I went through the same confusion when I first started collecting! Here's what likely happened: Your $504 weekly benefit minus the part-time work reduction (they take away 25% of earnings over $126, so $3.50 for the $14 you went over) gives you about $500.50. Then if you have 10% federal tax withholding, that's another $50, bringing you down to around $450. If you also have state tax withholding (usually around 5-6%), that would take off another $25-30, getting you close to that $387 you received. The exact breakdown should show up in your payment history under "deductions" - it really helps to see it all itemized out!

I had a similar experience when I started collecting unemployment in NY! One thing that caught me off guard was that the weekly benefit amount they quote you initially doesn't include any withholdings or reductions. I'd recommend downloading your payment history from the DOL website and looking at each payment line by line - it shows exactly what was deducted and why. Also, keep detailed records of any part-time work you report because the calculations can get complex when you're earning different amounts each week. The good news is once you understand the formula, it becomes much more predictable for budgeting purposes.

This happened to my cousin and she never got that week back even though she called. The NYS Department of Labor rep told her that missing the deadline means you forfeit that week's benefits period. Maybe it depends on who you talk to but just wanted to give you a heads up that it might not work out.

I work as a benefits advocate and can confirm that NYS allows late filing for good cause within 30 days of the missed deadline. Family emergency absolutely qualifies. When you call, be prepared to explain the situation clearly and mention you have hospital documentation ready if needed. The key is being persistent - if the first rep says no, politely ask to speak with a supervisor. Also, make sure you continue filing your weekly certifications on time going forward so this doesn't impact your ongoing eligibility. Don't let anyone tell you that missing one week forfeits it permanently - that's not how the system works when you have valid cause.

I'm currently dealing with the waiting week situation too and wanted to share what I've learned from my experience. Filed my claim on a Tuesday and was initially confused about when the waiting week actually starts, but after calling NYS Department of Labor (took forever to get through), I found out that your benefit year and waiting week both start on the Sunday of the week you file your claim, regardless of what day you actually submitted it. So even though I filed on Tuesday, my waiting week ran from the previous Sunday through Saturday. The key thing is to keep filing those weekly certifications even during the waiting week - I know it feels pointless since you're not getting paid, but skipping it will definitely mess up your claim timeline. Also, if anyone is struggling financially during this period like the original poster mentioned, check if your local social services office has emergency assistance programs. Some counties in NY offer one-time emergency rent assistance while you're waiting for unemployment benefits to kick in. It's not much but every little bit helps when you're in a tight spot.

Hey everyone! Just wanted to jump in and share my recent experience since I see a lot of confusion about the waiting week timing (totally understandable - the whole system is confusing at first). I filed my unemployment claim with NYS Department of Labor about 3 weeks ago and just got my second payment, so I'm through the worst of it now. The waiting week thing definitely threw me off initially, but here's what actually happened in my case: I filed on a Thursday, my waiting week ran Sunday to Saturday (so it included the Sunday BEFORE I even filed, which was weird), and then I was eligible for my first payment the following week. The most important thing I learned is to set up direct deposit immediately if you haven't already - it speeds up payments significantly compared to waiting for a debit card to arrive in the mail. Also, don't panic if your first payment seems to take forever after the waiting week ends. Mine took about 3-4 business days to actually hit my account after I certified for that week. One last tip - screenshot everything in your online account, especially your payment history and any correspondence from NYS Department of Labor. It helps if you ever need to call them about issues. Hope this helps anyone who's currently stressing about the timeline like I was!

This resonates so deeply with me. I'm going through this exact situation right now and you've perfectly captured how the unemployment system creates this whole additional layer of stress and problems on top of already being unemployed. What really gets me is that when you're already feeling vulnerable and anxious about your financial situation, having to navigate this maze of bureaucracy just amplifies all those feelings. I've been stuck in adjudication for over a month and every time I call, I get a different answer or get told to wait longer. Meanwhile, bills don't stop coming. The system that's supposed to be a safety net ends up feeling like another obstacle course. You're definitely not alone in feeling overwhelmed by all of this - it's validating to see so many others experiencing the same frustrations with NYS Department of Labor.

Reading through all these comments makes me realize I'm not going crazy - the NYS Department of Labor system really is as broken as it feels when you're in the middle of it. I've been unemployed for 2 months now and honestly, dealing with their bureaucracy has become more stressful than the actual job loss. The constant uncertainty about whether my benefits will come through, the hours spent on hold only to be disconnected, the confusing forms that seem designed to trip you up - it's like they've turned getting help into a full-time nightmare. What really bothers me is how this system is supposed to be there for people during one of the most vulnerable times in their lives, but instead it adds this whole extra layer of anxiety and frustration. I shouldn't have to become an expert in government bureaucracy just to access benefits I paid into when I was working. The real "problem of unemployment" isn't just being out of work - it's having to fight tooth and nail with the very system that's supposed to help you get back on your feet.

I've been on way2go for about 8 months now and this thread is spot on about the timing! One thing I'd add that I learned the hard way - if you have any changes to your claim (like reporting work earnings or updating contact info) do it BEFORE you certify on Sunday, not after. I made the mistake of certifying Sunday night then updating my address on Monday, and it flagged my account for review which delayed my deposit by almost a week. Also, for anyone dealing with the frustration of not being able to reach DOL by phone, I had success using a service that helps connect you to unemployment reps. Found out about it from someone in another forum - it's at claimyr.com and there's even a demo video at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI that shows how it works. Saved me days of trying to get through the busy phone lines when I had questions about my delayed payment.

I've been on way2go for about 3 weeks now and this thread has been incredibly helpful! I was certifying randomly throughout the week and couldn't figure out why my deposits were so inconsistent. After reading everyone's experiences, I realize I need to stick to that Sunday night deadline to get into the first processing batch. One question though - does the exact time you certify on Sunday matter, or just that it's before midnight? Like if I certify at 6 PM Sunday vs 11 PM Sunday, will that affect when the deposit hits on Tuesday morning? Also, I'm definitely downloading the way2go app for those push notifications - seems like everyone swears by them for reducing the anxiety of constantly checking your balance!