I'm going through the exact same thing right now! Verified through ID.me on Monday and it's now Thursday with no payment yet. Reading everyone's experiences here is really reassuring though - sounds like 3-7 days is pretty normal depending on your bank and whether it's your first payment. I keep obsessively checking my account every few hours but I'm going to try to be patient until early next week. The stress of waiting when you have bills coming due is real though! At least we know the backpay will cover everything once it finally comes through. Thanks everyone for sharing your timelines - this thread is way more helpful than the official NYSDOL website!

I went through this same anxiety last year! After my ID.me verification, it took exactly 4 business days for the payment to hit my account. Here's what I learned from the experience: 1. The "3-5 business days" timeline is pretty accurate for most people, but it doesn't include weekends or holidays 2. Your first payment often takes longer than subsequent weekly payments 3. Even if there's a delay, you'll get backpay for all the weeks you were eligible Since you verified on Tuesday, I'd expect to see something by Monday at the latest. In the meantime, make sure you keep certifying your weekly benefits even if you haven't received payment yet - that's super important to keep your claim active. One thing that helped my stress was setting up account alerts with my bank so I'd get a text when any deposit came through, rather than checking constantly. The money will come, I know it's nerve-wracking when rent is due but hang in there!

did u get an actual monetary determination letter? that would tell u how much ur supposed to get each week. if u didnt get that yet then somethings definitely wrong

Hey Zara! I went through this exact same thing last month. That email basically means you're approved but there's usually still a processing delay before you actually see the money. A few things to check: 1) Make sure you're answering the weekly certification questions correctly - especially the "ready, willing and able to work" one (answer YES even if you had appointments or interviews during the week), 2) Double check your direct deposit info is correct in your account, and 3) Be patient - the first payment often takes 2-3 weeks after that approval email. If it's been longer than that or you think you answered a certification question wrong, you'll need to call them. The phone lines are brutal but keep trying right at 8am or consider using one of those callback services people mentioned. Hang in there!

UPDATE: Finally got this figured out! For anyone else with this problem - I ended up doing THREE things that worked: 1. Used the virtual card at Target for a small purchase and got $100 cash back (thanks for that suggestion!) 2. Found a newer Chase ATM with the contactless symbol and was able to withdraw $300 (had to tap my phone to the symbol, then enter PIN) 3. For the rest, I just waited 2 more days for the bank transfer to complete The most frustrating thing is that NONE of this was explained in any of the materials I got from unemployment. You'd think they'd make it easier to actually access our benefits! Thanks everyone for your help!

So glad you got it figured out! Your experience highlights exactly why this system is so frustrating for people who need their benefits. The lack of clear instructions from NYSDOL is really unacceptable - people shouldn't have to crowdsource solutions on forums just to access their own money. Your update will definitely help others who run into the same issues. It's crazy that something as basic as "here's how to actually use your benefits card" isn't explained properly in their official materials.

this is exactly why i hate when people act like unemployment is a handout. WE PAID FOR THIS through our work history and our employers contributions!!

Your neighbor really needs to understand that unemployment insurance is exactly that - insurance. Just like how you pay car insurance premiums so you're covered if you get in an accident, employers pay unemployment insurance premiums so their workers are covered if they lose their job through no fault of their own. You didn't choose to be unemployed, and the money you're receiving was specifically set aside for situations like yours. It's not charity or welfare - it's an earned benefit that's part of our employment system.

Thank you everyone for the advice! To summarize what I'll do: I'll certify my final 4 days this Sunday, wait until I see the payment status change to "paid" in my account (probably Wednesday or Thursday), and then file a new claim online. I'll also prepare for a possible 1-2 week gap before the new payments start coming in. It's frustrating that there's a gap, but at least now I can plan for it.

I went through this same situation about 6 months ago and wanted to share what worked for me. The timeline everyone is giving you is spot on - wait until your final payment shows as "paid" before filing the new claim. One thing that helped me during the gap period was applying for emergency assistance programs through my county's social services office. Many people don't realize these exist, but they can sometimes provide temporary help with utilities or food while you're waiting for your new unemployment claim to process. Also, when you do get to the phone interview stage, have all your employment documentation ready - pay stubs, termination letter, etc. The representative will ask for specific dates and details, and being prepared can make the interview go much faster. Good luck! The process is stressful but you'll get through it.