Just wanted to say I'm in the same boat - filed 3 weeks ago and still waiting. At least I know I'm not alone in this. The uncertainty is the worst part.

I went through this exact same situation last month. My claim took exactly 3 weeks to get approved, which my case worker told me was typical. The key thing is to keep filing your weekly certifications even while it's pending - you can backdate and get paid for those weeks once approved. Also, make sure you're checking both my.ny.gov and your physical mail, because sometimes they send important documents by mail first. If you haven't heard anything by week 4, that's when I'd recommend calling the DOL hotline. Hang in there, the waiting is stressful but most legitimate claims do get processed eventually.

I'm really moved by how supportive and helpful everyone has been in this thread! As someone who recently went through the NYS Department of Labor unemployment process after being terminated for attendance issues related to caring for an elderly parent, I wanted to add my encouragement as well. Like so many others here have shared, I was initially convinced that being fired would automatically disqualify me from benefits. But after reading advice similar to what's been shared here, I decided to file anyway - and I'm so grateful I did! The adjudication process took about 4 weeks for me, and the interviewer was very thorough but fair in asking about my work history, the circumstances leading to my termination, and the caregiving responsibilities that affected my attendance. Being completely honest about my situation and providing documentation like medical appointments for my parent really helped my case. What made the biggest difference was being able to show that I had communicated with my employer about my caregiving situation and that my attendance issues were directly related to circumstances beyond my control, not willful misconduct. I was ultimately approved for benefits, which provided crucial financial support while I searched for a new job with more flexible scheduling. Don't let fear of rejection stop you from applying - you've paid into this system and deserve to have your case evaluated fairly based on your individual circumstances!

I'm so sorry you're going through this stressful situation! From everything I've read about NYS unemployment law, getting fired for attendance issues doesn't automatically disqualify you from benefits - it really depends on whether the Department of Labor determines it was "misconduct" or circumstances beyond your reasonable control. Since you mentioned you were dealing with personal issues that affected your punctuality, that context could be really important for your case. The key is to file your claim immediately (like today if possible) and be completely honest about both the attendance problems AND the personal circumstances that contributed to them during the adjudication process. Even if your employer contests the claim, you still have a good chance if you can show this wasn't willful misconduct but rather a difficult situation you were trying to manage. You've been paying into the unemployment system and deserve to have your case evaluated fairly. The worst they can do is deny it, but then you can appeal - and you'll never know unless you try. Don't let the fear of rejection stop you from accessing benefits you may be entitled to while you look for new work!

I'm at about 10 weeks of unemployment and this thread has been incredibly helpful! I've been keeping decent records but seeing everyone's detailed approaches makes me want to improve my system. One thing I'm curious about - does anyone know if they track patterns in when people get audited? Like, are you more likely to get selected if you've been on unemployment longer, or if you're in certain industries? Also, I've been doing mostly online applications but I'm realizing I should diversify more. For those who mentioned networking calls, do you log cold calls to companies even if they don't have posted openings? I want to make sure I'm maximizing my activities while still being genuine about my job search efforts.

This thread has been so informative! I'm about 4 weeks into my claim and have been keeping records but honestly wasn't taking it as seriously as I should have been. Reading everyone's experiences really opened my eyes to how important proper documentation is. I've been doing mainly online applications but clearly need to add more variety. Quick question - when you mention job fairs as an activity, do virtual job fairs count the same as in-person ones? Also, if I attend a job fair and talk to multiple employers, can I log that as separate activities or should it just be one entry for the entire event? Want to make sure I'm being accurate in my tracking while also maximizing my documented efforts.

Just went through this exact situation last month! Had unemployment paperwork dating back to 2018 taking over my home office. After doing some research and calling NYS DOL (took forever to get through), here's what I learned: Keep your 1099-G forms for 7 years with your tax documents since unemployment is taxable income. For everything else - weekly certifications, job search logs, correspondence - 3 years from when your claim ended is the standard. The key thing is NYS can audit claims within that 3-year window, so you need proof of job searches and eligibility. I ended up creating three piles: tax documents (7 years), claim records (3 years), and stuff older than 3 years that I could safely shred. Freed up so much space! Pro tip: if you're unsure about any overpayment issues or appeals, keep those records longer just to be safe.

I'm in the middle of this same cleanup right now and this thread has been a lifesaver! I've been holding onto unemployment paperwork from three different claims between 2018-2022 and had no idea what was actually important to keep. The 3-year rule for audit purposes really surprised me - I definitely didn't realize NYS could come back that long after a claim ended. I'm going to follow the systematic approach everyone's outlined here: 1099-G forms with tax records for 7 years, weekly certifications and job search logs for 3 years from claim end, and anything with overpayments kept indefinitely. The scanning suggestion is genius too - I'm going to digitize everything before filing so I have backups without the bulk. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences, especially the audit stories - better to know about that possibility now than find out the hard way later!

I went through this same situation a few months ago and it's definitely stressful when you see "exhausted" with no warning. One thing that helped me was logging into the NY.gov portal and checking under "Payment History" - it shows exactly how much of your benefit amount you've used up versus what was originally approved. Also, if you do get a determination letter in the mail, read it carefully because it will tell you the specific reason (monetary exhaustion vs benefit year end) and what options you might have. In my case, I had to wait and work for a few months before I could file a new claim, but at least I knew where I stood.

I'm dealing with this exact same situation right now and it's so stressful! Mine just switched to "exhausted" status yesterday and I had no idea what it meant. Reading through all these responses is really helpful - it sounds like I need to check my payment history to see if I hit my monetary limit or if it's something else. Has anyone here had luck getting extensions when regular benefits run out? I'm worried about what I'm going to do if there aren't any other options available.