Have you tried calling the dedicated technical support line at 518-457-9000? It's separate from the main claims line and sometimes has shorter wait times. Also, check if your bank account information is exactly correct - even small differences in how your name appears can cause payment delays. I had a similar issue where my middle initial was missing and it held up everything for weeks. You might also want to log out completely and log back in to see if any error messages appear that weren't showing before.

I'm going through the exact same thing right now - filed 3 weeks ago and still nothing in my payment history despite my claim showing active. What's really frustrating is that the website doesn't give you any real insight into what might be causing the delay. I tried calling the main number multiple times but gave up after being on hold for over 2 hours each time. Has anyone had luck with visiting a local career center in person? I'm wondering if they might be able to check your account status more thoroughly than what we can see online.

The whole system is a joke honestly. They make you jump through hoops just to get money you're entitled to. Been dealing with NYS Department of Labor for months on various issues and it's always something. ALWAYS.

I'm going through the exact same thing right now! Filed my claim 10 days ago and still showing pending with no payments. It's really stressful when you're counting on that money. From what I've read online, the NYS Department of Labor is supposed to process initial claims within 2-3 weeks, so hopefully we're both close to getting approved. Have you tried checking if there are any document requests or verification steps needed in your account? Sometimes they ask for additional paperwork that can hold things up.

I was in almost the exact same boat as you! Laid off from a retail job last summer and waited about 5 months to file because I kept thinking something would come up. The application process itself was easier than I expected - took maybe 30-45 minutes online. The hardest part was just gathering all the employment info, but even then I didn't need physical documents for the initial filing. One thing I wish someone had told me - make sure you're mentally prepared for the waiting period after you file. It took about 3-4 weeks before I got my first payment because they had to verify everything. But once it started, the weekly certifications were pretty simple. My advice: file this week, don't wait another day. Even if your benefit amount isn't as high as it could have been, you'll at least have something coming in while you continue your job search. And start keeping that job search log right away - I got randomly selected for a work search review and was so glad I had been documenting everything. You've got this!

I went through something really similar - got laid off from my job at a hotel in June and didn't file until October because I kept thinking I'd land something quickly. Big mistake waiting so long! But like everyone else is saying, you can definitely still file. The online application took me about an hour because I had to dig up old employment info, but it wasn't too complicated. Just be ready with employer names, addresses, phone numbers, and your employment dates for the past 18 months. The hardest part for me was remembering the exact dates I worked at different places, but they accept reasonable estimates. My weekly benefit ended up being based on what I made over a year ago when I was working part-time at a coffee shop, so it was only $165/week instead of what it would have been based on my hotel wages. But honestly, even that small amount has been a lifesaver while I keep looking. Don't wait another day - file this weekend and at least get the process started!

I went through this exact same situation last year! Your BYE date of 8/21 means you can certify for the week ending on that date, but after that you'll need to file a brand new claim. Since you've been working part-time, you should definitely qualify for a new claim, but your weekly benefit amount will be recalculated based on your earnings from the past 18 months. So it'll probably be lower than what you're getting now, but at least you'll still have some income coming in. The whole process took about 2-3 weeks for me, and they did backpay once it was approved. Just make sure you have all your employment history ready when you file the new claim!

Hey! I just went through this exact same process a few months ago. Your BYE date of 8/21 means that's the last day of your current benefit year - you can still certify for the week ending on that date, but after that you'll need to file a completely new claim. It's not an extension, it's literally starting from scratch. Since you've been working part-time, you should definitely qualify for a new claim, but heads up - your weekly benefit amount will probably be lower since they'll base it on your recent part-time earnings rather than your full-time restaurant wages. The whole process took about 3 weeks for me, but they did backpay once everything was approved. Just make sure you have all your employment info from the past 18 months ready when you apply. Don't stress too much - the system will walk you through it when the time comes!

If you're having trouble reaching NYS Department of Labor to update your withholding or have questions about your account, I used a service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that helped me get through to an actual agent. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI that shows how it works. Was way easier than trying to call myself and getting the busy signal for hours.

Just wanted to add that you should also consider your state tax situation. New York State doesn't automatically withhold state taxes from unemployment benefits either, but you can request state withholding too if you want to avoid owing on both federal and state returns. I think the state withholding option is around 3-4% but double check that when you're setting up your withholding preferences. Also keep in mind that if you were getting health insurance through your employer, losing that coverage might affect your tax situation since you won't have those premium deductions anymore.