Construction workers often get confused by this because seasonal work creates uneven quarters. Your base period might not include your best earning periods if the timing doesn't line up right with when you filed your claim.

This is exactly why I wish NYS Department of Labor would provide clearer examples on their website. I'm also in construction and had no idea about the base period quarters thing until I started digging into it. Your $425 weekly benefit actually sounds reasonable if you had some slow quarters mixed in with your higher earning ones. The timing of when you file really does matter - I've heard of people waiting a few weeks to file if they knew a high-earning quarter was about to become part of their base period, though obviously you can't wait too long since benefits are backdated only so far.

dont forget to do your work search requirements or theyll freeze everything

Just went through this same process last month. After my waiting week, it took exactly 5 business days for the first payment to show up in my account. Make sure you're certifying every Sunday night before midnight - that's crucial. Also double check that your direct deposit info is correct in your online account, mine had a typo in the routing number that delayed everything by another week. The payment history section updates around 3am usually, so check first thing in the morning rather than throughout the day.

Also don't forget about the partial unemployment option if you find part time work. You can sometimes still collect benefits if your hours are reduced.

Just wanted to add that if you're in marketing like the original poster, you might also want to look into whether your company offered any severance or COBRA benefits that could help bridge the gap. Some marketing roles also qualify for freelance/contract work that could supplement partial unemployment benefits. Also, consider using this time to update your portfolio and maybe get some certifications - LinkedIn Learning and Google have free courses that could make you more competitive when those 26 weeks are up. The key is treating job searching like a full-time job itself.

Just to add some perspective - even after your employer responds, NYS Department of Labor can take additional time to review everything and make their decision. In straightforward layoff cases like yours it's usually approved quickly, but they still have to go through their process. Hang in there!

I went through this same process about 6 months ago when I was laid off from my tech job. My employer actually responded within 3 days, but then it took NYS Department of Labor another 10 days to process everything and update my claim status. The whole thing felt like it took forever when you're stressed about money. One thing that helped me was setting up direct deposit ahead of time through the my.ny.gov portal so when the payment was finally approved, it came through faster. Also, if you were laid off due to downsizing like you mentioned, that's typically a pretty straightforward approval once they get through the paperwork. Try not to stress too much - you should be good!

I'm going through the same thing right now! It's so stressful trying to explain why I haven't worked in 6 months. Did anyone ask you specific questions about your job search activities? I'm worried they'll want to know exactly what I was doing every week.

I went through this exact situation after being laid off from a tech company. What worked for me was creating a narrative around "strategic career planning" - I explained that after the unexpected layoff, I took time to reassess my career goals and target companies that aligned with my values. I also kept a portfolio of the networking events I attended, informational interviews I conducted, and any freelance or volunteer work I did. When employers see you were intentional about your search rather than just desperate for any job, it actually becomes a positive. The 8-month timeline isn't unusual at all in today's market, especially for professional roles.