Just went through this process myself a few months ago. You should definitely qualify with those earnings - I was making similar wages and had no issues. One tip: when you file online, make sure you have your employment dates exact because they use that to determine which quarters count toward your base period. Also, don't stress too much about the calculations - the system does it automatically once you enter your work history. The hardest part is usually just getting through the initial application, not meeting the earnings threshold.

From what I understand, the $3,300 minimum is correct, but there's actually another way to qualify too. You can meet the earnings requirement if you earned at least $2,200 in one quarter AND your total base period earnings are at least 1.5 times your highest quarter. So if you made $2,200+ in your best quarter and your total was at least $3,300, you'd qualify either way. With $15/hour and 25-30 hours weekly for 8 months, you should easily clear both thresholds. The NYS DOL website has a benefit calculator tool that can give you an estimate before you file your actual claim.

I went through this exact situation about 6 months ago and it's absolutely nerve-wracking! My claim was pending for almost 4 weeks before it got resolved. What helped me was documenting everything - I kept screenshots of my claim status, saved copies of all my weekly certifications, and wrote down every phone call attempt with timestamps. When I finally got through to someone (took about 50+ call attempts over several days), they were able to see that my former employer had disputed something about my separation reason. Once that got cleared up, all my back payments came through within a few days. The key is to stay persistent with the phone calls and keep filing your weekly claims no matter what. I know it's easier said than done when you're stressed about bills, but hang in there - it will get resolved eventually.

I'm dealing with the same pending issues nightmare right now - going on week 3 with no resolution in sight. What's really frustrating is that the NYS Department of Labor website doesn't give you ANY specifics about what they're actually reviewing. I've tried calling hundreds of times and can never get through. The worst part is watching my savings drain while waiting for them to figure out whatever mystery issue they're investigating. I've been diligent about filing my weekly certifications but it feels like I'm just going through the motions at this point. Really hoping this gets resolved soon because rent is due next week and I'm starting to panic about my finances.

Yeah definitely file right away. I made the mistake of thinking I should wait and see if I could find another job first. Bad idea - you're just losing time and potentially money. The NYS Department of Labor wants you to file as soon as you're unemployed.

Just to add some clarity - in NY you should file your initial unemployment claim immediately after losing your job, but there's still a 7-day waiting period before you receive your first benefit payment. This waiting period starts from your first day of unemployment, not from when you file. So if you were laid off yesterday, that counts as day 1 of your waiting period. You'll still need to certify for benefits during that first week even though you won't get paid for it. The key is getting your claim started ASAP so there are no unnecessary delays in the process.

UPDATE: I finally got through to someone this morning! Called at exactly 8:00 AM and got through after about 20 minutes on hold. Turns out there was a question about my employment dates that was holding everything up. The agent fixed it right away and said I should see my determination letter in the next few days. Thank you everyone for your help and suggestions!

I'm going through the exact same thing right now! Filed my claim on 2/15 and it's been radio silence ever since. The automated system keeps saying no determination letter has been sent, which is so frustrating when you're trying to figure out if something went wrong. Reading through everyone's experiences here is actually really helpful - it sounds like this is unfortunately just the new normal with how backed up the system is. I've been certifying every week like clockwork even though I haven't gotten any payments yet. Planning to try calling right at 8 AM tomorrow after seeing how well that worked for others. Thanks for posting this - it's reassuring to know I'm not the only one dealing with this mess!

I'm going through something similar right now with a $1,900 overpayment notice. From what I've learned, you should definitely file both the appeal AND the waiver request - they're separate processes that can run simultaneously. The appeal challenges whether the overpayment is correct, while the waiver asks for forgiveness even if it is correct. Make sure you have copies of all your weekly certifications showing you DID report the work. I found mine in my online account under "Payment History" - it shows exactly what you reported each week. Also document any technical issues you had with the system or confusing instructions. The fact that you reported the work but maybe got the hours wrong is actually a strong point in your favor for a waiver since it shows good faith effort to comply.

Carlos, I went through almost the exact same situation last year - $2,650 overpayment for underreporting part-time hours during a 4-week period. Like you, I had reported the work but miscalculated the hours on a couple weeks. Here's what worked for me: I immediately filed both an appeal AND a waiver request (as Harper mentioned, they're separate processes). For the appeal, I gathered my pay stubs, bank deposits, and screenshots of my weekly certifications showing I DID report income every week. For the waiver, I focused on proving it was an honest mistake - I wrote a detailed letter explaining how I calculated hours (I was mixing up gross vs net hours worked) and provided evidence of my good faith efforts. The key thing that helped was showing a pattern of consistent reporting with just computational errors, not hiding income. It took 3 months, but they reduced it to $650 and let me do a 12-month payment plan at $54/month. Don't panic - the fact that you reported the work puts you in a much better position than people who didn't report at all.