Also make sure you file during your designated day if you're doing weekly claims later. But for the initial claim filing, any day should work once you get past the system issues.

I filed my initial claim last month and had the same frustrating experience with the system errors. What finally worked for me was trying around 11 PM on a weeknight - the system was much more responsive then. Also, before you start, make sure you have your W-2s or paystubs ready for ALL employers from the last 18 months, not just your most recent job. The system will ask for specific dates, wages, and reasons for leaving each job. Having everything organized beforehand saved me from having to restart multiple times when the system timed out.

Unpopular opinion maybe, but I actually prefer certifying Sunday night cuz the website is way less glitchy than Sunday morning when EVERYONE is trying to log in at once. Never had an issue with payment timing.

You should be totally fine! I've been certifying late Sunday nights for months (usually between 10-11:30pm) and my payments always hit Tuesday morning like clockwork. The system processes everything submitted on Sunday in the same batch regardless of what time you did it. As long as you got that confirmation number, you're good to go. The rent stress is real though - I feel you on that! 🤞

Just to add - the 26 weeks starts from when you first become eligible, not when you file. So if there was any delay in processing your initial claim, that doesn't eat into your 26 weeks. Also make sure you're doing your job search requirements or they can stop your benefits even if you have weeks left.

I went through something similar when I lost my job in retail last year. One thing that really helped me was keeping track of my benefit weeks in a spreadsheet - I wrote down each week I claimed, the amount, and how many weeks I had left. The NYS DOL website has a section in your account where you can see your remaining balance, but sometimes it's not super clear. Also, don't forget that if you do any part-time work while collecting, you need to report it but you might still get partial benefits depending on how much you earn. The key is staying on top of your weekly certifications and keeping good records of your job search activities.

Just went through this myself! Got my first payment exactly 3 weeks after filing. The key is making sure you certify for benefits every week even during the waiting period.

I'm in a similar situation - filed my claim 10 days ago after being laid off from my marketing job. The uncertainty is really tough, especially with monthly expenses coming up. From what I've read on the DOL website, they recommend calling if your claim has been pending for more than 4 weeks, but getting through on the phone seems nearly impossible. Has anyone had luck with the online chat feature during business hours?

Just file online and see what happens. The worst they can do is deny it and then you can appeal if needed.

I went through this same situation last year - filed a new claim about 8 months after my previous one ended. The key thing is having enough work history between claims like others mentioned. When you file online at labor.ny.gov, the system will automatically check if you meet the wage requirements. If you worked full-time at your new job for several months, you should be fine. Just make sure to have your employment dates and wage information ready when you apply. The whole process was pretty straightforward for me once I had all the documentation together.