I'm in a similar situation - filed my claim 8 days ago and the waiting is killing me! The automated phone line at 888-209-8124 that Zara mentioned was really helpful. When I called, it told me my claim was received and gave me my effective date, but still shows "pending review." One thing I noticed is that in the "Claim Summary" section of my.ny.gov (under Unemployment Services), there's a small status indicator that says either "Active," "Pending," or "Under Review" - you might need to scroll down to see it. Also, I've been keeping a log of all my weekly certifications just in case there are any issues later. Hang in there - from what everyone is saying, this waiting period seems pretty normal even though it's incredibly stressful when you need the money!

I'm dealing with the exact same issue! Filed my claim 9 days ago and the uncertainty is really stressful. Thanks to everyone who shared the automated phone number (888-209-8124) - I just called and it confirmed my claim was received with an effective date from my filing date. The status shows "under review" which matches what others are seeing. I found the status indicator in the Claim Summary section that Toot-n-Mighty mentioned - had to scroll down but it's there showing "Pending Review." It's frustrating that the system doesn't make this information more obvious, but at least now I know my claim is actually in their system and being processed. Going to keep doing my weekly certifications and try to be patient, though it's hard when you're worried about bills!

ugh the whole system is so slow!! i had child support taken out but it took like 6 weeks and then they messed up the amount for 2 weeks. just be prepared for delays and mistakes

The automatic deduction is definitely the way to go. Before unemployment, I was always behind on payments and dealing with enforcement. Now it comes out before I even see it, which actually makes budgeting easier even though the unemployment amount is less than my regular salary was.

I went through something similar with a back injury from my job at a warehouse. What really helped me was getting a clear letter from my doctor that specified exactly what I could and couldn't do - like "can sit for 4 hours with breaks, no lifting over 10 lbs, no standing for extended periods." With that documentation, I was able to apply for unemployment because even though I couldn't do my regular warehouse job, I could potentially do office work or other seated positions. The NYS Department of Labor representative told me that as long as I was actively seeking work within my restrictions and my employer couldn't accommodate those restrictions, I qualified for benefits while my workers comp case was pending. Just make sure you're completely transparent about your limitations when you file - don't hide your injury but also don't oversell your disability if you can actually work in some capacity.

I'm going through something very similar right now - injured at work in January and still waiting on workers comp approval. What I learned from speaking with a benefits counselor is that you might qualify for unemployment if your doctor releases you for ANY type of work, even with restrictions. The trick is getting your doctor to be very specific about what you CAN do rather than just what you can't do. For example, instead of "cannot lift heavy objects," ask for something like "cleared for sedentary work, no lifting over 15 pounds, can work 6-8 hours with breaks." Then you can honestly say you're able and available for work that fits those restrictions while your workers comp processes. I'd recommend calling the NYS Department of Labor directly to discuss your specific situation before filing anything - they were actually pretty helpful in explaining how the two programs can work together legally.

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.

I had the same confusion when I first filed! MWA is definitely not something most regular unemployment claimants need to worry about. I've been collecting UI benefits for a few months now and that field has stayed blank the entire time without any issues. The key thing is just making sure you're doing your required work search activities and certifying your weekly claims on time. Don't stress about the empty MWA field - it won't hold up your benefits.

I went through the same confusion when I first started my claim! MWA definitely threw me off too. Like others have said, it's only relevant if you're in specific work training programs through social services. I've had my unemployment claim active for about 8 weeks now with that field completely blank and haven't had any problems with my weekly payments. The NYS DOL system can be really confusing with all these different fields and acronyms, but don't let an empty MWA field stress you out. Just focus on your regular job search activities and weekly certifications - that's what actually matters for your UI benefits.