The whole gig economy cash advance thing is a mess when you're on unemployment anyway. Most of those apps want to see consistent income patterns and unemployment benefits just don't fit their algorithms. Plus you dont want to risk any complications with your claim over a few dollars.

Have you considered reaching out to 211 by dialing 2-1-1? They can connect you with local resources like emergency rent assistance, utility help, and food programs that might help bridge the gap between your unemployment payments. Many of these programs are specifically designed for people in temporary situations like unemployment and won't affect your NYS Department of Labor benefits at all.

chime worked fine for me but takes an extra day compared to my old bank account. not a huge deal unless ur literally down to your last dollar (which i have been lol). the real issue is when ny unemployment randomly decides to "review" your claim and stops payments for no reason. then u gotta spend 5 hours on hold just to talk to someone who has no idea what theyre doing 🤦‍♀️

I've been using Chime with NY unemployment for about 3 months now and it's been mostly smooth. The first deposit took an extra day but after that it's been consistent. One thing I'd suggest is setting up text alerts in your Chime app so you know immediately when the deposit hits. Also keep your unemployment login info handy because sometimes they'll randomly ask you to verify something and if you don't respond quick enough it can delay your payment. The key is just being proactive about checking both your Chime account and the NY unemployment portal regularly.

Just wanted to add that you should file even if you think you might not qualify. I thought I wouldn't get benefits because I was only at my job for 6 months, but turns out my previous job counted toward my base period. NYS Department of Labor looks at earnings from the past 5 quarters to determine eligibility.

Really helpful thread! I'm in a similar situation and had no idea about the weekly claim filing requirement. One question - do I need to register with the job search system right away too? I've heard there's some kind of online portal where you have to log your job search activities. Also, is there a waiting period before benefits start, or do they begin immediately after filing? Want to make sure I budget accordingly for the transition period.

This is so typical of NY unemployment 🙄 Their left hand has no idea what their right hand is doing. Last year they told me I was denied, then approved, then denied again, all while letting me certify weekly. Take screenshots of EVERYTHING in your account - payment history, correspondence, etc. You'll need it when you finally talk to someone.

Definitely keep certifying weekly - that's the most important thing! I went through something similar last year where I got a denial letter but the system still let me certify. Turned out there was an error in how they calculated my base period earnings. The key is getting through to an actual person to sort it out. I know everyone's mentioning claimyr.com and honestly it's worth trying - I was skeptical at first but after spending literally days trying to call myself with no luck, I gave it a shot and got connected to an agent within a few hours. Also make sure to appeal that denial ASAP since there's a 30-day window. The NY unemployment system is a mess but don't give up on what you might be entitled to!

To summarize this thread for anyone with the same question: 1. Once your BYE (Benefit Year End) date passes, you must file a new claim regardless of remaining effective days 2. Remaining days from your previous benefit year do not carry over 3. Your new claim will be evaluated based on your work history in the new base period 4. Continue to certify weekly while your new claim is being processed 5. Document your claim history before your BYE date as you may lose access to it This is standard NYSDOL procedure and applies to all NY unemployment claims.

I went through this exact situation last month. Lost about 35 days when my BYE expired in February. What really helped me was filing the new claim online immediately - don't wait thinking you can use up those remaining days because the system literally won't let you. I got my first payment on the new claim about 3 weeks after filing, and they did give me backpay for the weeks I certified while waiting. The frustrating part is you're basically starting over with a whole new benefit year, but at least if you worked during your previous claim period, that income should help qualify you for the new one.