Wait I'm confused now too. I thought if you were in a union you didn't have to do job searches? My dad was on unemployment in the 90s and he said union members were exempt. Has that changed?

Based on my experience, you definitely need to take the job search requirements seriously. I made the mistake of being inconsistent with my work searches early on and got a notice from NYS Department of Labor asking for documentation. The key is logging into the system every week and recording your activities - even networking events or career fairs count toward your 3 required searches. Don't risk it like some people suggest, because if they audit your claim and find you weren't compliant, you could owe back thousands in benefits.

Just wanted to add that if you have the KeyBank mobile app, you can check your balance there even before you get the text notification. I've noticed the money usually shows up in the app around 4-5 AM on Wednesday, but the SMS alert doesn't come until later in the morning. This way you can check early if you need to know for sure before making any payments.

I've been getting my NYS unemployment deposits for about 6 months now and can confirm what others are saying - it's pretty reliable timing. My deposits always hit the KeyBank card between 3-6 AM on Wednesday morning. The key thing is making sure your weekly certification is completed by Monday night, then it processes Tuesday and you'll have the money Wednesday morning. If you're cutting it close for rent, I'd say you can safely count on having access to the funds by 7 AM Wednesday at the latest.

this whole system is rigged against people trying to do better. they want you to work but then make it impossible to survive while you're looking

I went through something similar when I got out 3 years ago. The key thing to understand is that you need to have "qualifying wages" from covered employment - basically jobs where your employer paid unemployment insurance taxes on your behalf. Prison work programs don't count because no UI taxes were paid. However, don't give up! There are workaround programs specifically for formerly incarcerated individuals. Contact your local American Job Center (One-Stop Career Center) - they have federal funding for reentry employment services. Also look into the Work Opportunity Tax Credit program, which gives employers incentives to hire people with criminal records. Some temp agencies specialize in helping people with records get that initial work history you need to eventually qualify for UI benefits. The system is frustrating, but there are people out there specifically trained to help navigate these barriers.

I went through this exact same thing a few months ago and can confirm what others have said - NYS Department of Labor automatically pays the waiting week, but the timing is confusing. In my case, I collected benefits for about 20 weeks before finding a job, so I never exhausted all 26 weeks. I was worried I'd lose that waiting week payment, but it showed up automatically when my benefit year ended in April. The payment came through about a week after my benefit year expired, even though I hadn't used all my benefits. So don't worry if you find work before using all 26 weeks - you'll still get that waiting week payment when your benefit year ends!

This is such great information everyone! I'm currently in week 8 of collecting benefits and had been wondering about this too. It's really reassuring to hear from so many people who actually went through this process and got their waiting week payment. I love how this community helps each other navigate the NYS Department of Labor system - it can be so confusing when you're dealing with it for the first time. The fact that it's completely automatic and we don't need to file anything special takes a huge weight off my shoulders. Now I can just focus on my job search knowing that payment will eventually come through when my benefit year ends. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences!

Thank you all for the helpful responses! I finally got through to someone at DOL this morning (called right when they opened and got lucky I guess). They confirmed what most of you said - my benefit year ended so I need to file a new claim, and the money showing in my Maximum Amount Payable from the old claim isn't accessible anymore. They did say I won't have to pay back the payments I received after my BYE date, which is a relief. Apparently it was an automatic extension that was processing, but I still need to file a new claim for ongoing benefits. I'm filing the new claim today and they said to keep certifying weekly without interruption. The agent estimated it would take 2-3 weeks for the new claim to process. Thanks again for all your help!

So glad you got through and got answers! This thread is super helpful for anyone dealing with the same confusion. The NY unemployment system really needs to fix that misleading "exhausted benefits" message - it should clearly state "benefit year ended" instead. For anyone else reading this who might be in a similar situation, the key takeaways seem to be: 1. BYE date matters more than remaining balance 2. Keep certifying weekly no matter what 3. File a new claim after your BYE date passes 4. Any system-authorized payments after BYE typically don't need to be repaid 5. Be prepared for 2-3 weeks processing time for new claims Thanks for updating us with the resolution! Hopefully your new claim processes smoothly.