same thing happened to me but with attendance instead of performance, still got approved after like a month

Just want to add that you should also start documenting everything now - save any emails, texts, or paperwork from your employer about the termination. If they contest your claim during adjudication, having written evidence of their stated reasons can really help your case. Also, make sure you're actively job searching and keeping records of your applications, as that's required to maintain eligibility. The online filing system walks you through everything step by step, so don't stress too much about making mistakes - you can always clarify details later if needed.

Better to over-report than under-report. If you're not sure whether something counts as remuneration, include it. NYS Department of Labor will adjust your benefits accordingly but won't penalize you for being thorough. It's when you don't report income that you can get into trouble.

I went through this exact same situation last month! The NYS Department of Labor considers any payment for work or services as remuneration, so your $200 freelance payment definitely needs to be reported. Same with the severance check - that's actually one of the most common things people forget to report. When I was unsure about what to include, I called and they told me it's always better to report something you're not sure about than to leave it off. They can always adjust your benefit amount, but not reporting income can cause way bigger problems down the line. Just be honest and thorough on your weekly certification!

Make sure you're not missing any required job search activities. Even if you think you did enough, double-check the specific requirements for your benefit year. Sometimes they change the number of required activities or add new requirements. Also verify that all your job contacts were entered correctly in the system - I've seen claims rejected because someone entered an invalid phone number or email for an employer contact.

I went through something similar last month and it turned out to be a technical glitch on their end. Since you've been filing successfully for 6 weeks and nothing changed in your situation, it's likely a system error. Try logging back into your account and see if there's an option to refile the weekly claim - sometimes that clears up technical rejections. If not, you'll unfortunately need to call. Pro tip: try calling right at 8:00 AM when they open, you'll have a better chance of getting through. Don't panic about the rent - if it's their error, they should process the payment retroactively once it's resolved.

my brother works at a bank and he said sometimes end of month payments take longer to process because of high volume. maybe thats why august 29 certifications are slow?

I'm new to the NY unemployment system and this thread is really helpful! I just started receiving benefits last month and was wondering - is it normal for there to be occasional processing delays like this? Should I expect this to happen from time to time, or was the 8/29 issue unusual? I want to make sure I plan my budget accordingly if these delays are common. Also, is there a way to get notifications when there are known system issues so we don't have to worry unnecessarily?

Good luck with your job search! The 26 weeks goes by faster than you think, especially when you factor in the waiting week.

Just wanted to add that after 8 years at your job, you should definitely qualify for the full 26 weeks since you'll have plenty of qualifying wages in your base period. Make sure to file your claim as soon as possible - there's usually a one-week waiting period before you start receiving benefits, and any delay in filing just pushes back when you'll start getting paid. Also document everything for your job search from day one, even informal networking - it all counts toward those 3 weekly work search activities they require.