This thread has been so helpful! I'm a new member dealing with a similar situation - my unemployment claim was approved 3 weeks ago and I've been filing weekly but no payments yet. After reading all these comments, I immediately went and checked my correspondence inbox (which I honestly had no idea existed) and sure enough, there was a notice from last week asking for additional identity verification documents. The notice was just sitting there with no email alert or anything on the main dashboard. It's crazy how they hide these critical notices! Now I at least know why my payments are delayed and what I need to do. Thank you everyone for sharing your experiences - this community is a lifesaver when the NYS Department of Labor system is so confusing to navigate.

I'm new to this community but going through the exact same frustrating situation! Got approved for unemployment 2 weeks ago, been filing my weekly claims religiously, but haven't seen a penny yet. After reading through all these comments about checking the correspondence inbox, I went digging and found a notice I completely missed about needing to verify my last day of work with my previous employer. The notice was dated 10 days ago but there was absolutely no alert on the main dashboard - just buried in that correspondence section that I didn't even know existed! It's honestly infuriating how the NYS Department of Labor hides these critical notices. At least now I know what's holding up my payments and can take action. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences - this thread literally saved me from weeks more of confusion and stress!

I'm going through something similar right now - filed in June, approved, but only got 3 payments before everything just stopped. It's incredibly frustrating because like you, I keep certifying every week but my account just shows "pending" with zero explanation. One thing I discovered is that you can also try reaching out through their Twitter account @nylabor - they sometimes respond faster there than through phone calls. I sent them a DM with my claim details and got a response within 48 hours (though they just told me to keep waiting, at least it was acknowledgment). Also, if you have any documentation from your previous employer about your termination/layoff, make sure you have copies ready. Sometimes they request this stuff randomly during reviews and having it ready can speed things up. Hang in there - from what I'm reading here it seems like most people eventually get their payments, it's just a matter of persistence. The system is clearly broken but we have to work within it unfortunately.

I'm dealing with almost the exact same situation! Filed in late June, got approved with a $520 weekly benefit, but haven't seen a penny since August. It's now been 10 weeks of certifying with nothing but "pending" status. What's really helped me so far is documenting EVERYTHING - screenshots of my account status, dates I called, any emails or messages. I started a spreadsheet to track it all because I have a feeling I'll need this documentation later. Also, try calling the technical support line instead of the regular claims line sometimes - the number is 888-581-5812. I've had slightly better luck getting through there, and they can at least confirm if there are any technical issues with your account. One thing that's kept me sane through this process is remembering that once it gets resolved, you should receive all the back payments for every week you properly certified. So even though it's financially devastating right now, the money is technically accumulating. Doesn't help with immediate bills though... Keep pushing - from reading everyone's responses here it seems like persistence is really the only way through this broken system.

One thing to keep in mind is that your benefit amount will also depend on when you earned that $65k - they look at your "base period" which is typically the first 4 of the last 5 completed calendar quarters before you file. So if you file now, they'd look at your earnings from roughly Q1 2024 through Q4 2024. If you had periods of lower earnings or gaps in employment during that time, it could affect your weekly benefit amount even if your most recent salary was $65k.

Just wanted to add that you should file as soon as possible since there's usually a one-week waiting period before you start receiving benefits. Also, make sure you have all your employment records ready - they'll need your W-2s or pay stubs from the base period to verify your earnings. The sooner you get everything submitted correctly, the faster they can process your claim and calculate your exact weekly benefit amount. Good luck with your job search!

yeah the system is always up but it crashes sometimes on mondays when everyone files their weekly claims at the same time lol

I work in HR and deal with unemployment claims regularly - definitely file your initial claim today! The NYS DOL system is available 24/7 at my.ny.gov, and like others mentioned, your benefit year starts from when you file, not when you were laid off. Pro tip: if you're filing late at night or early morning, the system tends to be faster since there's less traffic. Also, have your last employer's full legal name and address handy, plus your recent pay stubs if possible. The system will ask for your gross wages from the last 18 months, so having that info ready will make the process smoother.

Just because an employer is exempt from FUTA doesn't mean you can't collect unemployment. The key things that matter for NYS Department of Labor eligibility are whether you earned enough wages in covered employment and whether you lost your job through no fault of your own. Check your earnings statement on the my.ny.gov portal to see if your wages were reported.

I think people get confused because there are different types of exemptions. Some employers are exempt from paying federal unemployment tax but still have to pay state unemployment insurance. Others might be exempt from both. The NYS Department of Labor website has a whole section explaining covered vs non-covered employment if you want to dig deeper into it.