This thread is so valuable! I'm dealing with this exact situation right now - just filed a new claim after my previous one ended 4 months ago. Reading everyone's experiences, it's clear the NY DOL system has some quirks when it comes to payment info. The key takeaways seem to be: 1) Your banking details might be saved but you still need to verify them, 2) There's often a "confirm" or "activate" step that's easy to miss, and 3) Taking screenshots is smart for your records. I'm definitely going to follow those detailed step-by-step instructions someone provided. It's frustrating that the system isn't more user-friendly, but at least this community helps fill in the gaps! Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences - it really helps those of us navigating this process.

Wow, this thread is incredibly helpful! I'm about to file my first unemployment claim ever after my contract position ended last week, and I had no idea there were so many nuances with the payment setup. Reading through everyone's experiences has been really educational - especially learning about that confirmation/activation step that seems to trip people up even when their banking info is saved. I'm definitely going to bookmark this conversation and follow those detailed step-by-step instructions when I set up my direct deposit. It's amazing how this community shares such practical, real-world advice that you just can't get from the official websites. Thanks to everyone for being so generous with their knowledge and helping newcomers like me navigate what seems like a pretty confusing system!

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.

I'm a 10-month teacher's aide who successfully collected unemployment last summer, and I want to emphasize what others have said about not giving up if you're initially denied. My district had given me a contract for the following year, but there were ongoing discussions about potential budget cuts and position reductions. I was denied on my first application because the adjudicator focused only on my signed contract and didn't fully consider the employment uncertainties I had documented. However, I appealed the decision and provided additional evidence: emails from administration about budget concerns, documentation showing that similar positions had been eliminated the previous year due to enrollment changes, and a letter from my supervisor acknowledging that while I had a contract, my specific assignment and hours could change based on final enrollment numbers. The appeal took about 6 weeks, but I was ultimately approved for benefits. The key was being persistent and providing comprehensive documentation that showed genuine uncertainty about my employment situation, not just the existence of a contract. For anyone in a similar position, don't let an initial denial discourage you - the appeals process exists specifically for cases like ours where the employment situation is more complex than it appears on the surface.

As a newcomer to this community and someone who's about to face this exact situation as a 10-month employee, I'm incredibly grateful for all the detailed experiences shared here! Reading through everyone's stories has been so educational - I had no idea the "reasonable assurance" rule was so nuanced or that the appeals process could be successful for school employees. I'm a 10-month classroom aide and while I do have a contract for next year, our district has been sending mixed signals about potential staffing changes and budget constraints. Based on what I've learned from this thread, I'm going to start documenting everything - saving emails about budget discussions, noting any conversations about potential changes, and gathering all my employment paperwork. The advice about filing right after the last paycheck (not when the contract ends) and being very detailed about employment uncertainties in the application seems crucial. It's clear that many of us are in similar boats and that it's worth applying even with a contract if there are legitimate uncertainties. Thank you to everyone who shared their experiences - this has given me the confidence to navigate this process properly rather than just assuming I won't qualify!

I had this exact same situation when I started my current job! My first day was just 2 hours of orientation and filling out paperwork. I was so worried about answering the "returned to work" question wrong that I almost had a panic attack lol. But everyone here is absolutely right - you need to answer YES to that question. I ended up calling the NYSDOL (took forever to get through) and they confirmed that ANY paid work activity counts, even if it's just orientation or paperwork. The rep told me they get this question all the time during transition periods. The system handled my partial benefits perfectly - I reported my 2 hours accurately, included the exact amount I earned, and got the correct partial payment for that week. Just keep certifying weekly until you're working full-time regularly. Don't stress too much about it! You're being super responsible by asking questions and wanting to do everything correctly. That's exactly the right approach. The NYSDOL system is actually pretty good at handling these transition situations since they happen constantly. Congrats on landing the job and good luck with everything!

Just wanted to add my experience since I literally went through this exact same thing last week! I had my first day at a new job and it was only 1.5 hours of orientation and paperwork. I was SO confused about the "returned to work" question too. I ended up answering YES (after reading through this thread actually - so helpful!) and reported my exact hours and earnings. Everything went smoothly - I got my partial benefits calculated correctly and had no issues at all. What really helped me was realizing that the question is just asking "did you do any work this week" not "are you completely done with unemployment forever." Once I thought about it that way, it was obvious the answer was yes. You're being super smart by asking questions and making sure you do everything right. Just answer honestly - YES to returned to work, report your 1 hour and whatever you earned, and you'll be totally fine. The system handles these transition situations all the time! Congrats on the new job and don't stress about it too much - sounds like you've got everything figured out! 👍

I totally get the confusion! I went through the same thing when I first saw "effective days remaining" on my claim. What helped me understand it better is that NYS uses a benefit year system - so your 104 effective days (26 weeks) run from your initial claim date to exactly one year later, not just continuously. The tricky part is that if you find work and then become unemployed again within that same benefit year, you'd still be using up those original effective days. So even if you worked for a few months in between, those days keep counting down from your original total. It's definitely not the most intuitive system!

Just wanted to add for anyone reading this - you can also check your benefit year end date on the my.ny.gov portal under your claim summary. It's usually listed as "Benefit Year Ends" and shows the exact date one year from when you first filed. This helped me plan ahead when I was getting close to running out of effective days. Also, if you do need to file a new claim, make sure you have all your recent work history ready because they'll ask about any employment during your current benefit year, even if it was just temporary or part-time work.