definitely not public record but honestly the whole system feels so invasive anyway with all the job search requirements and verification stuff they make you do

Just wanted to add that I work in HR and can confirm - we absolutely cannot access unemployment records during background checks or hiring processes. The only time we'd know is if an applicant voluntarily mentions it or if we're the company that laid them off originally. Your unemployment history is protected information, so don't let privacy concerns prevent you from getting benefits you're entitled to. The stigma around unemployment is outdated anyway - most employers understand that layoffs happen and it doesn't reflect poorly on you as a candidate.

Just make sure you have all your pay stubs from the temp work when you file. NYS Department of Labor will verify your wages with the staffing agency anyway, but having documentation helps speed things up.

I went through this exact situation about 8 months ago with a temp job that lasted 4 months. Filed my claim online through the NYS DOL website and it was pretty straightforward. The key thing they ask is why your employment ended - just be honest that it was a temporary assignment that concluded due to lack of available work. Also, keep records of any communication with your staffing agency about looking for new placements since that shows you're actively seeking work. The whole process took about 3 weeks from filing to getting my first payment, but that included the mandatory waiting week. Don't let the temporary nature of the job discourage you from applying - you earned those benefits!

direct deposit takes longer to setup than they tell u. first payment always goes to the old method no matter what 💅

Had the exact same issue last month! My payment showed "paid" with release date but took 6 business days to actually hit my account. Turns out there was some kind of processing delay on the bank's end. I'd give it until next week before panicking - the money is probably just stuck in the system somewhere. If nothing by Wednesday definitely call them!

I was in a similar situation about a year ago - toxic manager, constantly changing schedules, and feeling like I was being set up to fail. What helped me was keeping a detailed log of every incident with dates and times. I also started responding to my manager's schedule change texts with something like "Just confirming you're changing my schedule from X to Y with less than 24 hours notice" to create a paper trail. When I finally did quit and applied for UI, having that documentation made all the difference. The key is showing a pattern of unreasonable behavior from your employer that would make any reasonable person quit. Don't just quit impulsively - build your case first if you can.

This is really helpful advice from everyone. I'm dealing with something similar - my supervisor has been making the workplace unbearable with constant criticism and unrealistic expectations. From what I'm reading here, it sounds like the key is documentation and showing you tried to resolve things first. @Nia Wilson, your approach of creating a paper trail through confirming texts is brilliant. I'm going to start doing that too. Has anyone had experience with filing a complaint with HR before quitting? I'm wondering if that would help strengthen a case for "good cause" or if it might just make things worse at work.

Just remember you have to keep certifying weekly and doing your job search activities or they'll cut off your payments. Don't get comfortable just because you're approved - stay on top of all the requirements!

Another thing to keep in mind - your weekly benefit amount might look different than expected if you had irregular hours or multiple jobs during your base period. NYS DOL looks at the 4 quarters before you filed, so if you had any gaps in employment or seasonal work, that could affect the calculation. Also, if you're doing any part-time work while collecting, they'll reduce your weekly payment by 25% of whatever you earn over $143. Make sure to report any earnings when you certify each week or you could end up owing money back later.