Just want to add that holidays can mess up the timing too. If there's a federal holiday during the week you certify, everything gets pushed back by a day.

I've been certifying for about 6 months now and can confirm it's usually 2-3 business days with direct deposit. One tip I learned - if you certify really early Sunday morning (like 12:01 AM), sometimes you get paid by Tuesday instead of Wednesday. The NYS Department of Labor seems to process the Sunday night batch first. Also make sure your bank info is correct in your profile because any issues there will delay everything by at least a week while they sort it out.

same boat here! was making about 55k and getting like 400 something a week. its tough but better than nothing i guess. make sure you file right away though because theres a waiting period

Just want to add some clarity on the base period calculation since there seems to be some confusion. Your base period is typically the first 4 of the last 5 completed calendar quarters before you file. So if you file in Q1 2025, your base period would be Q4 2023 through Q3 2024. The weekly benefit amount is calculated by taking your highest quarter earnings in that base period, dividing by 26, then that amount is roughly your weekly benefit (capped at $504). Also, there IS a one-week waiting period in NY, so your first payable week is actually your second week of unemployment. Make sure you continue certifying even during that waiting week or you could lose benefits later.

One thing to watch out for - if you quit your job you generally won't qualify unless it was for 'good cause' like unsafe working conditions or harassment. Since you were laid off that shouldn't be an issue, but just mentioning it because some people don't realize quitting usually disqualifies you from benefits.

Good point about the layoff vs quitting distinction! @Kingston Bellamy since you mentioned you were laid off due to slow business, that definitely counts as being unemployed through no fault of your own, which is one of the key requirements. Just make sure when you file your claim that you accurately describe the reason for separation - "lack of work" or "reduction in force" are the typical codes they use for layoffs. Also, regarding your concern about caring for your mom - as long as you can demonstrate that you're available to work during normal business hours and can arrange care when needed, that shouldn't disqualify you. The key is showing you're genuinely seeking and available for employment.

If your brother is having trouble reaching someone at NYS Department of Labor to ask about his specific situation, I used a service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that helped me get through to an actual agent when I couldn't get through on my own. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI showing how it works. Might be worth trying if he wants to verify his eligibility directly with NYS Department of Labor instead of guessing.

The system is honestly ridiculous that a kid who loses their job can't get help just because they haven't worked long enough yet. Like what are they supposed to do in the meantime?

One more thing - make sure she keeps detailed records of her job search activities right from the start. NYS Department of Labor requires you to make at least 3 job contacts per week and keep a log. Even if her claim is still processing, she needs to be actively looking for work and documenting it. They can ask to see this information at any time.

Just want to add that she should also gather her bank account information for direct deposit setup during the application process. NYS Department of Labor strongly recommends direct deposit over waiting for debit cards to arrive by mail. Also, if she was laid off due to lack of work (not fired for misconduct), make sure she selects the correct reason on the application - this affects how quickly her claim gets processed. The system will ask for specific details about her separation, so having her termination letter or any documentation from HR can be helpful if there are follow-up questions.