I've been helping friends navigate this exact situation for years, and here's what I've learned: Your sister should absolutely file, but timing and documentation are everything. The moment her last work day ends, she should submit her claim online through the NYS Department of Labor website. Don't let anyone discourage her because "school employees can't get unemployment" - that's oversimplified. The real test is whether she has "reasonable assurance" of returning, and that has to be in writing with specific details about her position, hours, and pay rate. If they only gave verbal promises or vague statements about "probably coming back," that's not reasonable assurance. Also, keep in mind that many districts are facing budget uncertainties right now, which works in favor of employees filing claims. I'd recommend she screenshot or save any communications about the summer layoff and potential return. Even if she gets initially denied, having proper documentation makes appeals much more successful. The key is being proactive rather than waiting to see what happens.

I'm going through this exact same situation right now! I work part-time in food service at an elementary school and just got laid off for the summer. What really helped me was calling the NYS Department of Labor directly to ask about the reasonable assurance rules before filing. They told me that as long as I don't have a signed letter guaranteeing my specific hours, pay rate, and start date for fall, I should file a claim. The agent emphasized that "we'll probably bring you back" or "you should be fine for September" doesn't count as reasonable assurance. I filed my claim last Monday and I'm still waiting to hear back, but at least I got the process started. One thing I learned is that you can file online 24/7, which is way easier than trying to call during their busy hours. Your sister should definitely try - the application asks specific questions about school employment, so they'll review her case properly rather than just automatically denying it.

been there, it sucks waiting. try calling right at 8am when they open, sometimes you can get through faster then

I'm going through something similar right now - 6 weeks waiting with an "approved" status but no payments. What finally helped me make progress was filing a complaint with the NYS Department of Labor's Office of Special Investigations (not just regular customer service). You can find the complaint form on their website under "Report Fraud or Abuse." Even though it's not fraud, they seem to take these complaints more seriously and actually follow up. I got a callback within 3 days and they're now "expediting" my case. Also document everything - save screenshots of your claim status, keep records of all your calls and reference numbers. If you do end up needing legal help later, having that paper trail will be crucial.

I'm dealing with the exact same frustrating situation! Filed about 4 weeks ago after being laid off from my accounting position due to company downsizing, received my monetary determination 2 weeks ago showing $398/week, but I'm completely stuck in pending status with zero payments. Like everyone else here, I've been certifying weekly without fail and have tried calling literally hundreds of times - nothing but busy signals, hangups, and that maddening "call volume too high" message. Reading through all these responses has been incredibly eye-opening. I had no idea that the monetary determination was just them calculating what I'd potentially receive, not actual approval! Now I'm realizing there could be all sorts of hidden verification issues or flags on my account that they haven't even bothered to tell me about. Based on everyone's experiences here, I'm going to try multiple approaches: sending a detailed message through the secure messaging system in my online account, contacting my assemblyperson's office on Monday, and maybe even looking into that Claimyr service that several people have mentioned having success with. The financial stress of bills piling up while stuck in this bureaucratic nightmare is honestly overwhelming. Thanks to everyone for sharing their stories - it's both comforting and terrifying to know this is just how broken the NY unemployment system is right now. At least I know I'm not alone and that I need to keep certifying every week to get that backpay when this mess finally gets resolved!

I'm going through the exact same situation right now! Filed 3 weeks ago after being laid off from my marketing job due to "organizational restructuring" and I'm stuck in the same pending nightmare. Got my monetary determination about 10 days ago showing $467/week but haven't seen a single payment despite certifying religiously every week. Like everyone else here, I've tried calling countless times - just busy signals, hangups, or that automated "call volume too high" message. Reading through all these experiences has been both helpful and stressful! I had no idea the monetary determination was just them calculating potential benefits rather than actual approval. Now I'm worried there's some hidden verification flag they haven't told me about, especially since my layoff was due to "restructuring" - sounds like they might be verifying that with my former employer. Based on everyone's advice here, I'm going to try the secure messaging approach through my online account today and also contact my assemblyperson's office on Monday. The financial stress of bills piling up while stuck in this bureaucratic limbo is honestly brutal when you're already dealing with unemployment stress. Thanks to everyone for sharing their stories - it's oddly comforting to know this is just how broken the NY system is right now and I'm not going crazy! Will definitely keep certifying every week so I can get that backpay when this mess finally gets resolved.

Good luck with filing tonight! One tip - make sure you have all your employment info ready before you start (employer names, addresses, dates worked, reason for separation). The application will time out if you take too long gathering documents. Also, once you file that initial claim, don't wait to start your weekly certifications - you can file your first weekly claim the Sunday after you submit your initial application, even if you haven't gotten your determination letter yet. The sooner you start that weekly routine, the sooner payments can begin processing.

One thing I wish someone had told me when I first filed - don't panic if your claim status shows "pending" for a while after you submit. That's totally normal while they process your application. Also, make sure to check your messages in the online portal regularly because NYS Department of Labor will send important updates there, not just to your email. And if you do end up needing to call them, try calling right when they open at 8am - that's when you have the best chance of getting through. The phone lines get completely jammed by mid-morning.

I'm dealing with this exact same thing and it's so frustrating. The system worked fine until their "upgrade" and now nothing works right. Classic NY unemployment office mess 🤦‍♀️

I'm having the exact same problem! Been trying to certify for partial benefits for the past week and keep getting that "break in claim" error. I work about 15-20 hours a week at a restaurant and this never happened before the system update. It's so frustrating because I really need those partial benefits to make ends meet. Has anyone found a reliable way to get through to an actual person on the phone? I've been trying for days but the hold times are impossible.