my mom asked me the same thing lol, i think a lot of people dont realize its not taxpayer funded

Thanks everyone for explaining this! I was in the same boat as OP - felt weird about collecting benefits without understanding where the money comes from. It's actually pretty reassuring to know that employers were paying into this system specifically to cover unemployment situations. Makes me realize it really is something we've earned through working, not just a handout. My understanding now is that it's basically like any other type of insurance - you pay premiums (through your employer in this case) and then can file claims when you need it.

I checked my account and found my banking info was still there but it wasn't activated for my new claim! Thank you all so much - especially to the person who gave the detailed steps. I had to click "confirm" like someone mentioned, even though all my information was already in the system. Really appreciate everyone's help!

Great to hear you got it working! That "confirm" step is so easy to miss - I almost made the same mistake when I filed my claim last fall. The system definitely needs better user interface design to make it clearer when you need to reactivate existing payment info for a new claim. Hope your payments come through smoothly from here on out!

make sure you're doing the job search requirements too even while waiting. they can ask for your log anytime and if you don't have it you could get disqualified

I went through this same process about 6 months ago after being laid off from my job of 5 years. My timeline was pretty typical - filed on a Wednesday, got my first payment exactly 3 weeks later. The waiting can be nerve-wracking but try not to stress too much. One thing that helped me was setting up direct deposit right away if you haven't already - it speeds up payment delivery by a few days compared to the debit card option. Also keep all your documentation handy (layoff notice, pay stubs, etc.) just in case they need anything, though for a straightforward layoff like yours they probably won't.

Just a heads up - even if you get approved, your weekly benefit amount will be based on your earnings during the base period. Since 10-month employees have lower annual earnings, your UI payments might not be as much as you're hoping for.

I'm in a similar situation as a 10-month paraprofessional! From what I've researched, the "reasonable assurance" rule is the key factor. If you already have a signed contract for next year, that's typically considered reasonable assurance and would disqualify you. However, if there's any uncertainty about your position (budget cuts, enrollment changes, etc.), you might still qualify. I'd recommend applying anyway - the worst case is they deny it, but you won't know unless you try. Make sure to document everything about your employment status when you file. The NYS DOL website has specific information about school employee eligibility that might help clarify your situation.

side question but does anyone know if we get backpay if benefits are delayed? mine have been pending for 3 weeks now 😫

Just went through this exact situation last month! I had orientation on a Wednesday (4 hours) and was so confused about how to answer. I called the NYSDOL hotline (took forever to get through) and they confirmed that ANY work, even orientation or training, means you answer YES to "returned to work." The good news is you'll still get partial benefits for that week since you only worked 1 day. Just make sure to report the exact amount you earned during that hour too - even if it was just minimum wage for paperwork time. The system automatically calculates your partial benefit amount. Keep certifying weekly until you're working your regular full-time schedule. Don't stress too much about it - as long as you're honest with your reporting, you'll be fine!