I'm in almost the exact same situation and this thread has been so helpful! I'm at week 24 of my benefits and starting to panic about what happens next. Based on what everyone is sharing here, it sounds like the key things are: 1) Keep filing weekly claims no matter what, 2) Watch for that notice in the mail about 3-4 weeks before benefits end, 3) Don't wait until the last minute to take action. I'm definitely going to look into the American Job Center that Tasia mentioned - having someone explain all the options in person sounds way better than trying to decode the NYS DOL website on my own. Has anyone here actually gone through the process of getting extended benefits approved? I'm curious how long that takes and if there's typically a gap in payments while they process everything.

I'm coming up on my 22nd week and this conversation has been incredibly reassuring - I was starting to think I'd just fall off a cliff when my benefits end! Reading about everyone's experiences, it sounds like the most important things are staying on top of the weekly filings and not panicking when you get close to the end. I had no idea about the American Job Center resources either - definitely going to look into that. One question for those who've been through extensions: do they require you to expand your job search requirements or take any additional steps during the extended benefits period? I want to make sure I'm prepared for any changes to what's expected of me.

Just wanted to add that you should definitely apply ASAP since there's usually a waiting period before benefits start. Also, keep all your pay stubs and any paperwork from the resort - NYS Department of Labor will need to verify your wages. I worked seasonal construction and it took a few weeks to get everything processed. One tip: when you file your weekly claims, be honest about any odd jobs or cash work you might pick up between seasons since they'll cross-reference with other agencies.

Just want to second what others said about applying quickly! I worked at a seasonal beach resort on Long Island and was able to collect UI between seasons. One thing I learned the hard way - make sure you understand your "benefit year" dates. NYS Department of Labor calculates your benefits based on wages from a specific 12-month period, and if you wait too long to file, you might miss out on including your most recent seasonal earnings. Also, if your resort does file standby paperwork, you'll get a notice about it - don't assume they did it automatically. I'd recommend calling them to confirm whether they're putting you on standby status or if you need to do regular job searches.

I'm in almost the exact same situation! Been doing seasonal landscaping work for the past few years and just had my position end in late October. The whole unemployment process seemed so intimidating at first, but reading through everyone's experiences here has been incredibly helpful. I'm planning to file my claim this week and feel much more confident now about being upfront regarding the seasonal nature of my work. The tip about keeping detailed documentation is something I definitely need to work on - I've been pretty casual about record keeping but realize that's going to be crucial. One thing I'm curious about is whether anyone has experience with employers who don't provide formal end-of-season notices? My landscaping company is pretty small and informal, so I'm not sure I'll get official paperwork showing it was seasonal employment rather than just being "let go." Has anyone dealt with creating their own documentation in situations like that? Also really appreciate the advice about mixing seasonal job applications with some year-round options for the job search requirements - that seems like a practical approach that shows you're genuinely looking while being realistic about your work pattern.

Hey Amara! I totally get the concern about informal employers not providing official documentation - I had a similar situation with a small family-owned resort I worked for. What I did was create my own paper trail throughout the season. I saved any text messages or emails about my start date, took photos of job postings if they mentioned seasonal work, and even kept screenshots of my work schedule that showed the seasonal pattern. At the end of the season, I asked my supervisor for a simple letter confirming my employment dates and stating it was seasonal work - most small employers are willing to provide that even if they don't have formal HR processes. You could also ask coworkers to be references if needed, since they can vouch for the seasonal nature of the work. The key is having something that shows the temporary nature wasn't your choice but rather how the business operates. Don't stress too much about it being "official" - the unemployment office understands that small seasonal employers often operate informally. Just be honest about your situation and have whatever documentation you can gather ready to show the seasonal pattern. Good luck with your filing!

I'm with Regions Bank and just wanted to add my experience to this incredibly helpful thread! My payments consistently hit around 8:00am on Tuesday mornings. Just got my first payment this morning after 20 days of waiting and it came with all the back pay included - what a relief! The anxiety during those 3 weeks was absolutely brutal. I was literally waking up at 5am checking my account which was definitely not sustainable lol. What saved me was finding threads like this and realizing that everyone goes through the exact same timeline and feelings. I ended up creating a "Tuesday Payment Day" calendar reminder and only checking my account once at 8:30am on Tuesdays instead of constantly throughout the week. One thing that really helped was setting up text alerts for any deposit over $100 - that way I didn't have to obsessively check and could just wait for the notification. Also the NY DOL payment history feature everyone mentioned is a game changer for seeing when it's been released before hitting your bank. For anyone still in that first payment waiting phase - I know it feels endless but literally everyone here is proof that it comes through right on schedule with full back pay. The Tuesday morning routine actually becomes something to look forward to once you're in the system! Hang in there 💪

I'm with Vanguard and wanted to add my experience to this amazing thread! My payments hit consistently around 6:20am on Tuesday mornings. Just got my first payment yesterday after 18 days of waiting and it included all the back pay which was such a huge relief! The anxiety during those 2.5 weeks was absolutely real - I was definitely guilty of the obsessive bank app checking that everyone's talking about. What really helped me was reading through all these experiences and realizing the 2-3 week timeline is completely normal and predictable. I ended up setting a Tuesday morning alarm for 7am and only checking once with my morning coffee instead of constantly refreshing throughout the week. One thing I noticed with Vanguard is they send a really detailed email notification when deposits hit, which was great for peace of mind. Also want to echo what others said about doing your weekly certification on Sundays - it really does help with the Tuesday payment rhythm. For anyone still in that first payment waiting phase, I know the stress is intense but this whole thread proves it really does come through right on schedule! Once you get into the routine it's actually pretty comforting. The community here has been incredible for managing newcomer anxiety 💙

One thing I learned when I went through this process is to make sure you're checking your mail regularly during this waiting period. Sometimes the NYS Department of Labor will send additional forms or requests for information that you need to respond to quickly. I almost missed an important document because it got mixed in with junk mail. Also, if you have access to online banking, keep an eye out for any direct deposit setup requests - that usually means your claim is getting close to approval. The whole process can feel like you're in limbo, but try to stay patient. Two weeks is still pretty early in the timeline, especially if your employer hasn't responded yet.

I'm currently dealing with a similar situation - filed about 3 weeks ago and just got approved yesterday! My employer never responded to the initial notice, which I think actually helped move things along faster. The key thing I learned is that the NYS Department of Labor will make a determination either way, so don't stress too much about your disorganized employer potentially missing deadlines. Since you mentioned it was a layoff due to budget cuts, that's usually pretty cut and dry for them to process. Just make sure you keep filing those weekly claims even while it's pending - I got backpay for all the weeks I was waiting. The hardest part is definitely the uncertainty, but hang in there!