Make sure you're reporting ALL earnings when you file your weekly claim, even if it's cash work or just a few hours. NYS Department of Labor cross-references with employers and not reporting can trigger an overpayment investigation. The formula is: Weekly Benefit Rate minus (Earnings minus 25% of Weekly Benefit Rate) = Your payment amount.

Just want to add that the earnings calculation can get tricky if you have variable hours each week. I learned the hard way that you need to report earnings for the week you actually worked, not when you got paid. So if you worked Monday-Friday but got paid the following Tuesday, those earnings count for the week you worked. Also, if your part-time earnings consistently put you over the benefit amount, NYS Department of Labor might eventually close your claim assuming you're no longer unemployed. Keep track of your hours and earnings carefully!

Don't stress too much about the employment length thing. Like others said, it's about your total earnings over the base period quarters, not how long you stayed at one specific job. The system is designed to help people who lose work through no fault of their own.

Just to add some clarity - the base period calculation can be confusing but it's actually pretty straightforward once you understand it. Since you worked for 2 years at your previous job, you definitely have wages in multiple quarters which is what matters most. The NYS DOL will look at your highest quarter earnings to determine your weekly benefit amount too. Even if your current job doesn't work out after 6 weeks, those 6 weeks of wages will just be additional earnings on top of your already qualifying base period. Don't let the fear of not qualifying stop you from filing if you do get laid off - worst case they say no, but based on what you've described you should be fine.

I'm in a similar situation - my card was also mailed Monday and I'm anxiously waiting! Reading through everyone's experiences here, it sounds like 7-10 business days is the norm, though some people got theirs faster. I'm in Queens and really hoping it arrives by early next week. One thing I learned from this thread is to definitely check my mail carefully since the envelope looks plain. Also planning to set up direct deposit immediately once I get it activated so I don't have to go through this waiting game again for future payments. Fingers crossed for both of us that they arrive soon!

Just wanted to add that I had a similar experience recently - my card was mailed on a Thursday and arrived the following Tuesday, so about 5 business days total. I'm in the Bronx for reference. One thing that really helped my anxiety was knowing that even if the card is delayed, your payments are still being processed and will be available once you do get it activated. The money doesn't disappear! Also, make sure you have the NYSDOL app downloaded so you can check your payment history and see when funds are actually loaded to your account. It helped me track everything better than just the website. Hang in there - I know the waiting is stressful but it will come!

The whole system is ridiculous!! Why should there be a time limit on filing when you lost your job through no fault of your own? I understand preventing fraud but 4 weeks is nothing when you're dealing with job loss and don't know all the rules. At least file now OP and see what they give you - something is better than nothing.

Don't beat yourself up about waiting - a lot of people make the same mistake thinking they'll find work quickly. The 4-week backdate limit is frustrating but definitely file your claim ASAP. When you apply, make sure to request the maximum backdate and provide any documentation you can about your layoff date. Even if you only get 4 weeks back, that's still significant money. Also, once you start receiving benefits, you'll at least have some income coming in while you continue your job search. The key is to not lose any more time - file today if possible.

The whole NYS Department of Labor system is a MESS. They upgraded it last year and it's been nothing but problems since. Half the time the website doesn't work, the other half your claim gets stuck in adjudication for weeks. Good luck getting any real help from them.

I had similar issues when I filed a few months ago. One thing that helped me was making sure I had all my employment information ready beforehand - employer name exactly as it appears on your W2, dates of employment, and reason for separation. The system times out quickly if you're searching for info while filling it out. Also try filing during off-peak hours like early morning (6-8 AM) when fewer people are using the system. The SSN issue might be related to how your name is entered in their database vs your social security card - even spacing can matter.