just remember you have to do the weekly claims every week even if its the same info over and over. miss one week and they make you start all over again its ridiculous

One thing to keep in mind is that your unemployment benefits may be subject to federal taxes, and you can choose to have 10% withheld automatically when you set up your claim. This might be worth doing if you don't want to deal with a big tax bill next year. Also, the $425/week you'd get is decent but definitely budget tight - I'd recommend applying to jobs aggressively since the benefits only last 26 weeks maximum in NY.

The whole base period thing is so confusing!!! I wish they would just look at your last year of work and be done with it. Why does it have to be these weird quarter calculations that nobody understands?

The quarter system can definitely be confusing at first! One thing that helped me understand it better is that they use completed quarters, so if you're filing your claim in the middle of a quarter, that current quarter won't count toward your base period. Also, @Cameron Black, regarding your specific situation - since you worked consistently for 8 months in 2024, you should easily meet both the total earnings requirement ($2,600) and the high quarter requirement ($1,300) that @Ruby Garcia mentioned. The key is having that recent work attachment, which it sounds like you definitely have.

just keep in mind your weekly benefit amount is based on your previous earnings, and there's usually a one week waiting period before your first payment. so don't panic if you don't see money immediately after filing your first claim.

One thing to add - make sure you understand the difference between your "weekly benefit rate" and your total benefit amount. Your weekly rate is what you get each week (usually around 50% of your average weekly wage), but you have a maximum total amount you can receive over the entire benefit year. In NY it's typically 26 times your weekly rate. Also, if you do any part-time work while collecting, you need to report those earnings when you file your weekly claim - they might reduce your benefit for that week but you won't lose eligibility completely. The system is pretty good at catching unreported work so always be honest about any income.

For job search requirements, you need to apply for suitable work which generally means jobs that match your skills, experience, and pay rate (though the acceptable pay rate decreases over time). You don't have to stay in retail forever, but early on you should focus on similar positions.

Just to add to what everyone's said - don't stress too much about the application process! I was super nervous when I applied for the first time after getting laid off from my warehouse job. The online system walks you through everything step by step. One tip: apply as soon as possible after your last day of work because there's usually a one-week waiting period before benefits start, and you want to get that clock ticking. Also, if you're unsure about any of the questions during the application, it's better to answer honestly and let them determine your eligibility rather than guess. Good luck!

Won my appeal in October and got paid the following week. Guess I got lucky with the timing. The back pay was nice though - got like $4800 all at once for the weeks I missed.

I'm going through the exact same situation right now! Had my appeal hearing 10 days ago and won, but my online account still shows the disqualification. It's so frustrating when you're already stressed about money and then have to wait even longer after proving they made a mistake. I've been trying to call but can never get through - just endless busy signals. Really hoping it doesn't take the full 3 weeks some people are mentioning here. The uncertainty is almost worse than the original denial!