contest your claim, they can dig deeper into your work history. Since you've had steady employment for 18 months after that problematic job, you should be in good shape. The key is being honest about your most recent job separation - that's what really matters for your current claim. Keep all your documentation handy just in case they need verification.

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!

I was in the exact same situation a few months ago! The timing really is confusing at first. Just to reinforce what others have said - you'll certify this Sunday for the partial week from Tuesday (when you were approved) through Saturday. NYS Department of Labor always has you certify for the week that already ended, never the current week. I found it helpful to think of Sunday as "report day" for the previous week. Also, don't worry if your first certification seems like a short period - that's totally normal when you start mid-week. The payments usually process within 2-3 business days after you certify, so you should see your first payment by Wednesday or Thursday if you certify Sunday morning. You've got this!

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!

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.