Just want to add that you should file online through the my.ny.gov portal rather than trying to call. The online system is much faster for initial applications. You'll need your Social Security number, driver's license, and employment history for the past 18 months. Make sure you have your last employer's exact business name and address when you file.

One thing to keep in mind - even though you can apply for unemployment after being fired during probation, your benefit amount might be lower since it's calculated based on your earnings history. With only 6 weeks of work at this job, they'll look at your previous employment over the past 15 months to determine your weekly benefit amount. Also, make sure to document everything about your termination (any emails, the exact reason they gave you, etc.) in case your former employer contests your claim.

Just went through this myself - had worked 10 weeks at a new job before getting laid off in January. Turns out even though I had the days, my wages were spread across the wrong quarters for the base period calculation. Had to file for an alternate base period review which took another 3 weeks but eventually got approved. The key is understanding that it's about wages earned in specific time periods, not just total days worked.

I went through something similar recently. The confusion about the "90 days" comes from people mixing up different requirements. NYS doesn't have a strict 90-day rule, but you do need to have worked enough to earn sufficient wages in your base period quarters. Since you worked 8 weeks and earned $4,200, you might actually qualify depending on the timing. I'd recommend calling the DOL directly or filing anyway - sometimes the online system will tell you right away if you meet the monetary requirements. The worst they can do is say no, but you might be surprised. Also keep in mind that if you don't qualify under the regular base period, you can request the alternate base period which uses more recent quarters.

I went through this exact same situation last month when I switched from Bank of America to TD Bank. The returned payment showed up on a Wednesday and I got the redeposit the following Tuesday - so about 6 business days total. What really helped was checking my payment status obsessively on the DOL website because like someone else mentioned, they don't always send email notifications when they reprocess. Also make sure you screenshot everything showing the "returned" status and your correct new bank info just in case you need to prove to an agent later that everything is set up right on your end. The waiting is brutal when rent is due but hang in there - it will eventually go through.

Been dealing with NY unemployment for 8 months now and this returned payment thing is unfortunately super common. From my experience and talking to others in similar situations, you're looking at roughly 7-10 business days for them to reprocess it to your new Chase account. The really frustrating part is there's basically no way to speed it up unless you can somehow get through to a human agent (which is nearly impossible). One thing that helped me when this happened was setting up text alerts on my Chase account so I'd know immediately when the deposit finally came through, rather than constantly refreshing the DOL website. Also, if you're really tight on rent money, reach out to your landlord NOW and explain the situation - most reasonable landlords will work with you if you give them a heads up rather than just being late without explanation. The system sucks but you'll get your money eventually. Hang in there!

ugh the waiting week thing is so confusing!! I thought it was just gone forever when I didn't get paid the first week. Good to know they actually pay it back eventually

I'm dealing with the same issue right now! Been getting regular payments for 5 weeks but still no waiting week refund. From what I've read on the NYS DOL website, they're supposed to automatically release it after you've received 3 weeks of benefits, but there seems to be processing delays happening system-wide. I've seen some people say it can take anywhere from 4-10 weeks depending on when you filed. Definitely frustrating when you're counting on that money! Let me know if you figure out what's causing the delay.

As a small business owner who's dealt with this before, I understand your concern about rates going up. The good news is that one short-term employee claiming benefits typically won't cause a dramatic spike in your unemployment insurance rates. The system is designed to spread costs over time, and your rates are based on your overall experience rating, not just one claim. Focus on documenting the circumstances of their departure and responding honestly to any paperwork NYS Department of Labor sends you. If they quit without good cause, you have the right to contest the claim.

Yes, definitely write down exactly what they said when they quit! Document the date, time, and their exact words about why they were leaving. "The job wasn't what they expected" could potentially be contested, but you'll want specifics. Did they explain what expectations weren't met? Was it the job duties, work environment, or something else? Also keep any job postings or written job descriptions you provided during hiring to show what was communicated upfront. The more detailed documentation you have, the better position you'll be in if you need to respond to NYS Department of Labor's inquiry about the separation.