The system is so messed up. I reported my return to work properly and they STILL sent me a questionnaire 3 weeks later asking why I stopped filing claims. Like, hello, I told you I went back to work! Had to call and explain everything again. Just keep records of what you report in case they question it later.

Just went through this exact situation last month! You definitely want to file that final weekly claim for the week you started working. When you're filling it out, there should be a question about returning to work - make sure to put your exact start date (Tuesday in your case). The system will automatically calculate any partial benefits you might be owed for the days before you started. After you submit that claim with your return-to-work date, your unemployment claim will be closed and you won't need to file anymore. Don't worry, you're doing the right thing by reporting it properly!

Just wanted to add that you should also check if your employer contributes to New York State Disability Benefits (DBL) - this can provide partial wage replacement for the period when you're physically unable to work due to childbirth (usually around 6-8 weeks). It works alongside PFL, so you might be able to get DBL for the immediate recovery period and then transition to PFL for bonding time. Your employer's HR or payroll department should be able to tell you if they participate in the DBL program.

Just to echo what others have said - definitely don't try to use regular unemployment benefits for maternity leave. I learned this the hard way when my sister-in-law tried it a few years back. The NYS Department of Labor was pretty clear that unemployment is only for people who are actively job searching and available to start work immediately. Since you'll be caring for a newborn, you obviously won't meet those requirements. The PFL route that others mentioned is really your best bet - it's specifically designed for situations like yours where you need time off for family reasons but aren't actually unemployed. Good luck with everything and congratulations on your upcoming arrival!

One thing I learned from my own experience is that you should also check if your employer is offering any other benefits during the severance period, like continued health insurance coverage. Sometimes companies will maintain your benefits during severance which can affect how you report things to NYSDOL. Also, keep detailed records of all your severance payments and dates - if there are any issues with your claim later, having that documentation will save you a lot of headaches. The key is being completely transparent about everything when you file!

Just wanted to chime in as someone who went through this exact situation about 6 months ago. I was laid off from a tech company after 4 years and received 10 weeks of severance. The waiting period was definitely stressful, but everything worked out exactly as described here. A few things I learned that might help: 1. File your initial claim online the day after your last day of work - don't wait until severance ends. This gets your claim in the system and they'll calculate your waiting period. 2. Keep checking your online account during the severance period. NYSDOL will sometimes request additional documents or clarification, and responding quickly helps avoid delays once you become eligible. 3. Your weekly benefit amount will be calculated based on your regular wages from the base period, not the severance. So if you were making good money before the layoff, your benefits should reflect that. 4. Start your job search during the severance period if possible. You'll need to be actively seeking work once benefits kick in, and having a head start really helps. The system actually works pretty well once you understand it. Hang in there - those 8 weeks will go by faster than you think!

I'm in basically the same situation - lost my job in June and have been putting off filing because I kept hoping something would come through. Reading all these success stories is really encouraging though! It sounds like the key things are: 1) Actually getting through to someone (either 8am sharp or that claimyr service everyone mentions), 2) Having your termination paperwork ready, and 3) Being honest about job searching as your reason for delay. The fact that people are getting thousands in back pay even after waiting 6+ months gives me hope it's not too late. I've got my termination letter and a list of all the places I've applied since June. Probably going to try the claimyr service since $20 seems worth it to avoid weeks of calling hell. Thanks everyone for sharing your real experiences - way more helpful than the generic advice you find elsewhere!

I'm in almost the exact same situation - lost my job back in April and have been dragging my feet on filing because I thought something would come through quickly. This whole thread has been incredibly helpful! Reading all these success stories about people getting backdated even after waiting 6+ months is giving me the confidence I needed to finally take action. The claimyr service keeps coming up and honestly after seeing so many positive experiences, $20 seems like a bargain compared to weeks of calling hell. I've got my termination paperwork ready and a list of everywhere I've applied since April. Really encouraging to see people getting thousands in back pay - that would be life-changing for me right now. Planning to try the claimyr service this week. Thanks to everyone who shared their real experiences instead of just generic advice!

I've been getting NY unemployment for about 4 months now with TD Bank and wanted to share my experience since I see so many people stressed about payment timing! My payments are very consistent - always exactly 2 business days after showing "released" on the DOL website. However, my very first payment took 4 business days and I was absolutely panicking by day 3 thinking something went wrong. What I learned is that TD Bank processes unemployment deposits overnight, usually between 3-5am, so you'll typically see it appear in your account first thing in the morning rather than during the day. Also, TD Bank customer service can see pending ACH deposits if you call and specifically ask about "pending unemployment deposits from NYS DOL" - they were able to confirm mine was in their system even before it posted. One more tip - if you use TD Bank's mobile app, check the "Account Activity" section which sometimes shows pending transactions before they appear in your available balance. This saved me so much anxiety during my first few payments! The waiting is definitely stressful but once it says "released" the money is absolutely coming, just be patient with the banking processing time. You got this!

I've been getting NY unemployment for about 10 months now with Santander Bank and wanted to add my timeline experience to help others who are waiting! My payments are consistently 2-3 business days after showing "released" on the DOL site, but that first payment took a full 5 business days which had me absolutely stressed out. What I learned with Santander is that they process unemployment deposits during their overnight batch processing, usually between 12am-4am. So if you're checking during the day and not seeing anything, don't panic - it'll likely appear when you wake up in the morning. Also, Santander's online banking has a "Pending Activity" tab where you can sometimes see the deposit before it hits your available balance. One thing that really helped my anxiety was understanding that smaller banks like Santander often take a bit longer than the big national banks because they process fewer ACH transactions and may only run their batches once or twice a day instead of continuously. But once you get past that first payment verification period, the timing becomes very predictable! For anyone still waiting on their first payment - hang in there! The money is definitely coming once it says "released." The state has already sent it, it's just working through the banking pipeline. You'll get through this!