UPDATE: My benefits FINALLY hit my KeyBank account this morning! It took exactly 32 days from when they were released. For anyone else waiting, hang in there - they do eventually come through. I'm definitely switching to direct deposit to my regular bank now though - never going through this stress again!

Wow, what a relief to see this thread! I'm dealing with the exact same nightmare - my benefits were released on 4/20 and it's now 5/16 with absolutely nothing in my KeyBank account. I've been checking obsessively every day thinking maybe I missed something. Reading through all these responses has been incredibly helpful, especially knowing there's an official timeline now (May 24th). I had no idea about the option to switch to direct deposit with my regular bank - that's definitely my next move once this gets sorted out. The stress of not knowing when (or if) the money will show up is almost worse than being unemployed in the first place! Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences and updates. It's nice to know we're not alone in this mess and that the money does eventually come through, even if it takes over a month. Keeping my fingers crossed that mine shows up soon!

Just wanted to echo what everyone else has said and add my own experience - I filed for unemployment last spring and then got a job offer within the first week. I was also worried about how to properly handle withdrawing the claim, but after reading through forums and eventually speaking with someone at NYS DOL, I learned that simply not certifying weekly is indeed the correct approach. The claim just goes inactive after a certain period of non-certification. I kept all my paperwork from the initial filing just in case, but it's been almost a year now and I've had no issues. The system really is set up to handle situations like yours where people find work quickly after filing. Don't overthink it - just focus on your new job and let the claim naturally become dormant. Congratulations on the position!

I'm dealing with this exact same situation right now! Filed my claim on Monday and got a job offer today that starts next Monday. Reading through all these responses has been incredibly helpful - I was panicking thinking I'd somehow messed up the system by filing and then immediately getting employed. It's such a relief to know that simply not certifying weekly is the standard approach and won't cause any issues down the road. The advice about keeping the confirmation number and initial paperwork is really practical too. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences - it's so valuable to hear from people who've actually been through this rather than just trying to navigate the official websites which don't really address this scenario clearly. Congratulations to the original poster on landing the job!

direct deposit takes longer to setup than they tell u. first payment always goes to the old method no matter what 💅

Had the exact same issue last month! My payment showed "paid" with release date but took 6 business days to actually hit my account. Turns out there was some kind of processing delay on the bank's end. I'd give it until next week before panicking - the money is probably just stuck in the system somewhere. If nothing by Wednesday definitely call them!

The maximum amount payable is essentially your "unemployment insurance account balance" for the benefit year. Think of it like a savings account that gets $625 deposited each week you're eligible, but once you've withdrawn all $16,250, that's it for regular benefits. A few important points to keep in mind: - Your benefit year runs for 52 weeks from when you filed, but you can only collect benefits for a maximum of 26 weeks within that period - If you earn money from part-time work, your weekly benefit will be reduced dollar-for-dollar after the first $143 you earn, but this can help stretch your benefits longer - Extensions like Extended Benefits (EB) are separate programs that kick in only when unemployment rates are high enough in NY - they're not guaranteed - If you move to another state, you may need to transfer your claim, but your maximum amount stays the same My advice: treat those 26 weeks as your safety net while you actively job search. Don't count on extensions being available. The job market can be tough, but starting your search immediately gives you the best chance of finding something before your benefits run out. Also, make sure you're meeting the work search requirements each week - usually 3 work search activities per week in NY. Document everything!

The maximum amount payable is basically your total benefit "allowance" for the entire benefit year. In your case, $16,250 ÷ $625 = exactly 26 weeks of full benefits. Here's what I learned when I was in your shoes last year: **The key things to understand:** - This is your total pot of money for 52 weeks, but you can only collect for 26 weeks max - Once you hit $16,250 total collected, regular benefits stop - Extensions (like EB) are rare and only happen when state unemployment rates are very high **Pro tips from my experience:** - Set up a simple spreadsheet to track your remaining balance after each payment - If you do any gig work or part-time jobs, report the income - they'll reduce your weekly benefit but it stretches your total benefits longer - Start job searching aggressively from week 1, don't wait until you're close to running out **About extensions:** They're not automatic and not guaranteed. Extended Benefits only activate when NY's unemployment rate hits specific thresholds for consecutive periods. Don't bank on them being available. The reality is that 26 weeks goes by faster than you think, especially if you're being picky about jobs (which is understandable). Use this time wisely - network, upskill, and cast a wide net. Good luck!

I went through something similar when I was laid off from my main job but still had a small freelance gig ending around the same time. Definitely file just one claim and include both employers - the system is designed to handle multiple work histories. When you get to the work history section, you'll see fields for multiple employers where you can enter dates, wages, and separation reasons for each. The NYS DOL will use whichever quarters give you the highest benefit calculation, so having both jobs reported actually works in your favor. Just keep all your documentation handy (W-2s, pay stubs, etc.) in case they need verification.

I'm actually dealing with a similar situation right now! I was let go from my main office job in January but also had a small tutoring gig that ended around the same time. From what I've learned through the process, you definitely need to file just one claim and report both employers in the work history section. The NYS DOL website has a pretty clear step-by-step guide that walks you through adding multiple employers. One thing that helped me was gathering all my employment documents beforehand - pay stubs, W-2s, and exact employment dates for both jobs. The seasonal aspect of your weekend job shouldn't complicate things too much, just make sure to note that when you're filling out the reason for separation. Good luck with your claim!