I'm back from my trip and everything worked out fine! I certified while in California on Sunday, answered 'no' to the residence question since I wasn't relocating, and my payment was deposited as normal today. Thanks everyone for the help!

Great to hear everything went smoothly! This is such a common worry for people collecting unemployment - I think a lot of us get nervous about any travel because the questions can be confusing. Your experience shows that short trips are totally fine as long as you're honest about what they're actually asking. Thanks for updating us on how it turned out!

Just a heads up - if you worked in multiple states during your base period you might need to file an interstate claim which can affect the calculation. NYS Department of Labor will combine wages from other states but it gets more complicated.

For someone making $52k annually, you're probably looking at around $400-500 per week if your earnings were spread evenly across quarters. The key thing to remember is that NYS Department of Labor uses calendar quarters, not rolling quarters. So if you're filing in May 2025, your base period would be Q1 2024 through Q4 2024. Make sure you have all your pay stubs or W-2s handy when you file because they'll verify your wages. The online application will walk you through it but having your earnings breakdown by quarter beforehand really helps speed up the process.

Just keep filing your weekly claims no matter what! That's the most important thing. Even if payments are delayed you can't go back and claim weeks you missed.

I went through something similar last month. The "claim established" status is actually normal - it just means your initial application was accepted. What helped me was calling the dedicated claims line at 888-209-8124 early in the morning (like 7:45 AM right when they open). The wait times are brutal but at least you can get through. Also double-check that all your employer information was entered correctly, including exact dates and wages - any small discrepancy can cause delays in the wage verification process.

same boat here, filed last month and still waiting. at least you know what to expect now. the waiting is the worst part but once it gets going the payments come regularly

Don't panic - you're actually in a pretty normal spot right now! The "claim pending" status is typical for the first week or two. Here's what helped me when I went through this process: 1) Set up email/text alerts in your my.ny.gov account so you don't miss any requests for documents, 2) Start keeping a job search log RIGHT NOW even before approval - I use a simple spreadsheet with company name, position, date applied, and contact method, 3) File your weekly claim this Sunday regardless of pending status (this tripped me up initially), and 4) Be patient with the determination letter - mine took about 10 business days. The system is slow but it does work eventually. You've got this!

Same thing happened to my brother last year except his was only like $800. He just paid it right away to avoid the hassle but now I'm wondering if he should have appealed it first. These overpayment letters seem pretty common unfortunately.

I had a similar overpayment issue with NYS Department of Labor about 18 months ago. My advice: don't panic, but do act quickly within that 30-day window. First, gather ALL your documentation - weekly claim forms, correspondence, pay stubs, anything that shows you reported correctly. Second, call the overpayment unit directly (different from regular unemployment line) - the number should be on your notice. Third, if you truly believe you reported everything correctly, absolutely file an appeal AND request a waiver simultaneously. You can do both. The waiver process looks at whether the overpayment was due to agency error or circumstances beyond your control. Even if the waiver is denied, having documentation ready helps with setting up a reasonable payment plan. Don't let them intimidate you - you have rights in this process.