That's awesome news, Ethan! Your success story will definitely help others who find themselves in the same situation. The early morning calling strategy seems to be the most reliable method based on what everyone's shared here. Thanks for updating us with the resolution - it's always great to see these posts have happy endings!

Wow, what a journey this has been to follow! @Ethan Davis, I'm so relieved you got everything sorted out. As someone who's currently dealing with my own NY unemployment issues (thankfully not as complex as yours), this whole thread has been incredibly educational. The step-by-step breakdown from @Mei Wong was particularly helpful, and it's great to see that the early morning calling strategy really does work. I'm bookmarking this thread for future reference - the collective wisdom here is invaluable for navigating NY's unemployment system. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences and solutions!

Congrats on the new job! 🎉 That's such amazing news after being unemployed since December - you must be over the moon! You're being really smart by asking about this upfront instead of figuring it out after the fact. From what I've learned (both from personal experience and seeing others go through this): ✅ Yes, absolutely claim your final week since you weren't working those days yet ✅ Once you start your new position, just stop certifying - no calls or formal closure needed ✅ The system automatically goes inactive after you miss several certifications ✅ Download/print your payment history NOW before you lose access (super important for taxes) ✅ Keep your login info saved somewhere safe The phone reminder tip that everyone keeps mentioning is GOLD - definitely set one up for your usual certification day that says something like "DON'T CERTIFY - WORKING!" Trust me, after months of weekly routine it's so easy to do it on autopilot. Also make sure you're 100% certain about your exact start date. Don't certify for any week that includes work days, even if it's just your first day. You're handling this perfectly by being proactive about it. Here's to your fresh start! 🙌

Congrats on the new job! 🎉 That's such exciting news after being unemployed since December - what a great way to start the new year! You're definitely being smart by asking about this ahead of time. From what I've seen others go through and based on the great advice already shared here: - Yes, absolutely claim your final week since you weren't working yet - Once you start your new job, just stop certifying - the system will handle the rest automatically - Make sure to download/print your payment history before you lose access (you'll need it for taxes!) - Set that phone reminder everyone's talking about - it's such a simple but brilliant tip to avoid accidentally certifying out of habit One thing I'd add is to maybe screenshot or write down the exact steps you took to end your claim properly, just in case you ever need to reference it in the future or help someone else in a similar situation. You're handling this transition perfectly by planning ahead. Best of luck with your fresh start - hope the new job is everything you're hoping for! 💪

ugh the whole at-will thing is so confusing! like they can fire you for literally anything but then sometimes you can still get unemployment?? makes no sense to me but glad it worked out for you OP

Just wanted to add that when you file your claim, make sure to emphasize that your termination was due to "lack of work" or "position elimination" rather than performance issues. NYS Department of Labor has specific categories for separation reasons, and choosing the right one can help streamline your approval process. Also, don't forget that you'll need to certify for benefits every week once your claim is processed - you can do this online or by phone. Good luck with your claim!

I just wanted to add my perspective as someone who works in unemployment advocacy - these kinds of application mistakes are incredibly common and the NYS DOL staff are well-trained to handle them. In fact, I'd estimate that about 30-40% of initial claims have some kind of minor error that needs correction during the review process. The most important thing is exactly what others have mentioned - being proactive about corrections rather than hoping they won't notice. The "under review" status you're seeing is actually a good sign because it means they're doing their due diligence to verify information, which protects both you and the system. One additional tip I'd offer: when you do call, ask the representative to email you a confirmation of what correction was made and the date it was processed. This gives you documentation in case there are any follow-up questions later. Try not to stress too much - the system is designed to help eligible people get their benefits, not to trip them up over honest mistakes!

This entire thread has been such a godsend! I'm in almost the exact same situation - filed my claim about 2 weeks ago and have been losing sleep over whether I might have mixed up some employment dates during a period where I had overlapping jobs. The collective wisdom here is incredible. What really stands out to me is how consistent everyone's advice is: be proactive, have your documents ready, and don't let the anxiety spiral out of control. The professional perspective from Mia about 30-40% of claims having minor errors was especially eye-opening - it really drives home that we're not alone in this! I'm planning to call tomorrow morning with all my employment records organized. Thank you to everyone who shared their stories - this community support makes dealing with government bureaucracy so much less intimidating!

@Sofia Torres Welcome back to western NY! I've been dealing with the Way2Go card for over a year now and here's my survival guide: **Best free options I've found:** - Kinney Drugs locations often have AllPoint ATMs (super common in western NY) - Most Dollar General stores do $50 cash back with no fees - Price Chopper/Market 32 locations are great for cash back too **Money-saving hack:** If you shop at Aldi, they do cash back up to $100 with a $5 minimum purchase, and their prices are already super low so you're saving money on groceries while getting fee-free cash. **For larger amounts:** I do what others mentioned - combine the $500 ATM limit with multiple cash back transactions throughout the day. You can easily get $200-300 in cash back across different stores without any fees. The whole system is definitely a pain compared to regular bank cards, but once you map out your local fee-free spots it becomes routine. The AllPoint app is your best friend for finding ATMs on the go. Good luck with the job search and getting settled back in! 🍀

@Sofia Torres Just wanted to add one more option that saved me when I was in a similar situation in Rochester! Family Dollar stores also do cash back (usually up to $50) with no fees, and they're everywhere in western NY. Also, if you have a car and don't mind a short drive, many of the Seneca Nation gas stations have fee-free ATMs that work with government cards - there's one in Irving that's been super reliable for me. One last tip that took me forever to figure out - you can actually use your Way2Go card to pay bills online through their website, which can help you avoid needing as much physical cash. You can pay utilities, phone bills, etc. directly from the card balance. The interface isn't the prettiest but it works and saves trips to the ATM. Hope your transition back to western NY goes smoothly! 👍