I just wanted to jump in here as someone who went through this exact same nerve-wracking experience about 6 months ago! The waiting for that first payment is absolutely brutal, especially when you're already financially stressed. I remember checking my bank account like 10 times a day and panicking that something was wrong with my claim. My first payment took exactly 9 business days after certifying, and like others mentioned, both weeks came through at once. What really helped me was understanding that NY's system treats the first payment differently - they run additional fraud prevention checks and verifications that don't happen with subsequent payments. Once that first one hits though, every payment after comes like clockwork in 2-3 days. For anyone currently waiting - hang in there! The "processed" status really does mean your money is coming, it's just their backend systems being extra cautious. I know it doesn't help with immediate bills, but the payments do come through and they'll backpay everything you're owed.

I'm currently in this exact situation too and finding this thread has been such a relief! Just finished my second week of certifying on Sunday and I'm on day 3 of waiting with a "processed" status but no payment yet. I was starting to get really anxious because like everyone else mentioned, the DOL website makes it sound like payments should arrive in 2-3 days max. Reading all these experiences showing 7-10 business days is actually normal for the first payment has really calmed my nerves. It's especially tough when you're already financially tight and this money is what you're counting on to keep things afloat. The waiting game is brutal but I'm feeling more confident now that the payment will come through soon. Thanks to everyone for sharing their timelines - this community support makes such a difference when you're going through this stressful process!

The whole appeals process is just another way for them to delay paying out benefits. I went through it twice and lost both times even though I had evidence. NYS Department of Labor hearing officers seem to side with employers most of the time.

I work as a paralegal and have helped several people with unemployment appeals in NY. The success rate really varies by case type, but I'd estimate around 35-40% get overturned or modified. For misconduct cases specifically, you'll want to focus on proving that your actions didn't rise to the level of willful misconduct that would disqualify you from benefits. Those emails you mentioned showing targeting could be really valuable evidence. The appeals process usually takes 4-8 weeks, and you can represent yourself or bring someone to help. Even if the odds aren't perfect, if you believe you have a valid case it's definitely worth pursuing - the worst that happens is you're in the same position you're in now.

omg yes the payment timing is SO confusing!! i thought i was getting paid for the current week and couldn't understand why my first check was taking forever lol. also found out the hard way that if you mess up your weekly claim you have to wait until the next week to fix it, there's no going back and editing

Just went through this same confusion last month! The one-week delay really threw me off initially. One thing that helped me track everything was creating a simple spreadsheet with the filing date, week ending date, expected payment date, and actual payment received. Also, if you're worried about the timing, you can check your payment history in the my.ny.gov portal under "Payment History" - it shows the status of each week's claim (processed, pending, paid, etc.). This really helped me understand the pattern and catch when something was off with a particular week's claim.

Just a heads up, they changed some policies last month. Make sure you're up to date on the latest requirements for fair hearings. The DOL website should have the info.

I'm in the same situation right now - just submitted my fair hearing request last week. Reading through everyone's experiences here is both helpful and terrifying 😅 The range from 6 weeks to 5 months is crazy! I'm definitely going to start documenting everything like Paolo suggested. Has anyone had success with the online portal for checking status updates, or is calling really the only way to get info?

One thing to keep in mind is that your benefits might be subject to federal income tax, so that $504/week could be even less take-home depending on your tax situation. You can choose to have 10% withheld for federal taxes when you file your weekly certifications. Also, since you're in finance, you might want to look into whether your company offers any outplacement services - many larger firms do, and that can help with your job search requirements while you're collecting benefits.

Another thing to consider is timing if you do get laid off in January - that's actually a good time to file because your benefit year will run through the end of December, so you'll have the full 26 weeks available if needed. Also, start documenting everything now about your work history and wages. NYS Department of Labor sometimes has issues with their wage records, especially for high earners, so having your own pay stubs and tax documents ready can speed up the process. And don't forget - even though $504 is way less than your current income, it's still something, and every week you delay filing after becoming unemployed is money left on the table since you can't backdate claims.