The whole system is designed to trip you up I swear. Last time I filed they made me wait forever just because I put the wrong date somewhere. But yeah definitely wait until you're actually unemployed or they'll find some reason to delay everything.

Just want to add that when you do file after your last day, make sure you have all your documentation ready - your final pay stub, any separation paperwork from your employer, and exact dates of employment. NYS DOL will ask for your employer's information too, so have that contact info handy. The online system is usually fastest, but expect it to be slow during peak hours (Monday mornings are brutal). Good luck with the transition!

last week i had to try like 8 times to get thru when claimin my partial hours they really need to fix there system im so sick of this!!!!!

I've been dealing with this same exact issue for the past two weeks! The system keeps cutting me off right when I try to enter my work hours. What finally worked for me was calling the main line (888-209-8124) at exactly 8:00 AM on Monday morning and speaking very slowly and clearly when entering numbers. Also, I learned that if you're working different hours each day, don't try to enter a weekly total - the system gets confused. Enter each day separately like: Monday 4 hours, Tuesday 6 hours, etc. Still took me 3 tries but at least I got through eventually. The whole system is such a mess but hang in there!

One last tip - if you do manage to speak with an agent, be sure to ask them to note in your file that you're experiencing financial hardship due to rent being due. This specific notation can flag your claim for expedited processing in their system. Also ask them to check if there are any "non-monetary determinations" pending on your claim, as these are often invisible to you but can hold up payment.

I went through this exact same situation back in December. After my employer got the eligibility letter, it took about 2.5 weeks for my first payment to come through. The key thing is to keep certifying every week even while it's pending - you'll get backpay for all those weeks once it's approved. One thing that really helped me was calling right when they open at 8am on Tuesday mornings. I found that's when I had the best chance of getting through. Also, if you're really struggling with rent, some local organizations have emergency rental assistance programs that can help bridge the gap while you're waiting for unemployment. Check with 211 (dial 2-1-1) for resources in your area. Hang in there - the waiting is the worst part but once it starts flowing, you'll get all your back weeks at once!

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 🤞

I was in almost the exact same situation last year and successfully got partial unemployment benefits while working part-time! The process was actually smoother than I expected once I understood how it works. A few key things that helped me: - Don't be intimidated by the "currently working" question - answering YES is correct and won't disqualify you - Keep detailed records from day one - write down exactly which days you work each week (not hours, just days) - Your part-time wages can vary week to week as long as you stay under $504 and work less than 4 days - The online system will calculate your partial benefit automatically once you report your work days One thing I wish someone had told me: if you work an irregular schedule (like some weeks 2 days, some weeks 3 days), your benefit amount will change accordingly each week. This is totally normal and expected with partial benefits. The work search requirement was actually easier to meet than I thought - online job applications count, and since you're already motivated to find more work, it becomes part of your routine pretty quickly. I'd definitely recommend starting with the online application. Even if you hit a snag, you'll have most of your information entered and can reference it when calling. The whole process took me about 20 minutes online once I had my documents ready. You've got this! Partial benefits really help bridge that gap while you're building toward full-time employment.

I'm in a very similar situation and this whole thread has been incredibly helpful! I've been working part-time for about a month now, usually 2-3 days per week, and my weekly earnings are consistently under $400. Reading everyone's experiences has given me the confidence to finally apply for partial benefits. A couple of questions for those who've been through this process: 1. When you first apply online, does the system immediately tell you if you're approved for partial benefits, or do you have to wait for some kind of determination letter? 2. For the work search activities - do online job applications through sites like Indeed and LinkedIn count toward the 3 weekly requirements, or do they prefer more traditional methods? I'm planning to apply this weekend after I gather all my employment documents. It sounds like being completely transparent about working part-time is key, which honestly makes me feel better about the whole process. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences - this community is amazing for navigating these confusing government systems!