I was in your exact shoes 2 months ago with NY unemployment. Here's what I learned: For some reason, getting clear info about what to do when benefits run out is nearly impossible on their website or through the automated systems. The ONLY way to get accurate info about your specific situation is to talk to a live representative. But as we all know, getting through to NY unemployment by phone is like winning the lottery. I spent DAYS trying to get through with no luck. I finally broke down and used claimyr.com which basically automated the calling process for me. They kept dialing until they got through, then connected me to the agent. Once I got an actual human on the phone, they told me exactly what to do for my situation (which turned out to be different than what their website implied). It was worth every penny to finally get clear answers and get my new claim properly filed. Don't waste time trying to figure it out from their website - the info there is vague at best and misleading at worst. Talk to a human ASAP.

I was in almost the exact same situation last year - hotel industry layoffs hit hard and the job market has been absolutely brutal. Here's what I wish someone had told me: you need to figure out if your benefit year is ending soon or if you've just exhausted your weekly allotment. If your benefit year still has months left but you're out of weeks, you're unfortunately stuck in a gap until the year ends. But if your benefit year is ending soon, you can file a new claim right away. The website makes this distinction super unclear on purpose it seems. Also, keep certifying every week even if you're not getting paid - this helps with backdating later. I know everyone's saying call them but honestly after trying for weeks, I ended up using one of those callback services people mentioned and finally got through to someone who explained my options. Don't panic too much - there are usually more options than their terrible website makes it seem like, but you need to talk to an actual person to find out what applies to your specific situation.

Once you get your claimant ID, write it down somewhere safe! You'll need it every week when you file your weekly claim certification. Also, your first payment usually takes 2-3 weeks after your initial claim is approved, so don't panic if you don't see money right away.

Just went through this process myself last month! @Eve Freeman, don't stress about not having an account number yet - that's totally normal for first-time filers. The key is to go directly to labor.ny.gov and look for the "File a Claim" button. You'll create your my.ny.gov login during that process. One tip: do it early in the morning (like 7-8 AM) when the system is less busy - I had way fewer glitches that way. Also keep your Social Security card and driver's license handy since you'll need to verify your identity. The whole thing took me about 45 minutes once I had all my documents ready.

The whole benefit calculation system is so confusing! I wish they would just make it simpler. Like why can't they just tell you upfront what you'll get instead of making you go through this whole base period calculation thing?

One thing to keep in mind is that even if you qualify for the minimum $104/week, you might also be eligible for additional federal programs depending on your situation. If you have dependents, you could get an extra allowance on top of your base benefit. Also, part-time workers sometimes qualify for partial benefits if they're still working reduced hours, which can help bridge the gap. The key is making sure you report all your wages accurately when you file - even small jobs or gig work counts toward your base period earnings.

dude just file now don't wait!! i waited like 2 weeks after getting fired thinking i needed to cool off or whatever and that was 2 weeks of benefits i lost out on. even if they investigate your firing you still want that claim date as early as possible

To answer your specific question about timing - you'll file your initial claim online, then wait about 1-2 weeks for them to process it. If there's no issues, you could see your first payment within 2-3 weeks. But since you were fired, expect adjudication which adds probably 2-4 more weeks while they investigate. During adjudication they may contact your employer and possibly interview you by phone.

anyone else think its ridiculous that we pay taxes for decades and then when we need help they make it nearly impossible to actually get benefits? the whole system is designed to discourage people from collecting what they're owed. smh

Having effective days is definitely a positive sign - it means they've calculated your weekly benefit amount and determined you're monetarily eligible. The "pending" status is normal for first-time payments and usually clears within 3-5 business days after certification. However, there can still be non-monetary issues (like identity verification or employer response delays) that aren't always visible on the website. If it stays pending beyond a week, definitely try calling early morning around 8am or consider using one of those callback services people mentioned. The system is frustrating but hang in there - once the first payment goes through, subsequent ones are usually much smoother!