ofc their system is broken again 🙄 water is wet. But seriously go check r/NYunemployment - bunch of people saying theres a system wide delay this week affecting payments. Some people on there said payments are delayed 3-4 days because of a "system migration" whatever that means

I had this EXACT same issue about 6 weeks ago - certified on Monday, nothing showed up for over a week. Turns out there was some random flag on my account that needed manual review, but the system never told me about it. I finally got through using one of those callback services people mentioned here (used Claimyr after reading about it) and the agent cleared it immediately. Payment showed up the next day. Don't wait too long hoping it fixes itself - these delays usually mean there's something that needs human intervention. The automated system is garbage at communicating what's actually wrong.

btw my assemblymans office helped me too last time!! they sent in some special request that flagged my account and i got a call back from NYSDOL within like 48 hrs so if ur still having trouble after jan 3 def reach out to them again!!

Just wanted to add my experience with the BRI Pre-date process since I went through it earlier this year. One thing that really helped me was having my severance paperwork ready when I called. They asked about when my employment officially ended vs when I stopped receiving pay, which can be different dates if you got severance or vacation payout. Also, if you're worried about remembering job search details for each week, don't stress too much. I was honest about the weeks where I didn't do much searching (like Thanksgiving week) and they were understanding. The key is showing you made a good faith effort overall. The whole backdating approval took about 2 weeks from my initial call to getting payments, so be patient with the process. Good luck with your January 3rd filing!

Just to add - when you file online make sure you have your Social Security number, employer information for the last 18 months, and your bank account info if you want direct deposit. The system will ask for your last day of work and reason for separation, so have those details ready. Don't stress too much about getting everything perfect on the first try - you can always call later to make corrections if needed.

That would definitely be a layoff due to lack of work. NYS Department of Labor has specific categories and 'lack of work' or 'business closure/downsizing' would be the right selection. Budget cuts that eliminate positions fall under that category, so you should qualify for benefits assuming you meet the other requirements like having enough earnings in your base period.

Just confirming what others said - $504 is indeed the current maximum weekly benefit amount for regular unemployment insurance in New York. This amount gets reviewed annually. Your benefits will last up to 26 weeks as long as you continue to meet eligibility requirements. Make sure you understand the work search requirements because that's where a lot of people run into issues.

Welcome to the community! I see you're getting great advice here about your benefit amount. One thing I'd add is that you should also check if you qualify for SNAP benefits (food stamps) while you're on unemployment - the income limits are pretty generous and it can really help stretch your budget. Also, if you had any dependents, make sure NY DOL has that information because there might be additional dependency benefits available. The $504 weekly is just your base amount, but there could be small additions for qualifying dependents.

just apply asap dont overthink it the system walks you thru everything step by step

Sorry to hear about your restaurant closing down @Andre. One thing to add that others haven't mentioned - when you're filling out the application online, make sure you have your bank account info ready if you want direct deposit (routing and account numbers). It's much faster than waiting for a debit card to arrive in the mail. Also, the system will ask why you're unemployed - since your workplace closed, that should be straightforward, but if they ask for any documentation later, try to get something in writing from your former employer about the closure if possible. The online system usually processes applications pretty quickly once everything is submitted correctly.