Thanks everyone for the helpful responses! Just to confirm my understanding: I'll continue with my existing claim (since I'm only 2 months into my benefit year), certify weekly reporting 0 days worked, make sure I select "lack of work" as my separation reason, and consider calling NYSDOL to have them note the change in my file. Does that sound right?

Just went through this same situation in February! You're definitely on the right track. One small addition - when you certify and report 0 days worked, double-check that your "total gross earnings" field is also $0. Sometimes people forget to update that field even when they put 0 days worked, and any earnings amount can mess up your benefit calculation. Also, your first full unemployment payment might take an extra day or two to process since the system is adjusting your benefit amount, so don't panic if it's not there exactly when you expect it. Good luck!

I went through something similar recently - my claim was pending for about 5 days before it cleared automatically. In my case, it turned out they were just backlogged from a system update. One thing that helped me was logging into my account multiple times throughout the day to see if any new correspondence showed up, even when there were no initial messages. Sometimes they post updates or requests for information that don't trigger email notifications right away. Also, if you're really stressed about the timing for rent, you might want to reach out to your landlord now to give them a heads up about the potential delay - most are understanding about unemployment processing delays.

I work for a local nonprofit that helps people navigate unemployment benefits, and from what I've seen, pending status during your first few weeks is actually pretty common. NYS DOL has automated flags that can trigger reviews for new claims - things like verifying your previous employer information, double-checking your benefit calculation, or just random quality assurance checks. The good news is that if it's just a routine review and there are no actual issues, the payment usually gets released retroactively once it clears. I'd recommend documenting everything (screenshots of your claim status, dates you filed, etc.) just in case you need it later. If you're still pending by early next week, try calling first thing Monday morning around 8:05 AM - that's when you have the best chance of getting through to someone.

I completely understand the anxiety you're going through - I was in a similar situation a few months ago where I failed to report some gig work income while collecting benefits. After reading through everyone's responses here, I finally worked up the courage to contact NYS Department of Labor proactively. I owed about $3,200 and was terrified they'd pursue criminal charges, but it turned out to be much more manageable than I feared. They classified it as an overpayment, set up a reasonable payment plan, and the agent I spoke with was actually pretty understanding when I explained it was an honest mistake. The relief of finally addressing it head-on was worth the stress of making that initial call. Like others have said, being proactive really does seem to work in your favor - they appreciate when people come forward voluntarily rather than trying to hide it.

Reading through all these experiences has been so helpful - I was in a similar panic mode thinking I was going to end up in handcuffs over unemployment issues. What really stands out from everyone's stories is that the NYS Department of Labor seems to be much more reasonable than the horror stories make them sound, especially when you're dealing with smaller amounts and you approach them proactively. The consistency in everyone's experiences (overpayment vs fraud classification, payment plans, understanding agents) gives me confidence that they're not just trying to ruin people's lives over honest mistakes. For anyone else reading this who's in the same boat - it sounds like the fear and anxiety of avoiding the situation is way worse than actually dealing with it head-on.

Just file your claim asap dont worry about who pays what. The important thing is getting your benefits started because theres always delays with adjudication and stuff

Don't let the experience rating system discourage you from filing - it's actually designed to protect workers! The whole point is that employers who frequently lay people off or fire without good cause should pay more into the system. If you were legitimately terminated and not for misconduct, you absolutely deserve those benefits. The money is there specifically for situations like yours. I'd recommend documenting everything about your termination just in case your employer tries to contest the claim, but definitely file as soon as possible since there's usually a waiting period before benefits start.

File your claim today - don't wait another day! I made the same mistake of overthinking the timing when I got fired for "performance issues" that were really just my manager not liking me. NYS Department of Labor doesn't care about your personal feelings about the termination - they just need to determine if it was misconduct. Since you mentioned it was personality conflicts rather than something like theft or violence, you'll probably be fine after adjudication. The key is getting that claim date locked in ASAP so you don't lose any potential benefit weeks while they sort it out.

File immediately! I just went through this exact same situation last month - got fired for "performance issues" that were really just clashing with my supervisor's management style. I filed my claim the day after termination and I'm so glad I did. The NYS Department of Labor took about 3 weeks to adjudicate my case, but since I filed right away, I didn't lose any potential benefit weeks during that process. They ended up approving me because personality conflicts don't count as misconduct. The worst thing you can do is wait - every day you delay is a potential day of benefits lost. Go to labor.ny.gov right now and get that application started. You've got rent due next week so don't waste any more time second-guessing yourself!