This entire thread has been incredibly reassuring! I'm currently on day 4 of waiting for my waiting week to be released and was starting to really worry about the whole process. Seeing Henrietta's actual timeline - waiting week released on Tuesday, first payment received Friday - gives me so much more confidence than the vague information on the NYSDOL website. It's also really helpful to see the warnings about potential delays and flags that might need manual clearing. I've got direct deposit set up and have been certifying weekly, so hopefully when my waiting week gets released I'll have a similarly smooth 3-day experience. This thread should honestly be pinned somewhere because it has way more useful real-world information than any official documentation I've found. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences, both good and frustrating - it really helps newcomers like me know what to expect!

This thread is absolutely amazing - thank you everyone for sharing real timelines and experiences! I'm currently in week 3 of waiting for my waiting week to be released and was getting really anxious about the whole process. Seeing Henrietta's successful 3-day turnaround from waiting week release (Tuesday) to first payment (Friday) gives me so much hope! It's also really valuable to see both the success stories and the warnings about potential system issues that might require calling. I've been religiously certifying every week and have direct deposit set up, so hopefully when my turn comes I'll have a similarly smooth experience. The fact that multiple people here had the same 3 business day timeline really helps set realistic expectations. This thread has more useful information than hours of searching through the confusing NYSDOL website - you all are lifesavers!

Yeah definitely file right away but just be prepared for potential delays in processing. My claim took 3 weeks to get approved even though I had all the right paperwork. NYS Department of Labor is still backed up from all the claims over the past few years. At least you'll be in the queue though.

I went through this exact situation 6 months ago when I was laid off. The most important thing is to file immediately - there's no benefit to waiting and you'll lose money for every day you delay. One tip that helped me: gather all your employment documents before you start the online application. I had to stop halfway through because I couldn't find my last pay stub and had to start over. Also, if you were terminated rather than laid off, NYS Department of Labor will investigate whether it was "for cause" which could affect your eligibility, but don't let that stop you from filing - let them make that determination. Good luck!

so wat was the trick that finally worked? the claimyr thing?

Just wanted to add my experience for anyone else dealing with this - I had the exact same issue last month where my payments were stuck in "pending" for 4 weeks. Turned out there was a discrepancy between what my employer reported for my last day of work versus what I put on my application (they had me down as working one day longer than I actually did). The frustrating part is the system doesn't tell you WHY it's pending or what specific information needs to be verified. Once I got through to someone and they corrected the dates, all my back payments came through within 48 hours. The key really is just getting a human on the phone who can actually see what's flagged in your file. Keep trying different times of day - I had luck calling right at 8am on Tuesday mornings.

This whole system is so frustrating! Companies think they can just eliminate positions when people are on maternity leave and get away with it. At least unemployment is available but the process is still a nightmare to navigate.

I went through something very similar when my employer "restructured" while I was on maternity leave. The NYS Department of Labor approved my claim without any issues once I provided the FMLA documentation and termination letter. One thing that really helped was being very clear on my application that I was on approved leave with a guaranteed job to return to, and that the employer eliminated the position during my protected leave period. Make sure you emphasize that you were ready and able to return to work when your leave ended. The whole process took about 2-3 weeks for me to get my first payment. Don't let them intimidate you - you absolutely deserve these benefits!

Also remember you'll need to file weekly claims and meet job search requirements. NYS Department of Labor requires 3 job contacts per week minimum, and you need to keep detailed records in case they audit your job search log. Don't forget about the waiting week either - your first week won't be paid.

Just want to add that if you've had multiple jobs or income changes throughout the year, the quarter-based calculation can work in your favor. NYS DOL looks at your highest earning quarter, so if you had a period where you made more than $900/week (overtime, bonus quarters, etc.), that could boost your benefit calculation. Also worth noting that the $504 maximum gets adjusted annually for inflation, so it might be slightly different by the time you actually need to file. The base period can be tricky to understand - it's not your most recent quarters, but the first 4 of the last 5 completed calendar quarters before you file your claim.