Just went through this same confusion last month! The NY DOL website actually has a countdown timer that shows when weekly certification opens - it's at the top of the page once you log in. Really helps take the guesswork out of it. Also, don't stress too much about the exact timing - I've claimed anywhere from Sunday morning to Wednesday and still got paid on the same Tuesday. The system is pretty forgiving as long as you get it done within the week!

Welcome to the unemployment filing world! Just filed my first claim last month too and was just as confused. One thing that really helped me was bookmarking the NY DOL login page and checking it Saturday night around 11:45 PM - you'll see the system update right at midnight and the "Weekly Certification" button becomes active. Also heads up - if you're planning to do it Sunday morning, have your coffee ready because the questions take about 10-15 minutes to complete properly. Better to be awake and focused than rush through it! Good luck! 🍀

Been doing this for 2 months now and haven't had any issues. Just stay consistent with your weekly claims and job searches and you'll be fine.

One thing I'd add is to make sure you're actively looking for work in your field or related fields. NYS DOL expects you to accept "suitable work" which generally means jobs that match your skills and pay at least 80% of your previous wage (after the first few weeks). Also, if you get called for an interview, you MUST go - turning down interviews without good cause can disqualify you from benefits. Keep track of all your activities in a spreadsheet or notebook with dates, company names, and what type of contact you made. It really helps to stay organized from the start rather than trying to recreate everything later if they ask for your records.

i just wanna add that i was in the same boat last year and honestly what worked for me was just showing up at the OTDA office in person with all my paperwork. they dont like to admit it but the squeaky wheel gets the grease with these programs. good luck!

I've been dealing with ERAP for months too and it's incredibly frustrating! One thing that helped me was creating a paper trail - I started sending emails to erap@otda.ny.gov with my application number in the subject line every week asking for status updates. Even though they rarely respond, it creates documentation that you've been trying to get information. Also, if you're really close to eviction, make sure you have documentation of your ERAP application when you go to housing court. Judges are usually willing to postpone proceedings if you can show you have a pending ERAP application. Bring your confirmation email and any correspondence you've received. The waiting is awful but don't give up - I know people who waited 4+ months and then suddenly got approved and had everything back-paid. Keep pushing through all the channels people mentioned above!

this whole system is rigged against people trying to do better. they want you to work but then make it impossible to survive while you're looking

I went through something similar when I got out 3 years ago. The key thing to understand is that you need to have "qualifying wages" from covered employment - basically jobs where your employer paid unemployment insurance taxes on your behalf. Prison work programs don't count because no UI taxes were paid. However, don't give up! There are workaround programs specifically for formerly incarcerated individuals. Contact your local American Job Center (One-Stop Career Center) - they have federal funding for reentry employment services. Also look into the Work Opportunity Tax Credit program, which gives employers incentives to hire people with criminal records. Some temp agencies specialize in helping people with records get that initial work history you need to eventually qualify for UI benefits. The system is frustrating, but there are people out there specifically trained to help navigate these barriers.

Yeah, the agent said if you don't qualify for a new claim, you should: 1. Apply for SNAP benefits if you haven't already 2. Contact your county's DSS about emergency assistance 3. Check with NY Housing for rent assistance programs 4. Visit your local career center for job placement help She also mentioned they have a program to help with retraining if you want to switch industries. I'm looking into that option now.

I'm in a similar situation - my benefits are ending next week and I'm really stressed about it. Reading through all these responses has been incredibly helpful! I had no idea about the 10x weekly benefit rule or that you could get SNAP while on unemployment. For anyone else who's panicking like I was, it sounds like the key things to do are: 1) Calculate if you earned enough during your benefit year (include ALL W-2 work, even short temp jobs), 2) If you don't qualify for a new claim, apply for SNAP and other assistance programs RIGHT NOW, 3) Use that Claimyr service to actually talk to someone at NYSDOL instead of waiting on hold forever. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences - this community is a lifesaver when the official resources are so confusing!