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!

I went through this exact situation last year and was able to get unemployment after quitting due to a hostile work environment. The key things that helped my case were: 1) I documented every incident with dates and details in a journal, 2) I reported the issues to HR in writing and kept copies of their responses (or lack thereof), 3) I had a coworker willing to be a witness, and 4) I saw my doctor about stress-related symptoms and got that documented. NYS Department of Labor initially denied my claim but I appealed and won after presenting all this evidence. The whole process took about 6 weeks from filing to getting my first payment. Start documenting everything NOW if you haven't already - even if you decide not to quit, having that paper trail could be important later.

I'm dealing with a similar situation right now - toxic management and considering quitting. Reading through all these responses has been really eye-opening about the documentation requirements. One thing I'm wondering about is timing - if I start documenting issues now but don't quit for another month or two, would that still be considered valid evidence? Or does NYS Department of Labor expect you to quit immediately after reporting problems? Also, has anyone had experience with what they consider "substantial changes to job duties"? My responsibilities have completely shifted from what I was hired for and it's causing major stress.

I went through this exact situation 2 years ago when our local went on strike for 5 weeks. The unemployment denial was tough but here's what helped me get through it: 1) Applied for emergency SNAP benefits immediately - the process was faster than I expected, 2) Called my credit card companies and mortgage lender to explain the situation - most had temporary hardship programs, 3) Our union organized carpools and shared resources which saved on gas/groceries. Also check if your union has agreements with local businesses for discounts during strikes. Mine had deals with a few grocery stores that helped stretch the strike fund money. Stay strong and remember this is temporary - the financial stress is real but you're fighting for something important.

I'm sorry you're facing this difficult situation. As others have mentioned, New York State does not allow unemployment benefits during strikes since it's considered a voluntary work stoppage. However, I wanted to add that you should document everything from this period - strike notices, union communications, dates, etc. This documentation could be helpful if your employment situation changes after the strike ends. Also, if you're a union member, make sure you understand all the benefits your union provides during strikes beyond just the strike fund - some locals have arrangements for healthcare continuation, legal aid, or connections to temporary work that doesn't conflict with strike activities. It's worth having a detailed conversation with your union representatives about all available resources. Hang in there - this is a challenging time but you're standing up for important workplace rights.

I'm new to this community but unfortunately facing this exact situation too - my employer just announced they're relocating from Binghamton to Ohio next summer. Reading through all these experiences has been such a relief! Like everyone else here, my HR department gave me the same misleading information about not qualifying for unemployment if I don't relocate, but it's clear from all your stories that this is just standard misinformation they use to discourage legitimate claims. I can't move because I'm currently my grandmother's primary caregiver - she has Alzheimer's and any disruption to her routine and medical care would be catastrophic for her condition. Plus, I'm in the middle of my master's degree program at a local university that I've been working toward for three years. Ohio is obviously way beyond that 50-mile rule everyone mentioned, and the documentation advice from @Dylan Campbell about keeping everything in writing is incredibly valuable. I've already started screenshotting all the relocation communications and plan to gather medical documentation about my grandmother's care needs. It's so frustrating that employers try these scare tactics, but I'm grateful to have found this thread before making any decisions. Thank you everyone for sharing your experiences with NYS Department of Labor - you're helping people like me understand our rights and not get taken advantage of during an already stressful situation!

I'm also new to this community and unfortunately going through the same situation - my employer just announced they're relocating from Rochester to Tennessee in a few months. Reading through everyone's experiences here has been incredibly reassuring! Like so many others, my HR department used almost identical language about not qualifying for unemployment if I don't relocate, but it's clear from all these stories that this is just a standard script they use to discourage legitimate claims. I can't move because I'm in the middle of cancer treatment here and have an established team of specialists who know my case inside and out. Switching medical teams and insurance networks in the middle of treatment would be dangerous and potentially life-threatening. Tennessee is obviously way beyond any reasonable commuting distance, and the advice about documenting everything has been so helpful - I'm going to start gathering all my medical records and treatment schedules as evidence of why relocation would create severe hardship. It's really frustrating that employers try to mislead workers about their rights during already stressful situations, but I'm so grateful to have found this thread. Thank you everyone for sharing your experiences with NYS Department of Labor - you're helping people like me understand that we actually have protections in these situations and don't have to just accept what HR tells us!