The whole system is set up to confuse people I swear. They use all these outdated program names that don't even exist anymore just to make us think we're missing out on benefits. Meanwhile they're probably saving money every time someone gives up trying to figure out what they're actually entitled to.

@Malik Jackson, definitely check if you can file a new benefit year like StarSurfer mentioned. When I was in a similar situation, I found out that even part-time work from the past 18 months could qualify me for a fresh claim. The key is whether you earned enough wages since your original benefit year started. You can check this in your online account under "Monetary Determination" or call the Tele-Center (though good luck getting through). If you don't qualify for a new claim, you might also want to look into job training programs through WIOA - they sometimes provide income support while you're in approved training.

FYI if this is a regular thing (like if ur hours get cut regularly) you might qualify for something called Shared Work where both you and your employer apply for partial unemployment. Way more stable than regular partial UI but ur employer has to be on board.

Hey Omar! I've been through this exact situation before. You can definitely file for partial unemployment for reduced hours - I did it when my restaurant cut my shifts from 5 days to 2 during a slow period. The key things to remember: NY counts ANY work on a day as a full day worked (so your 2 days = 50% of your weekly benefit), and you need to earn less than $504 that week to qualify. When you certify, just report exactly what you worked and earned - don't try to fudge the numbers because they'll catch it later. The process is pretty straightforward through labor.ny.gov, just make sure you have your exact earnings from those 2 days when you file. Good luck!

This question confused me too when I was applying. I overthought it and called three times before getting an answer. Basically if you haven't gotten unemployment checks from anywhere else during this stretch of being unemployed, just put no.

I think everyone gets confused by this question! I just went through the same thing last month. The way it was explained to me is they're asking if you received unemployment benefits from ANY source (other states, different programs, etc.) during your current period of being unemployed. Since you said this is your first time filing and you've been unemployed for 6 weeks without benefits, the answer would be no. They just want to make sure you're not double-dipping or getting benefits from multiple places. Hope that helps clear it up!

Just went through this in December. Filed on a Monday, got approved the following Friday, first payment hit my account the Tuesday after that. So about 11 days total. Restaurant work usually processes pretty quickly since the wage reporting is straightforward. Keep filing your weekly claims and you should see movement soon.

I'm in a similar situation - filed my claim about 10 days ago and still showing pending. From what I've been reading online, it seems like the processing times can vary a lot depending on your specific case. One thing I learned is that if you were laid off (not fired for cause), that usually helps speed things up since there's no dispute about eligibility. Since you mentioned you were laid off due to slow business, that should work in your favor. I'd suggest checking your account daily and maybe try calling early in the morning around 8am when they open - that's when I've had the best luck getting through to someone. Hang in there!

everyone saying 'keep calling' but that literally doesnt work anymore. the phone lines are designed to keep us out. after 2 months of trying, i used claimyr.com and got through in ONE DAY. it was the only way I could talk to a live agent who fixed my claim on the spot.

This is exactly what happened to me! I was stuck at $0 for 8 weeks with the same "under review" status. What finally worked was getting through to a supervisor-level agent who could actually see what was blocking my claim. Turns out there was a simple discrepancy in my employment dates that was flagging everything for manual review. Once they fixed that one thing, my entire backpay was deposited within 48 hours. The regular call center agents couldn't see this level of detail - you need someone with actual system access. Don't give up! Keep pushing to speak with someone who can actually look at your specific case details.