I went through this exact same situation a few months ago! The key thing is to be completely transparent about your work start date on your final weekly certification. You'll file one last weekly claim where you report that you're starting work (include the exact date), and then you simply stop filing after that. NYS DOL will automatically close your claim after a period of inactivity. Don't worry about "canceling" anything - there's no formal cancellation process. Just make sure you don't continue to certify for weeks when you're working full-time, as that would create an overpayment issue. Good luck with the new job!

Congratulations on landing the new job! I just want to emphasize what others have said about being extra careful with that final weekly claim. When you report your start date, make sure it's the exact date - not approximate. I've seen people run into issues because they weren't precise with dates. Also, if your new job starts mid-week, you'll need to report any days you worked during that benefit week along with your earnings. NYS Department of Labor is very thorough about cross-checking employment records, so accuracy is key. Once you stop filing, you should receive a determination letter in a few weeks confirming your claim closure. Keep all your documentation from your UI claim period just in case!

I'm also in the middle of this waiting game - filed my claim about 14 days ago and have been checking my account way too frequently! This thread has been absolutely incredible to find. Like so many others here, this is my first time filing for unemployment and I had zero idea what the normal processing timeline looked like. I was also laid off due to company downsizing, so it's really comforting to see we're all in similar straightforward situations. Reading everyone's shared experiences has completely transformed my mindset from "I must have done something wrong" to "this is just the standard process." The informed delivery tip that keeps getting mentioned is brilliant - just signed up for that immediately! It's amazing how much the community support in this thread helps reduce the stress of an already difficult time. Thanks to everyone for sharing their timelines and experiences - knowing that 2-3 weeks is totally normal and that "claim under review" doesn't mean there's a problem has really helped with my anxiety. Going to try to limit myself to once-daily account checks instead of my current multiple-times-per-day habit!

I'm also going through this exact same waiting period right now! Filed my claim about 11 days ago and have been obsessively refreshing my my.ny.gov account hoping to see some update from that dreaded "claim under review" status. Finding this thread has been such a lifesaver - I honestly had no idea that 2-3 weeks was completely normal processing time even for straightforward cases. Like so many others here, I was also laid off due to company downsizing and this is my first time ever filing for unemployment, so I've been convinced I must have made some error on my application. Reading through everyone's shared experiences has completely shifted my perspective from panic mode to understanding that this waiting period is just part of how the system works. The informed delivery tip that keeps getting mentioned throughout this thread is absolutely genius - just signed up for that so I'll at least have some advance notice when that determination letter is finally on its way! It's incredible how much better it feels knowing we're all going through this same nerve-wracking experience together. Thanks for posting this question - you've created such a supportive space for first-time filers like us who had no clue what timeline to expect. Going to try really hard to limit myself to checking once per day instead of my current habit of refreshing multiple times daily!

I'm dealing with this exact situation right now - my 6-month contract with a digital marketing agency ends next Friday and they just confirmed yesterday they won't be renewing due to "restructuring priorities." Reading through all these experiences has been incredibly helpful and reassuring! I was really anxious about whether I'd qualify for unemployment benefits as a contract worker, but seeing so many successful cases here gives me confidence. I've started gathering all my documentation based on the excellent advice in this thread: original contract, the non-renewal email, my mid-contract performance review (which was positive), and even some Teams messages where my project manager expressed regret about not being able to extend my position. Planning to file my claim on Monday after my last day. One question - has anyone had experience with shorter contracts like mine (6 months)? Most examples here seem to be 8+ months, so I'm hoping the shorter duration won't affect my eligibility. I was full-time W-2 the entire period and have been consistently employed through various contracts over the past two years. Thanks everyone for creating such a supportive discussion around this stressful situation!

I'm in almost the exact same boat - my 10-month contract with a nonprofit organization ends in 6 weeks and they just informed me they can't renew due to funding cuts from their main grant source. This thread has been absolutely incredible for easing my anxiety about the whole unemployment process! I was really unsure whether contract workers could qualify for benefits, but reading everyone's successful experiences here has given me so much confidence. Following all the great advice shared, I've already started compiling my documentation: original contract with renewal possibility clause, the official non-renewal notification from my supervisor, quarterly performance evaluations (all exceeding expectations), and even email threads where leadership expressed disappointment about having to let me go due to circumstances beyond their control. I'm planning to file my claim on my final day of work and have already begun organizing my job search materials. One specific question - did anyone else work in the nonprofit sector and encounter any unique considerations during the unemployment application process? I know nonprofits sometimes have different funding structures, but I'm hoping that won't complicate things since I was a regular W-2 employee the whole time. Thanks to everyone for sharing such detailed and helpful experiences - this community support is making what felt like an overwhelming situation much more manageable!

I'm actually going through this exact same situation right now! Just started a new job yesterday after 5 weeks on unemployment and was panicking about what I needed to do. Reading through all these responses has been incredibly helpful - it sounds like the consensus is crystal clear: file one final weekly claim reporting the days you worked this week and any earnings, then just stop filing after that. The system will automatically close your claim. I was also worried about having to formally notify them somehow, but it makes total sense that stopping your weekly certifications IS the notification. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences - this community has been a lifesaver for navigating all the confusing parts of the unemployment system!

I went through this same situation about 4 months ago and can confirm what everyone is saying - you definitely need to file one final weekly claim for the week you started working. Report those 3 work days (Wednesday through Friday) and whatever you earned from the new job during that period. After that, just stop filing weekly claims and your case will close automatically after a few weeks of non-certification. I was also super anxious about whether I needed to call them directly, but stopping your weekly certifications is actually the official way to notify them that you're back to work. The system is designed to handle this transition smoothly. Just make sure you're completely accurate about your work hours and earnings on that final claim - NYS DOL does cross-reference with employer records, so honesty is key. Don't overthink it! Congrats on the new job - it feels amazing to get back to that regular routine after weeks of uncertainty.

This is super helpful information everyone! I'm in a similar situation where I'm worried about potential layoffs at my company. One thing I'm curious about - does the size of the employer or the industry they're in affect how much they pay into the unemployment system? Like would a big tech company pay the same rate as a small restaurant? And does that impact how quickly claims get processed or anything like that?

Just wanted to add that if you're looking into this because you're worried about job security, it might be worth checking your earnings statement from NYS Department of Labor online. You can see your quarterly wages there which will give you a better idea of what your potential weekly benefit amount would be. I found out about this when I was between jobs last year - you can access it through the same portal where you'd file a claim. It's called the "Benefit Rate Calculator" and it helped me budget during my job search knowing roughly what I could expect.