I'm also dealing with this right now - exhausted my benefits in February and still searching for work. One resource that's been helpful is contacting local food banks and community organizations. Many have job placement programs or know about employers who are actively hiring. The Workforce Development office in my area also offers free resume reviews and interview prep, which helped me feel more confident in my applications. It's tough being in this gap between benefits ending and finding new work, but definitely explore all the assistance programs people have mentioned here. Also, some utility companies have hardship programs that can help reduce bills during unemployment - worth calling to ask about payment plans or reduced rates.

I'm in a similar position - just exhausted my benefits two weeks ago and still actively job searching. One thing I discovered that might help you is checking with your local One-Stop Career Center (part of the American Job Centers network). They not only have job placement services but also offer training programs that sometimes include living allowances or stipends while you're learning new skills. I'm currently enrolled in a certification program for medical coding that provides a small weekly stipend - it's not much but it helps bridge the gap. Also, don't forget to check if you qualify for the Earned Income Tax Credit when you file your taxes, especially if you had any work income during the year. The refund can be substantial and might help cover some expenses while you're between benefits. The whole situation is incredibly stressful, but there are more resources out there than I initially realized.

thanks for asking this, i was wondering the same thing. good to know about the 18 month thing, i thought it was just the last job

One thing that really helped me when I filed was having my bank routing and account numbers ready for direct deposit setup. Also, if you've had multiple jobs in the past 18 months, try to gather as much wage info as possible - even if you don't have exact amounts, having a rough estimate speeds things up. The system will pull your actual wage records from employers later for verification. And definitely file online at my.ny.gov rather than trying to call - the online system is way more reliable than their phone lines!

I filed my NY unemployment claim about 10 days ago after being laid off from my manufacturing job, so I'm right there with you Summer! Based on everything I've read here and my own research, it seems like most straightforward claims are processed within that 7-14 day window everyone keeps mentioning. One thing I've been doing that's helped my anxiety is setting specific check-in times rather than constantly refreshing my account. I check once in the morning around 8 AM and once in the evening around 6 PM. It keeps me informed without driving myself crazy with constant monitoring. I also wanted to echo what others have said about being proactive with your landlord. I had that conversation yesterday and was surprised how understanding mine was - apparently unemployment delays are pretty common and most landlords have dealt with this before. Having that conversation early definitely reduced my stress level. The weekly certification thing seems to be the golden rule everyone agrees on, so I've been treating that like a sacred appointment every Sunday morning. From what I understand, missing even one week can really complicate things later. Hoping we both hear good news soon! This community has been incredibly helpful for navigating all of this. Keep us posted on how things go!

I just wanted to jump in here as someone who went through this exact same anxiety just a few months ago. Filed my NY unemployment claim in December after getting laid off from my office job, and I was absolutely panicking about the timeline too. My experience was right in that 7-14 day range everyone's mentioning - took exactly 13 days from filing to first payment. The key things that helped me: 1. Keep doing those weekly certifications religiously - this seems to be the #1 most important thing 2. Check your online account daily but try not to obsess (easier said than done, I know!) 3. Make sure you're checking the Messages section, not just payment status 4. Have backup plans ready - I talked to my landlord early, signed up for food assistance, and looked into utility payment deferrals The waiting is honestly the worst part, but it sounds like you're doing everything right. Your situation (3 years same employer, straightforward layoff) should process pretty smoothly. One thing that really helped my peace of mind was remembering that when it does come through, you'll get backpay for all the weeks you've been certifying. So even though the wait is stressful, you're not actually losing money - just having to wait longer to access it. Hang in there! Based on what you've described, I'd be surprised if you don't hear something positive within the next week or so.

Yeah the benefit amount is locked in when you first file. I've been on unemployment twice and it never changed mid-claim even when there were minimum wage increases both times.

Just to add another perspective - I was initially disappointed when I realized my benefits wouldn't increase with the new minimum wage, but honestly it makes sense from a legal standpoint. The unemployment insurance system is designed to replace a percentage of wages you actually earned and contributed to the system through payroll taxes. Those contributions were based on your historical wages, not future wage rates. If you start a new claim after working at the higher minimum wage, then your benefits would be calculated using those higher wages in your base period.

To answer your original question more specifically: if NYS Department of Labor discovers unreported work, you'll receive an overpayment notice demanding repayment of all benefits received during the period you were working. They'll also likely impose a penalty (usually 15% of the overpayment amount) and could disqualify you from benefits for up to a year. In severe cases with intentional fraud, they can refer the case for criminal prosecution, though this is typically reserved for larger amounts or repeat offenders.

I went through something similar a few months ago. The anxiety is terrible, but you really need to act fast. When I called to report my unreported earnings, the representative was actually pretty understanding since I was being proactive about it. They set up a payment plan for the overpayment that was manageable - around $50 a month. The key is calling them yourself before they discover it through their auditing process. It shows good faith and they're more likely to work with you on repayment terms. Don't let the fear paralyze you - the longer you wait, the worse it could get.