The whole quarterly system is designed to screw workers over if you ask me. Why should some arbitrary calendar quarters determine your benefits instead of just looking at your most recent work history? Makes no sense.

The base period calculation definitely seems confusing at first! One thing that helped me understand it was thinking of it like this: NYS Department of Labor needs time to process all the wage data from employers before they can use it for benefit calculations. That's why they skip the most recent quarter - the wage reports might not be complete yet. Also, don't worry too much about gaps between jobs - what matters is having enough earnings in at least 2 quarters of your base period. If you worked steadily for 18 months, you should be in good shape. You can always call or check online to see what quarters and earnings they have on file for you before filing your claim.

I went through this exact same thing 2 months ago! The NY unemployment portal is notorious for not sending confirmation emails after document uploads. Here's what I did that actually worked: 1. Log back into your account and look for a "Document History" or "Submitted Documents" section - sometimes the uploads show there even without email confirmation 2. If you can't find proof they received them, definitely mail physical copies via certified mail as backup 3. Try calling early morning (like 8:01 AM sharp) - that's when I had the best luck getting through 4. Keep detailed records of everything - dates you uploaded, what documents, screenshots if possible The whole system is a mess right now but don't panic. Most people's documents do eventually get processed, it just takes forever and they're terrible at communicating. The fact that you were able to upload through the official link from their email is a good sign. Hang in there! 💪

Just went through this nightmare last week! The NY unemployment portal is absolutely terrible at confirmations. Here's what saved me: I logged back in and found my uploaded docs under "My Account" > "Document Center" - they were there even though I never got an email. If you can't find them there, definitely send certified mail copies ASAP. I also recommend taking screenshots of your upload confirmation pages going forward (learned that the hard way). The system is completely broken but your docs are probably in there somewhere. Don't wait too long to follow up though - I've heard horror stories of people waiting months. You got this! 🤞

I'm new to this whole unemployment process and feeling pretty overwhelmed reading through all these details! One thing that's helping me is breaking it down into smaller steps. I made a simple checklist for my weekly claims: 1) Update my job search log before filing, 2) Double-check any earnings from the week (even small amounts), 3) Read each question twice before answering, and 4) Take screenshots before submitting like @Natasha mentioned. It's making the whole process feel less scary. Also just wanted to say thank you to everyone sharing their experiences - it's really reassuring to know others have figured this out and that making honest mistakes isn't the end of the world as long as you're upfront about everything with NYS Department of Labor.

I just wanted to add something that helped me when I was confused about the work search requirements - you can actually call your local One-Stop Career Center for guidance on what counts as valid job search activities. They helped me understand that things like updating your resume, taking online skills courses, or even informational interviews can count toward your 3 weekly activities. The staff there are really knowledgeable about NYS Department of Labor requirements and they're way easier to reach than the main unemployment line. For @Amina's original question about the weekly claim - the key thing that gave me confidence was realizing that the system is designed to support people who are genuinely looking for work, so as long as you're honest about your activities and earnings, you'll be fine. The $75 freelance work is actually a good sign that you're actively trying to get back on your feet, and reporting it correctly shows NYS Department of Labor that you're following the rules. Don't let the complexity scare you - thousands of people successfully file these claims every week!

Restaurant workers always get confused about this because of how tips work. Just remember - if money went in your pocket for work you did that week, it counts as gross earnings. Cash tips, credit card tips, tip pools, everything. And yeah definitely include training pay for the week you actually did the training, not when you got the check.

ugh this is exactly why I hate doing my weekly claims. so much anxiety about getting it wrong and then having to deal with overpayment notices later. at least you got through adjudication - mine's been pending for 6 weeks now

just file asap!!! the sooner you file the sooner you start getting paid. i waited like 2 weeks thinking i might find another job quick and that was stupid because you cant get benefits for those weeks you waited

Welcome to the unemployment world, Jackson! I went through this same thing last year when my restaurant closed down. One thing I wish someone had told me upfront - make sure you have ALL your employment info ready when you apply. They'll need your last employer's address, your supervisor's name, exact dates of employment, and reason for separation. Also, if you worked multiple jobs in the past 18 months, you'll need info for ALL of them since they calculate your benefit amount based on your total earnings during what they call your "base period." The NYS Department of Labor website has a benefit calculator you can use to estimate what you might receive before you even apply.