I've been through this several times over the past year. "Scheduled for processing" almost always means they're doing a manual review of something in your claim. Since you mentioned reporting part-time earnings, that's definitely the trigger - the system has to verify your work hours and calculate your partial benefits. In my experience, it usually takes 2-4 business days to clear. Don't worry, as long as you were honest about your earnings and availability, your payment will come through. Just keep an eye on your correspondence inbox in case they need any additional documentation from you.

I went through this exact same situation a few months ago when I started doing some freelance work while on unemployment. The "scheduled for processing" status appeared right after I reported my first week of earnings, and I was terrified I had messed something up. It took about 3 business days to process, but once it did, everything went smoothly. The key thing I learned is to be really precise when reporting your gross earnings and hours worked - even small discrepancies can cause delays. Also, make sure you're reporting earnings for the week you actually worked, not when you got paid. Once the system learns your pattern of part-time work, future certifications usually process faster. Hang in there!

Bottom line: you CAN technically collect both, but it's risky. The unemployment claim could trigger a disability review. If you do decide to file, make sure you're completely honest about your limitations on both your unemployment application and in any communications with Social Security. Document everything and consider getting legal advice first.

I went through this exact situation two years ago and learned the hard way that timing matters a lot. If you're still within your trial work period (first 9 months of work attempts while on SSDI), Social Security is generally more lenient about work activities. But once you're past that, filing for unemployment gets much trickier. I'd suggest calling Social Security directly first to discuss your specific situation before doing anything with NYS DOL. They have a work incentives hotline (1-866-968-7842) where you can ask hypothetical questions without triggering a formal review. Also keep detailed records of your doctor's recommendations about part-time work capacity - this documentation could be crucial if SSA does question your disability status later.

First payment is always the slowest. After that, if you file your weekly claims on time, payments usually come within 2-3 business days. But yeah, that initial wait is brutal when you need the money.

I'm in a similar situation - just filed last week after getting laid off from my retail job. The waiting is really stressful when bills are piling up! From what I've been reading online, it seems like NYS DOL is pretty backed up right now. I've been checking my account obsessively but the status hasn't changed from "under review." Has anyone had luck calling the customer service line recently, or is it still impossible to get through?

The whole quarter thing is just another way for them to make the system confusing and deny people benefits! I worked steadily but because my highest earnings were in the wrong quarters according to their arbitrary rules, my weekly amount got cut in half.

@The Boss, don't worry too much about your scattered work history - it might actually work in your favor! The quarter system looks at your highest earning quarters during the base period, so if you had some good months mixed in with the lower ones, those higher earnings will boost your weekly benefit calculation. The key thing is making sure you meet the minimum wage requirements across those 4 quarters. If you're still confused about which specific quarters they're using for your claim, you can request a monetary determination breakdown from NYS Department of Labor that shows exactly how they calculated your benefits.

Just went through this process myself after getting laid off from a similar salary range. One thing to keep in mind is that the $504 maximum is based on the state-wide average, but it really doesn't account for regional cost differences. Since you mentioned rent being a concern, you might want to look into other assistance programs too - like SNAP benefits or utility assistance programs that you can apply for while on unemployment. Also, if you have any side income or freelance work, make sure to report it properly when you file your weekly claims. NYS is pretty strict about that and you don't want any issues down the line.

One thing I'd add to the great advice already shared here - make sure you understand the base period calculation. NYS uses the first four of the last five completed calendar quarters before you file. So if you get laid off next month and file in say February, they'll look at your earnings from roughly April 2023 through March 2024. If you've had any salary increases in the past year, that might affect which quarters give you the highest earnings for the calculation. Also, while $504 is the current max, keep an eye out for any updates to the benefit amounts - they do adjust periodically based on state wage data.