ok no joke every1 in my friend group who got laid off recently had their claims stuck at some point. the ONLY way to get it fixed is to talk to a human. i was lucky and got thru after 2 days of calling but my roommate used claimyr.com and said it worked great.

Hey Keisha! I went through the exact same thing last month - that "accepted" status had me refreshing my account like crazy! In my case, it took about 6 days after acceptance to see my actual benefit amount show up. They'll post a "Monetary Determination" letter in your online account that breaks down your weekly benefit amount and total benefits available. You should get an email notification when it's ready to view. The waiting is definitely nerve-wracking when you're trying to budget, but it sounds like you're on the right track. Just keep certifying weekly in the meantime and checking your account daily. Fingers crossed yours comes through quickly! 🤞

If you're having trouble getting through to NYS Department of Labor to change your withholding election, I had success using Claimyr to reach an agent directly. They helped me update my withholding preference without waiting on hold for hours. Check out claimyr.com - they have a video demo at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI that shows exactly how it works.

For someone at your income level ($65k), the 10% federal withholding should be pretty close to what you'll owe. At $504 weekly that's about $50.40 withheld per week. Since unemployment benefits are taxed as ordinary income, you'd likely be in the 22% marginal bracket, but remember that's only on the unemployment income portion. The 10% withholding plus any taxes from other income/jobs should keep you from owing too much. You can always adjust it later if you find a job quickly or if your situation changes. I'd definitely recommend starting with the 10% - it's much better than getting hit with a big tax bill next April!

been there done that with the at will thing, most ppl dont realize it has nothing to do with UI benefits just means no job security basically

Just wanted to add that you should also gather any documentation from your employer about the layoff - like an email or letter stating it was due to budget cuts. This can help if your former employer tries to contest your claim later. Also, make sure you meet the work history requirements (you need to have worked in at least 2 calendar quarters and earned a minimum amount). With 2.5 years of work history you should be fine, but it's good to double check. Good luck with your claim!

CALL THEM!!!! Don't rely on online advice (including mine lol). Every situation is different, and backdating is decided case by case. But you HAVE to talk to someone. The website won't let you backdate on your own.

Hey Shelby, I was in almost the exact same situation a few months back. Lost my job in August and didn't file until October because I was convinced I'd land something quickly. Turns out that was a costly mistake! When I finally got through to someone (took forever on hold), they were able to backdate my claim by 4 weeks, which seems to be pretty standard. The agent told me that while "I thought I'd find work quickly" isn't considered "good cause," they still have some discretion for shorter backdates. My advice: call them ASAP and be honest about your situation. Don't embellish or make up reasons - just explain that you're new to unemployment and didn't realize you should file immediately. Sometimes being straightforward works better than trying to find loopholes. Also, make sure you're filing your weekly certifications correctly going forward. The last thing you want is to deal with overpayment issues on top of everything else. Good luck - I know how stressful this whole process is!

definitely apply for SNAP! i was getting unemployment and food stamps at the same time and it made such a difference. the application process isn't too bad and they can tell you right away if you qualify

I went through the exact same situation last year when I lost my job. Yes, unemployment benefits do count as income for SNAP, but don't worry - you'll likely still qualify for benefits! I was getting about the same amount as you in weekly UI payments and I still received around $150/month in SNAP benefits. The key thing is to apply as soon as possible since it can take a few weeks to process. Also, make sure you have all your documentation ready - they'll want to see your unemployment award letter and any other income sources. The caseworkers are usually pretty understanding about people who are between jobs and need temporary help.