The system is SO messed up. They make it almost impossible to reach anyone to ask questions but expect you to follow all these complicated rules perfectly. Meanwhile people are just trying to survive and pay rent.

I just went through this exact situation last month! I started driving for Uber while on unemployment and was terrified about reporting it correctly. Here's what I learned: you MUST report every penny you earn, even $20. But the good news is you can still collect partial benefits. NYS has a formula where they let you keep most of your unemployment plus some of your earnings. For me, when I made $120 in a week from Uber, they only reduced my $380 weekly benefit by about $30. So I actually came out ahead! The key is being 100% honest on your weekly certification. Don't risk fraud charges over a few bucks - it's just not worth it.

File ASAP and then stay on top of your weekly claims! I can't stress this enough - you have to file every single week even if your initial claim is still being processed. Miss a week and you can't go back and claim it later.

Don't panic - you still have time! As others mentioned, you can file up to a year after becoming unemployed, but those first two weeks are lost. The key thing now is to act fast and be thorough with your application. Make sure you have all your employment documentation ready, including your final pay stub if possible. After you file your initial claim, set up reminders to file your weekly claims every single week - I use my phone calendar with alerts because it's so easy to forget. The weekly filing is just as important as the initial claim, and missing even one week means you lose that money permanently. You've got this!

To clarify for everyone: The standard timeline for NY unemployment payments in 2025 is: 1. Release date: This is when NYSDOL approves your payment 2. Processing: 1-3 business days (excluding weekends and federal holidays) 3. Bank posting: Depends on your financial institution (typically 0-1 additional days) So for a Saturday, August 30 release date, with Monday being Labor Day: - Tuesday, Sept 2: First business day of processing - Wednesday, Sept 3: Likely arrival for banks with faster processing - Thursday, Sept 4: Typical arrival for most banks If you need to verify your specific payment status, contacting NYSDOL directly is the most reliable option.

Hey Liam! I totally understand your stress about the timing. I've been getting NY unemployment for about 6 months now and I also have Chase. In my experience, Chase is pretty consistent - I usually get my deposit exactly 2 business days after the release date. Since your release is Saturday Aug 30 and Monday Sept 1 is Labor Day, you're looking at Tuesday Sept 2 as the first business day for processing. I'd expect to see it in your Chase account by Thursday Sept 4 at the latest, but possibly Wednesday Sept 3. Definitely call your landlord ASAP to give them a heads up. Most landlords are understanding about unemployment delays, especially if you communicate early. Take a screenshot of your release date as backup documentation. You got this!

did u ever get this fixed? im having same issue now lol

Just wanted to add that I had a similar "break in claim" issue with my Shared Work benefits last month. In my case, it was because I had answered "yes" to one of the weekly certification questions about looking for work when I should have answered "no" (since Shared Work participants don't need to actively seek work). That small mistake triggered a hold on my benefits for almost a week until I could explain it to a representative. So definitely review all your answers from this week's certification to see if anything was different from usual - sometimes it's the smallest detail that causes these holds!

Let me give you the full rundown on unemployment hearings cuz I just went through this whole process. These hearings are actually pretty formal but don't stress. You'll get a notice with the date/time about 2-3 weeks before. It'll probably be over the phone. The judge will swear everyone in and your employer HAS to be there. Have your evidence ready and organized. Talk clearly and stick to the facts. Don't get emotional (even tho its hard). The fact that you have phone records is HUGE. Judges love that kind of solid evidence. Timeline is usually: appeal filed -> hearing notice in 2-3 weeks -> hearing in another 2-3 weeks -> decision in 1-2 weeks. While you wait, keep filing your weekly claims! If you need to talk to someone at unemployment about your case, use claimyr.com - they'll wait on hold and connect you to a rep. Worth the $20 when ur dealing with something this important. Good luck!

Ugh this is so frustrating! I'm going through something similar right now - my employer is claiming I was a no-show but I have text messages proving I called out sick. It's crazy how they think they can just lie to unemployment and get away with it. I'm definitely going to look into that claimyr thing people are mentioning because I've been trying to get through to someone at DOL for weeks with no luck. Stay strong and keep fighting it - sounds like you have solid evidence on your side! 💪