The 26 week thing is true but honestly the whole system is designed to discourage you from using it. They make the job search requirements more and more ridiculous, the website crashes constantly, and don't even get me started on trying to reach anyone by phone. I burned through my 26 weeks mostly fighting with their system instead of actually job hunting.

same boat here! just started collecting last month too. good luck with the job search, hopefully we both find something soon before the 26 weeks runs out

Guys I just had a similar issue last week and i wnated to add that if your waiting for a call back make sure your phone isn't blocking unknown numbers. NYSDOL calls show up as unknown and I missed their call twice because of that lol. And they don't leave voicemails either which is super annoying

I've been in a similar situation and what finally worked for me was using multiple strategies at once. First, try the Claimyr service that @Klaus Schmidt mentioned - it really does work and saved me from getting disconnected constantly. Second, while you're waiting for that, definitely reach out to your assembly member's office like @Yuki Tanaka suggested. I called mine and they had someone from DOL call me back within 48 hours. Also, make sure you have all your documentation ready - claim number, correspondence reference numbers, and a clear summary of your issue written down. The agents can fix things quickly if you have everything organized. Don't give up - the system is frustrating but there are ways to get through!

Congrats! That's one less thing to worry about. The whole unemployment system is so stressful.

I went through this exact same situation a few months ago! "Not disqualified" means you've passed the separation determination review - basically NYS DOL confirmed that your job loss wasn't due to misconduct or voluntary quit without good cause. This is actually a major milestone in the process. In my case, I received my first payment about 5-6 days after seeing this status update. Just keep filing your weekly claims and stay patient - the hardest part is behind you now. The waiting is nerve-wracking but you're definitely heading in the right direction!

I'm going through the exact same thing right now! My payments were released on 1/20 and I'm still waiting for the card to arrive. This thread has been incredibly helpful - it's reassuring to know that 2-3 weeks seems to be the norm even though KeyBank's website is misleading about delivery times. I'm going to try calling them tomorrow using that phone number someone shared to at least confirm it was sent to the right address. Really appreciate everyone sharing their experiences here, especially the tip about the bank transfer feature once you get the card. Will definitely set that up immediately when mine finally arrives!

I'm dealing with this exact situation right now - my payments were released to KeyBank on 1/22 and still nothing in my mailbox! Reading through everyone's experiences here has been both reassuring and concerning. It sounds like 2-3 weeks is unfortunately normal despite what their website says. I'm going to call that 866-295-2955 number tomorrow to at least verify they have the right address. This whole KeyBank card system is such a pain compared to just getting direct deposit to our own banks. Really hoping mine shows up soon because I desperately need these funds! Thanks to everyone for sharing their timelines and tips - it helps to know we're not alone in this frustrating wait.

Also make sure to keep detailed payroll records from day one! NYS Department of Labor will require quarterly wage reports that include each employee's name, social security number, and total wages paid. I learned this the hard way when I had to scramble to organize my records for my first quarterly filing. Setting up a good payroll system early will save you headaches later when you need to file your UI-3 quarterly reports.

For a small construction company, I'd recommend QuickBooks Payroll or Paychex Flex - both handle NYS requirements well and can automatically generate the reports you'll need for unemployment insurance filings. QuickBooks integrates nicely if you're already using their accounting software. Just make sure whatever system you choose can track prevailing wage rates if you plan to do any public works projects in NYC - that's a whole other compliance requirement for construction companies. The key is picking something that can grow with your business and handle both regular payroll and the specific reporting NYS Department of Labor requires.