I'm going through the exact same nightmare right now - filed 3 weeks ago and my claim has been stuck on "pending" with zero explanation. The phone system is absolutely useless, I've burned through entire days trying to get through just to be disconnected. What's really frustrating is that they expect us to keep filing weekly certifications when we have no idea if there's even a problem with our claim or if it's just sitting in some digital pile waiting to be processed. At this point I'm wondering if I should try that Claimyr service mentioned above or contact my assemblyperson like Dmitry suggested. This whole system feels designed to discourage people from actually getting the benefits they're entitled to.

I went through this exact same situation last year and it turned out my claim was flagged for identity verification. Even though I had submitted all the required documents when I first filed, the system somehow didn't process them correctly. What finally worked for me was sending a secure message through the my.ny.gov portal with copies of my ID, Social Security card, and proof of employment attached. Make sure to reference your confirmation number in the subject line. It took about 10 days after sending that message for my claim to get approved, and then I received all the back payments. Also, if you haven't already, double-check that your banking information is correct in your profile - sometimes payments get delayed because of incorrect routing numbers.

Just went through this exact situation last month! Yes, definitely certify on Sunday for your final week - you're entitled to that payment. The key is timing: certify first thing Sunday morning, then file your new claim the same day. Don't wait! I made the mistake of waiting a few days to file my new claim and it just delayed everything. Also heads up - when you file your new claim, make sure you have all your employer information handy for the past 18 months, including exact dates and wages. The system can be picky about incomplete info. You've got this!

I'm dealing with this same situation right now - my BYE is this Sunday too! Reading through everyone's responses has been super helpful. Just to make sure I understand the process correctly: certify for the final week first thing Sunday morning, then file the new claim later that same day, and expect a one-week waiting period for the new benefit year? I've got all my employer info from the past 18 months organized and ready to go. It's reassuring to see so many people have successfully navigated this transition. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences!

also if you have any kind of severance pay or vacation payout that might delay when you can start collecting. learned that the hard way

One thing I'd add is that if you're collecting any kind of pension or retirement benefits, that can also affect your unemployment eligibility or reduce your weekly benefit amount. NYS Department of Labor will offset your UI benefits if you're getting a pension from a base period employer. Also, if you're self-employed or doing gig work while collecting, you need to report ALL earnings - even small amounts can trigger overpayment issues if not reported properly. The key is being completely transparent about your work situation when you file.

Tell your cousin to check her pay stubs and add up her quarterly earnings. That's the easiest way to know for sure. The NYS Department of Labor base period thing makes more sense when you actually calculate it out with real numbers.

Just to add some clarity for anyone reading this thread - the key thing to remember is that NY unemployment eligibility is based on WAGES earned, not just time worked. So even if your cousin has only been working part-time for 4 months, if she's earning decent wages and meets those quarterly thresholds mentioned earlier, she could still qualify. The interstate wage combination that others mentioned is huge too - those 8 months in Pennsylvania could really make the difference. I'd suggest she calculate her total earnings from both states across the relevant quarters before assuming she doesn't qualify. Sometimes people miss out on benefits they're actually entitled to because they don't realize how the system really works!

I went through something similar last year. The key is how your employer coded the termination - since they said "attendance issues" rather than misconduct related to substance abuse, you have a better shot at getting approved initially. I was able to collect benefits before entering treatment, but had to stop filing while in the 30-day program since I couldn't meet the job search requirements. Once I completed treatment and was actively looking for work again, I resumed my claim without issues. The NYS Department of Labor was actually pretty understanding about the gap once I explained it was for medical treatment. Make sure to keep all your treatment documentation - it helped when I had to explain the interruption in my claim.

I'm dealing with a similar situation right now - employer let me go for "performance issues" but it was really because my drinking was affecting my work. I've been sober for 3 weeks and looking into treatment options. Reading through these responses, it sounds like the timing of when you file versus when you enter treatment is crucial. Maybe consider filing your claim now while you're still available for work, then pause it during your inpatient stay? That way you at least get the initial determination done. Also want to echo what others said about documenting everything from your employer - if they're calling it attendance rather than misconduct, that definitely seems like it could help your case.