The system is honestly pretty straightforward once you get started. Just be prepared for the initial claim to take a week or two to process, and your first payment might be delayed while they verify everything. Don't panic if it's not instant - that's normal.

Hey Connor! I was in a similar situation when I got laid off from my first job. One thing that really helped me was having all my documents organized before starting the application. Make sure you have your Social Security card, driver's license, and any employment documents handy. Also, try to apply as soon as possible - there's usually a waiting period before benefits start, so the sooner you file, the better. The my.ny.gov website can be a bit overwhelming at first, but just take it step by step. Don't worry if you make mistakes on your first try - you can always call or reapply if needed. You've got this!

Getting through to NYS Department of Labor to ask questions about this kind of situation can be really frustrating with their phone lines always busy. I had luck using a service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that helped me get connected to an actual agent when I had a complex situation like this. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI that shows how it works. Made it so much easier to get my questions answered directly.

honestly the whole system is set up to screw people over. they make you jump through hoops and then want money back later. its like they dont want you to survive while waiting for other benefits

Check your my.ny.gov account under payment history. Sometimes it shows the card delivery status there. Also make sure you didn't accidentally throw it away - the envelope looks like junk mail and the card itself is pretty thin.

I went through the same thing last month - waited almost 4 weeks for my card! Turns out the postal service had a delay in my area. What finally worked for me was calling KeyBank early in the morning (like 8 AM sharp) when their lines weren't as busy. They were able to confirm my address and expedite a replacement card. Also, definitely check with your post office to see if they're holding any mail for you - sometimes they hold cards if the delivery person couldn't access your mailbox or if your address wasn't clear.

ugh the whole system is so frustrating... they make you jump through hoops even when employers fire people unfairly. I've been trying to get through to someone at NYS Department of Labor for weeks about my own case

Don't give up! I thought for sure I'd be denied because my boss claimed I was insubordinate but NYS Department of Labor saw through their BS. The adjudication took about 3 weeks but I got approved. Make sure you provide your side of the story when they contact you for the fact-finding interview.

I went through something very similar about 6 months ago - payments just stopped out of nowhere even though I had money left and was still in my benefit year. The 0 effective days remaining is basically the system's way of saying there's some kind of block on your account, but it won't tell you what it is. In my case, I got flagged for "potential overpayment" because I had reported some freelance work earlier in my claim and their system couldn't figure out how to handle it properly. Took 3 weeks of calling every single day before I finally got through to someone who could actually help. The rep told me this is happening to tons of people right now because they updated their fraud detection system and it's catching a lot of legitimate claims. Super frustrating but once you get the right person on the phone, they can usually fix it pretty quickly. Keep trying to call, and definitely keep certifying every week like others have said. Also try calling right when they open at 8am - that's when I finally got through. Don't give up!

I'm dealing with almost the exact same situation right now! My payments stopped 3 weeks ago and I also have 0 effective days remaining even though my benefit year doesn't end until January 2022. It's so frustrating because the system gives you no explanation whatsoever. I've been calling nonstop but can't get through to anyone. After reading all these comments about Claimyr, I'm seriously considering trying it - seems like multiple people here have had success with it. The fact that so many legitimate accounts are getting flagged by their "improved" fraud detection system is ridiculous. Thanks for posting this - at least now I know I'm not alone and that it's fixable once you actually reach a human being. Going to keep certifying every week and hopefully get this resolved soon. This whole system is such a mess but hearing that others got their back payments gives me hope!