Pro tip: Set a reminder on your phone for the weekly certification. Miss one week and you're in for a world of hurt trying to backdate claims. Trust me on this one!

Just went through this exact situation a few months ago! File the claim on your spouse's actual last day of work, not when severance ends. NY DOL will ask about the severance and any other payments - be completely transparent about it all. The system is designed to handle this stuff, so don't stress too much about the timing. Also, keep all your severance paperwork handy because they might ask for it later. The hardest part is just getting started, so don't overthink it! You got this! 💪

Just wanted to add that you should definitely keep all your unemployment paperwork organized. When it's time to recertify for SNAP they'll want to see your benefit statements from NYS Department of Labor.

Don't let fear keep you from filing for unemployment - you worked for those benefits! I went through something similar when I lost my restaurant job a few years back. The key thing to remember is that unemployment is insurance you and your employer paid into, not a handout. Yes, it counts as income for SNAP calculations, but that just means they'll adjust your benefit amount based on your new income level. You won't automatically lose SNAP eligibility. The important thing is to report your unemployment income to your SNAP caseworker as soon as you start receiving it. This keeps you in compliance and prevents any issues down the road. File that claim ASAP - restaurants are hiring again but unemployment will help bridge the gap while you're job hunting.

yo update us when u get paid so we know how long it took

Just wanted to share my recent experience since I was in a similar boat a few weeks ago! My claim got authorized on a Wednesday morning and the money hit my account Friday afternoon - so exactly 2 business days with direct deposit. The first payment did include all my back weeks like someone mentioned, which was such a relief! One tip: I set up text alerts with my bank so I got notified the second the deposit came through instead of obsessively checking my account. Really helped with the anxiety. Fingers crossed yours comes through quickly! 🤞

For the appeal, you'll need your original weekly claim certifications showing you reported the work, pay stubs from that time period, and any correspondence from NYS Department of Labor. File it through the appeals section on my.ny.gov within 30 days of the overpayment notice date. Make sure to keep copies of everything you submit.

Good luck with your appeal! Just wanted to add that you should also check if you have any email confirmations from when you submitted those weekly certifications online. I had a similar situation and those confirmation emails really helped prove I had reported everything correctly. Also, if you used direct deposit for your unemployment benefits, your bank statements showing the deposits can help establish the timeline of when you were claiming benefits versus when you were working. The more documentation you have, the stronger your case will be.

Wait, so if I document everything and quit for good cause, do I still have to do job searches while my claim is being reviewed? Or does that start after approval?

You need to start job searching immediately when you file your claim, even during adjudication. The job search requirement is 3 activities per week and you need to keep detailed records. Don't wait for approval to start looking - that could hurt your case.