Cash App processing times >>> regular bank accounts frfr

Just got approved for benefits yesterday! This timeline gives me hope that I might see my first payment soon. Quick question though - can you use any digital wallet like Venmo or PayPal for direct deposit, or is Cash App the only one that works fast? Also, what exactly do you mean by "answer certification questions correctly"? Are there specific things to watch out for? Thanks for sharing your experience, really helpful for us newbies! 🙏

Other qualifying separations include being fired for reasons other than misconduct, layoffs, plant closures, or leaving due to domestic violence. The key is proving you didn't quit without good cause. Your hour reduction sounds like it would qualify but be prepared for them to contact your employer during the investigation.

I went through this exact situation last year with NYS Department of Labor. A reduction from 40 to 15 hours is definitely substantial enough to qualify as good cause for leaving - that's over a 60% cut in your income! When you file your claim, make sure to select "reduction in hours/wages" as your reason for separation. The department will likely schedule a phone interview to get more details about your situation. Be prepared to explain that the reduced hours made it impossible to meet your basic living expenses and that your employer couldn't provide a timeline for when hours would be restored. I'd also recommend documenting any job search efforts you made while still employed at reduced hours, as this shows you tried to mitigate the situation before leaving.

wait so if my benefit year ends but i still have money left in my balance i lose that money? that seems wrong

I'm in the exact same boat right now! Filed in March too and getting really anxious about when this all ends. From what I'm reading here, it sounds like I need to log into my.ny.gov and check my remaining balance and benefit year end date. Has anyone here had luck with the extended benefits programs that sometimes kick in during high unemployment periods, or is that not a thing in NY right now? Also @CosmicCowboy - definitely keep track of your job search activities because they can audit that stuff even if you're still within your 26 weeks.

UPDATE: I tried again this morning and still nothing. Used a different browser too. I finally broke down and called them. After 2.5 hours on hold (!!!) I finally got through. Turns out there was a "program review" flag on my account that was blocking me from certifying. The agent removed it and I was able to certify right away. She said this is happening to a bunch of people right now because of some internal review process they're doing. So if anyone else runs into this problem, unfortunately you DO need to call. Thanks everyone for your help!

Wow, thanks for the update! This is really helpful to know. I'm dealing with a similar issue right now where my certification option just disappeared even though I have effective days and benefits left. Based on your experience, it sounds like I should probably just bite the bullet and call them directly rather than keep trying different browsers and waiting. Did the agent give you any insight into why these "program reviews" are happening so frequently right now? Just trying to understand if this is something that might happen again in the future.

For future reference, you can also sign up for text notifications in your my.ny.gov account settings. They'll send updates when your claim status changes or if there are any issues that need your attention. It's under 'Communication Preferences' in your profile. Also, make sure you're filing your weekly claims even while waiting for the initial determination - you can't get retroactive payments for weeks you didn't certify.

I went through this same frustrating experience a few months back. One thing that helped me was checking the "Documents" section on my.ny.gov - sometimes they request additional paperwork but it doesn't always show up clearly in the main dashboard. Also, if you haven't already, make sure to check your spam folder for emails from noreply@labor.ny.gov. They sometimes send status updates there that get filtered out. The waiting is the worst part, but hang in there - most claims do get processed eventually, it's just their system is overwhelmed.