I had the same issue this morning! The system was down for me until around 8:30am. What I've learned from dealing with this repeatedly is that if you're still having trouble, try accessing it through the NY.gov mobile app or try again during off-peak hours like late evening. Also, make sure you're using the correct URL - sometimes scam sites pop up in search results. The real site is my.ny.gov. Don't panic about missing your certification day - you usually have until midnight on Saturday to file your weekly claim, so you have plenty of time!

I've been through this same frustration multiple times! The system tends to be most reliable in the afternoon/evening hours. If you're still having issues, try these steps: 1) Clear your browser cache and cookies completely, 2) Try using incognito/private browsing mode, 3) Make sure you're on the official my.ny.gov site (not a lookalike), and 4) Try a different device if possible. The mobile app sometimes works when the website doesn't. Don't stress too much about the timing - you have until Saturday night to certify, so you're not cutting it close at all. The system just gets overloaded during peak morning hours when everyone tries to file at once.

The whole system is ridiculous honestly. They make it so complicated when it should be simple - you lost your job, here's what you get based on what you made. Instead they have these weird quarter calculations and base periods that nobody understands. And good luck getting anyone at NYS Department of Labor to explain it clearly!

same boat here, trying to figure out my weekly amount before my first payment. the waiting is killing me

Ugh the whole system is rigged in favor of employers. They can basically say whatever they want and NYS Department of Labor believes them first. I had to appeal my denial and it took THREE MONTHS to get my benefits. Meanwhile I'm supposed to just what, not pay rent?? The adjudication process is a joke.

I went through something similar last year. In NY, employers can contest for misconduct, but they need to prove it was willful and work-related. A single verbal warning from months ago probably isn't enough to establish a pattern of misconduct, especially if there's no documentation. Keep records of everything - your layoff notice, any emails mentioning budget cuts, etc. During the fact-finding interview, be honest and stick to the facts. If they really did lay you off due to budget issues, that should come out in the investigation. Don't panic yet - many employer contests fail when they can't provide proper documentation.

Contact your state assembly person!!! This worked for me when I couldnt get any help from unemployment directly. Google your district rep and their office will help escalate your case.

I went through this exact same situation last year! You absolutely should get those 3 weeks of backpay - that money is legally yours if you certified for those weeks before your BYE date. The fact that they show as "processed" with $0.00 payment is actually a good sign because it means they're in the system but just stuck. Here's what worked for me: I called right at 8am on a Tuesday (seems like less busy than Mondays) and got through after about 45 minutes. When I got an agent, I specifically said "I need help with outstanding payments from my previous benefit year that show as processed but never paid out." Having that exact phrase seemed to help them understand the issue faster. The agent was able to see the stuck payments immediately and released them with some kind of manual override. I got all the money within 2 business days. Don't let them tell you the money is gone - it's not! You just need someone with access to actually process the release. Also keep track of exactly which weeks you're owed (sounds like April 9th for sure, maybe others depending on your exact BYE date). Having specific dates ready helps speed up the call. Good luck! 🤞

Just wanted to say hang in there! Partial benefits really helped me when my hours got cut. The important thing is to keep filing every week even if the amount seems small. Better than nothing while you're looking for something full-time.

I went through this exact situation last year when my hours got cut at a clothing store. One thing that helped me understand the calculation was to think of it this way: NYS lets you keep 75% of whatever you earn from work, and then gives you the remaining benefit amount. So if you're supposed to get $300/week in unemployment but you earn $100 from your part-time work, you keep $75 of that $100 (the 75%), and they subtract $25 from your $300 benefit, leaving you with $275. It's actually pretty fair once you understand it. Just make sure to certify every week and be honest about your earnings - they will find out if you don't report correctly!