just wanted to add that unemployment benefits ARE taxable income so make sure you report everything on your 1099-G when you file. i made the mistake of thinking it wasn't taxable my first time and had to file an amended return

Just to add some timing info - NYS Department of Labor is required to send out 1099-G forms by January 31st each year. If you haven't received yours by early February, definitely check your my.ny.gov account first before calling. Sometimes they get delayed in the mail or sent to an old address. Also make sure your address is updated in the system if you've moved since filing your unemployment claim.

I remember when I first filed in 2023, I was making about the same as you and my weekly benefit was around $275. But every situation is different depending on your work history and when you worked. The NYS Department of Labor looks at a specific base period - usually the first 4 of the last 5 completed quarters before you file.

Just went through this process myself last month! Based on your $52k salary, you're probably looking at somewhere between $250-300 per week, but it really depends on how your wages were distributed across quarters. The NYS DOL uses your "base period" which is the first 4 of the last 5 completed calendar quarters before you file. So if you file now, they'd look at Q1 2024 through Q4 2024. One thing that helped me was logging into the NYS DOL website and starting the application process - you can see your wage history and get an estimate before you actually submit the claim. Just don't hit "submit" until you're ready to officially file!

UPDATE: Success! I called the 800-833-3000 number at 8:05 this morning and followed the menu options that @UnemploymentHelper suggested. Only waited about 20 minutes and got through to someone who was actually helpful. They reset my password on their end and helped me set up a new one. Also got my account unlocked and was able to certify for this week AND last week (they gave me a retroactive certification due to the technical issues). Thank you everyone for your help!!

This is such a helpful thread! I'm bookmarking this for future reference. It's crazy how many people go through this same exact problem with the NY unemployment system. The fact that @NebulaNova was able to get both weeks certified is huge - I've heard horror stories of people losing benefits because of these technical issues. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences and solutions. The specific menu navigation from @Javier Mendoza is going to save so many people hours of frustration.

The whole system is a mess honestly. I've been waiting for someone to call me back about my job search requirements for over a month now. Good luck getting any real help from them.

@Dylan Cooper - I had a similar experience when I first filed. One thing that helped me was checking the "Correspondence" section in my account - sometimes there are messages or documents there that explain what's happening with your claim, even if the main status page isn't showing much detail. Also, if you haven't received your monetary determination letter yet (either online or by mail), that's usually the first sign that things are moving forward. The letter will tell you your weekly benefit amount and how many weeks you're eligible for. Don't panic about the 10 days - the system really is slow right now, but most claims do get processed eventually.

Has anyone else noticed that the NYDOL website is down like every other day? How are we supposed to claim our benefits if we can't even log in? 🤬

Anybody know if theres a way to expedite the waiting week credit process? I'm really in a tight spot financially and every day counts 😰