just went thru this last month. its gonna take forever to get someone on the phone but once u do its fixed pretty quick

Same thing happened to me a few months ago and I was freaking out! I ended up calling first thing Monday morning at exactly 8am and got through after about 45 minutes on hold. The rep was actually really helpful and backdated my certification right away. Got my payment 3 days later. Definitely set those weekly reminders though - learned my lesson the hard way! Good luck getting through to them 🤞

Just wanted to add that even if you qualify for the maximum, your actual benefit duration depends on your total base period wages. In NY you can get up to 26 weeks of benefits, but some people with lower earnings might get fewer weeks. With your salary level you should get the full 26 weeks though.

One thing to keep in mind is that the $504 maximum is before taxes. NYS will withhold federal income tax (10%) if you elect it, and you'll owe taxes on unemployment benefits when you file your return. Also, make sure to file your claim as soon as possible - benefits are only backdated to the week you actually file, not when you lost your job. The online system at labor.ny.gov is usually the fastest way to get started with your initial application.

What was your original denial reason? That can affect timing too - if it's a simple eligibility issue vs something more complex like misconduct allegations, the process might be different.

I'm going through a similar situation right now - filed my appeal about 7 weeks ago after getting denied for "voluntary quit" even though I was laid off. Still no hearing notice either. From what I've read on the NYS DOL website, they're supposed to send the hearing notice at least 10 days before your scheduled date, so you might still be in the normal timeframe. The uncertainty is definitely the hardest part when you're already stressed about finances. Have you tried creating an online account on the DOL website? Sometimes you can see status updates there before you get anything in the mail.

Just want to add that I went through this withdrawal process about 2 months ago and it was honestly one of the most stressful experiences! The not knowing and waiting for payments was rough. Mine took exactly 21 days from withdrawal to new determination. A few things I wish I had known: - They sometimes send requests for additional info through regular mail (not just email), so check your mailbox daily - If you have a lawyer or someone who helped with your original claim, give them a heads up about the withdrawal - they might have insights - The online portal sometimes shows weird statuses during this time, don't panic if it says confusing things Also echoing what others said about claimyr - totally worth the $20 if you need to actually speak with someone. The regular phone lines are basically impossible to get through on your own. Stay strong everyone dealing with this! The system is definitely not user-friendly but most of these withdrawals do get resolved in the claimant's favor from what I've seen. Just document everything and respond quickly to any requests they send. 🤞

Going through this exact same thing right now and it's honestly so nerve-wracking! Got my withdrawal letter about a week ago and have been obsessively checking my online account every day since. 😅 Reading everyone's experiences here is really reassuring though - sounds like most people do get resolved in their favor eventually. The 30-day timeline @Madeline Blaze mentioned gives me some hope that there's actually a deadline they have to meet. One question for those who've been through this - did you guys notice any pattern in what triggers these withdrawals? Like was there something specific in your case that might have flagged it for review? Trying to figure out if this is just random quality control or if there was something I should have done differently. Also definitely going to start checking my physical mailbox daily now after @Nia Davis's tip! I've been so focused on digital communications that I totally overlooked regular mail. Thanks @AstroAdventurer for starting this thread - it's so helpful to know we're not alone in dealing with this bureaucratic maze! 🤝

OMG the whole system is so confusing! I missed my first week of certification because I didn't know when to do it and now I'm scared my whole claim is ruined 😭

Hey everyone! I'm new to this whole unemployment process too and reading through these comments has been super helpful. I just wanted to add that I found the NY.gov mobile app actually explains the certification timing pretty clearly if you go to the "Weekly Certification" section - it shows your specific day based on your last name and has a little calendar view. Also, for anyone worried about the work search requirements, I called the customer service line early in the morning (like 8:05 AM) and got through on my third try. They confirmed that for restaurant workers, things like checking job boards, visiting restaurants in person, and even networking events all count toward your 3 weekly contacts. Hope this helps someone!