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ofc their system is broken again 🙄 water is wet. But seriously go check r/NYunemployment - bunch of people saying theres a system wide delay this week affecting payments. Some people on there said payments are delayed 3-4 days because of a "system migration" whatever that means
Thank you! I'll check that sub - didn't know it existed!
I had this EXACT same issue about 6 weeks ago - certified on Monday, nothing showed up for over a week. Turns out there was some random flag on my account that needed manual review, but the system never told me about it. I finally got through using one of those callback services people mentioned here (used Claimyr after reading about it) and the agent cleared it immediately. Payment showed up the next day. Don't wait too long hoping it fixes itself - these delays usually mean there's something that needs human intervention. The automated system is garbage at communicating what's actually wrong.
Been there! Worked at a summer camp for three years and always filed unemployment during the off-season. Never had any problems with my claims. Just make sure you report any odd jobs or part-time work you pick up while collecting benefits.
I'm in a similar situation - just finished my seasonal job at a resort in the Finger Lakes region and was nervous about filing for unemployment. Reading everyone's responses here is really encouraging! One thing I'm curious about - when you file the initial claim, do you need to provide any special documentation proving your seasonal employment ended, or is it treated the same as any other layoff? Also, has anyone had experience with how quickly NYS Department of Labor processes seasonal claims compared to regular unemployment claims?
From my experience, you don't need any special documentation for seasonal layoffs - NYS Department of Labor treats it the same as a regular layoff. Your employer should have already reported the separation to the state when they laid everyone off. As for processing times, I found my seasonal claim was processed just as quickly as my regular claim from a few years back - took about 2-3 weeks to get my first payment after filing. The key is just making sure you file as soon as possible after your last day of work. Good luck with your claim!
Just wanted to add my experience with the BRI Pre-date process since I went through it earlier this year. One thing that really helped me was having my severance paperwork ready when I called. They asked about when my employment officially ended vs when I stopped receiving pay, which can be different dates if you got severance or vacation payout. Also, if you're worried about remembering job search details for each week, don't stress too much. I was honest about the weeks where I didn't do much searching (like Thanksgiving week) and they were understanding. The key is showing you made a good faith effort overall. The whole backdating approval took about 2 weeks from my initial call to getting payments, so be patient with the process. Good luck with your January 3rd filing!
Thanks for sharing your experience! That's a great point about having severance paperwork ready - I didn't think about them asking for those specific dates. I did get a small severance payout so the dates might be different. Also reassuring to hear they were understanding about lighter job search weeks during holidays. Two weeks total timeline sounds pretty reasonable compared to some of the horror stories I've heard!
I'm in a similar situation - got laid off in November but haven't filed yet because my company kept saying they might bring people back after the new year. Reading through all these responses is super helpful! One question for those who've been through the backdate process: did anyone have issues if they took a short temp job during the waiting period? I did some freelance work for about 3 weeks in December and I'm worried that might complicate things when I try to backdate to November. Should I mention this upfront when I call the BRI Pre-date Department? Also @Sarah Ali - sounds like you've got good documentation and your assemblyman's office backing you up, which seems to make a big difference based on what others are saying here. Good luck with your Jan 3rd filing!
@Harper Hill - Yes, definitely mention the freelance work upfront when you call! I actually had a similar situation where I did some part-time work during my waiting period. When I called the BRI Pre-date Department, they asked specifically about any earnings during each week I was claiming. Being honest about it actually helped my case because it showed I was actively trying to support myself while waiting to file. They just deducted those earnings from the weeks you worked, but it didn t'disqualify me from backdating. The key is having records of exactly what you earned and which weeks you worked. Good luck to both of us with this process!
Just to add to what others said - at 27 weeks you might qualify for Extended Benefits if the unemployment rate is high enough in NY. But that's not guaranteed and depends on economic conditions. The 26 week regular UI is pretty standard though.
I'm in a similar situation - been on unemployment for about 20 weeks now and getting anxious about what comes next. From what I've researched, NYS Department of Labor does have some transition services that start around week 20-24 to help prepare people who might be approaching long-term status. They call it "reemployment services" and it includes things like resume workshops and job search assistance. You might want to check your NY.gov account to see if you've been selected for any of these programs - they're supposed to help improve your chances of finding work before you hit that 27-week mark.
That's really helpful to know about the reemployment services starting around week 20-24! I had no idea NYS Department of Labor had transition programs that kick in before you actually hit long-term status. I'm going to check my NY.gov account right now to see if I've been selected for anything. It sounds like they're trying to be proactive about helping people avoid becoming long-term unemployed in the first place, which is smart. Have you participated in any of these programs yet, or are you still waiting to hear back?
Sebastian Scott
The whole unemployment system is broken when rates go up! More people need help but they don't hire more staff to handle the volume. I've been waiting 3 weeks just to get my regular weekly claim processed because of some verification issue. Meanwhile bills keep coming. It's ridiculous that we have to jump through so many hoops when the economy is already struggling.
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Emily Sanjay
•totally agree the system can't handle volume spikes
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Gabriel Graham
Just to clarify the extended benefits situation - as of now, New York's unemployment rate would need to be significantly higher to trigger the extended benefits program. The standard 26 weeks of regular UI is what most people will get. However, you should definitely start exploring other programs like job training assistance or workforce development programs through your local One-Stop center while you're still collecting benefits. These can help improve your job prospects before your benefits run out.
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Olivia Harris
•Good point about the job training programs. I hadn't thought about starting those while I'm still collecting. Do those programs affect my weekly claim filing requirements?
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Javier Cruz
•Most job training programs actually work with your UI benefits - they often count as approved job search activities. Some programs like Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) or Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) training can even extend your benefit period while you're enrolled. You'll want to get approval from NYS DOL before starting any training program to make sure it meets their requirements. Your local CareerCenter can help coordinate this so you don't lose any benefits while upgrading your skills.
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