I'm in almost the exact same situation right now! Just filed for unemployment last week after getting laid off from my office job, and my former manager was really bitter about the whole thing. Made some comments about "people taking the easy way out" that have had me stressed about this notification process. But honestly, reading through everyone's experiences here has been incredibly reassuring! It sounds like even when former employers do get that automatic notification from NYS Department of Labor, most don't bother contesting legitimate layoffs - especially when you have good documentation like that text about slow sales. I have my official layoff letter that mentions "budget cuts and workforce reduction," so I'm feeling more confident now. It's frustrating that we have to worry about former employers' negative attitudes when we're already dealing with the stress of losing our jobs, but you're absolutely right that this is exactly what the unemployment system is designed for. We paid into it through our paychecks, so we shouldn't feel guilty about using it when we legitimately need it. Thanks for starting this discussion - it's really helpful to know so many others have navigated this successfully even with difficult former managers!

I'm dealing with this exact same anxiety right now! Just got laid off from my cashier position at a grocery store three days ago and filed my unemployment claim yesterday. My former manager was really frustrated during the layoff meeting and made some pointed comments about people "gaming the system" which has me really worried about how they'll react when they get that notification from NYS Department of Labor. Reading through everyone's experiences here is such a relief though - it sounds like most legitimate layoffs don't face any real pushback even when former employers are bitter about it. I have my termination letter that clearly states "position eliminated due to reduced hours and staffing cuts" so hopefully that's good enough documentation if they try to contest it. It's already stressful enough dealing with unexpected unemployment without having to worry about drama from your former employer, but I'm trying to remember what everyone said about how we paid into this system through our paychecks. Thanks to everyone for sharing your stories - it really helps knowing so many others have successfully gone through this process even with difficult managers making harsh comments!

I've been following this thread and my heart goes out to you - I was in almost the exact same situation 8 months ago when my NY benefits ran out. Single mom, two kids, worked retail for 5 years before the store closed. The panic is real and completely understandable. What saved me was attacking this from multiple angles at once instead of waiting for one perfect solution. I immediately applied for emergency assistance (SNAP, emergency rental help through my county), signed up with three different temp agencies in one week, and started doing grocery pickup shifts for Walmart on weekends. The temp work led to a permanent position after about a month - not my dream job, but steady income with benefits. One resource that really helped was contacting my local Assembly member's office - they have staff who specialize in helping constituents navigate state services and can sometimes fast-track applications or find programs you didn't know existed. Also, check if your area has any "back to work" clothing closets - having proper interview clothes made a huge difference in my confidence. The combination approach worked: temp income kept us afloat while I built toward something permanent. You're clearly a fighter and a good parent - that restaurant experience shows dedication and customer service skills that transfer everywhere. Take it one day at a time, but definitely start with the emergency assistance applications and temp agencies tomorrow. You've got this!

Reading through everyone's responses here has been incredibly helpful - this community is amazing! I wanted to add one more resource that helped me when I was transitioning off unemployment benefits last year. Check with your local WIC office even if you don't currently receive WIC benefits - they often have information about emergency food assistance and job training programs that aren't widely advertised. They also sometimes have partnerships with employers who specifically want to hire parents because they value the reliability that comes with having kids depending on you. Additionally, if you're comfortable with it, consider reaching out to your kids' school counselors or social workers. They often know about local resources for families in crisis and can sometimes connect you with other parents who've been through similar situations and found solutions. Schools also sometimes need substitute cafeteria workers or custodial help on short notice - not glamorous but it's immediate income and usually very flexible around your own kids' schedules. Your restaurant experience would be perfect for school food service. Stay strong - you're clearly a devoted parent and that determination will carry you through this!

Just wanted to add my experience - I've been on NY unemployment for about 8 months now and this kind of delay happens pretty regularly, especially after they do system updates. What I've learned is to always screenshot your certification confirmation page right after you submit it. That way you have proof with the confirmation number and timestamp if anything goes wrong. The payments have always come through for me even when the website shows delays, but having that screenshot gives me peace of mind. Also, if you use direct deposit, you can sometimes see the pending deposit in your bank account before it shows up in the NYSDOL system!

I'm going through the exact same thing! Certified yesterday and was getting really worried when I didn't see anything in my payment history this morning. I'm pretty new to the NY unemployment system so I wasn't sure if this was normal or if I had messed something up. Reading through all these comments has been incredibly helpful - sounds like their system has been having regular delays since the updates but the actual payments still go through on schedule. Really appreciate everyone sharing their experiences and tips, especially about screenshotting the confirmation page and that Claimyr service for getting through on the phone. It's reassuring to know this is a known issue and not just me doing something wrong!

My payment always hits tuesday night around 10pm during holiday weeks

@Atticus Domingo don't stress too much about it! I had the exact same thing happen to me last month during a holiday weekend. The "recorded on system" message is actually a good sign - it means your certification went through properly. Since you certified yesterday and today is the day after Palm Sunday, you're probably looking at Tuesday night or Wednesday morning for the deposit to hit your account. The DOL systems don't process payments on holidays or weekends, so there's always that 1-2 day lag. Your claim details look solid - 74 days remaining and $504 weekly is a good amount. Just keep checking your account and it should show up soon. If it doesn't appear by Thursday, that's when I'd start to worry and maybe give them a call.

It's probably because of Labor Day. Holidays often mess up their processing schedule even though they never admit it. I bet it posts by Friday.

This is so frustrating! I had a similar issue a few weeks ago where my payment just vanished into thin air after certifying. Turns out there was a "technical glitch" on their end (their words, not mine). I ended up having to call multiple times before someone could actually see what happened in their system. The first few agents I talked to basically just told me to "wait and see" but the last one actually dug deeper and found that my payment got stuck in some kind of processing queue. She was able to manually release it and I got my money within 2 days. Don't let them brush you off - keep pushing for an actual explanation of what's going on with your specific claim. And definitely document everything like others have suggested. Good luck! 🤞