did u get an actual monetary determination letter? that would tell u how much ur supposed to get each week. if u didnt get that yet then somethings definitely wrong

Hey Zara! I went through this exact same thing last month. That email basically means you're approved but there's usually still a processing delay before you actually see the money. A few things to check: 1) Make sure you're answering the weekly certification questions correctly - especially the "ready, willing and able to work" one (answer YES even if you had appointments or interviews during the week), 2) Double check your direct deposit info is correct in your account, and 3) Be patient - the first payment often takes 2-3 weeks after that approval email. If it's been longer than that or you think you answered a certification question wrong, you'll need to call them. The phone lines are brutal but keep trying right at 8am or consider using one of those callback services people mentioned. Hang in there!

this is exactly why i hate when people act like unemployment is a handout. WE PAID FOR THIS through our work history and our employers contributions!!

Your neighbor really needs to understand that unemployment insurance is exactly that - insurance. Just like how you pay car insurance premiums so you're covered if you get in an accident, employers pay unemployment insurance premiums so their workers are covered if they lose their job through no fault of their own. You didn't choose to be unemployed, and the money you're receiving was specifically set aside for situations like yours. It's not charity or welfare - it's an earned benefit that's part of our employment system.

UPDATE: Finally got this figured out! For anyone else with this problem - I ended up doing THREE things that worked: 1. Used the virtual card at Target for a small purchase and got $100 cash back (thanks for that suggestion!) 2. Found a newer Chase ATM with the contactless symbol and was able to withdraw $300 (had to tap my phone to the symbol, then enter PIN) 3. For the rest, I just waited 2 more days for the bank transfer to complete The most frustrating thing is that NONE of this was explained in any of the materials I got from unemployment. You'd think they'd make it easier to actually access our benefits! Thanks everyone for your help!

So glad you got it figured out! Your experience highlights exactly why this system is so frustrating for people who need their benefits. The lack of clear instructions from NYSDOL is really unacceptable - people shouldn't have to crowdsource solutions on forums just to access their own money. Your update will definitely help others who run into the same issues. It's crazy that something as basic as "here's how to actually use your benefits card" isn't explained properly in their official materials.

UPDATE: My payment went through normally today! No delays or issues. I also managed to get through to someone at NYSDOL (took forever on hold) who confirmed that as long as I continue to report my self-employment income during weekly certifications, I'm good to go. Just wanted to update in case anyone has a similar situation in the future.

That's fantastic news! Thanks for posting the update - this whole thread will be super helpful for other hair stylists and freelancers in similar situations. It's reassuring to know that NYSDOL actually confirmed the process over the phone. Your situation is probably pretty common with all the salon workers who picked up some independent clients during/after COVID. Glad you didn't have to stress about rent money! 🙌

Just wanted to add that you should also verify your quarterly reporting schedule didn't change with the new rate. NYS sometimes adjusts filing frequencies based on your total liability amounts. I had my rate jump from 2.5% to 4.1% last year and they moved me from quarterly to monthly reporting. You can check this on your employer account dashboard on the NYS DOL website. Also, if you're using direct deposit for tax payments, make sure your bank account info is still current - learned that one the hard way when my payment bounced!

One thing I'd add - after you update your SUI rate in QuickBooks, run a test payroll for a small amount first to make sure the calculations look right before processing your full payroll. I always do this when I change any tax settings because it's easier to catch mistakes on a $100 test run than after you've processed everyone's actual paychecks. Also, keep a copy of that rate notice from NYS DOL in your payroll files - you might need it later if there are any questions about when the rate change took effect.