UPDATE: I used Claimyr this morning and got through to an agent in about 25 minutes! You guys were right - it was an ID verification issue combined with them waiting for info from my previous employer. The agent was able to see that they had sent a request to my employer who never responded, and since it was past the deadline, she manually approved my claim! She said I should see all my back payments within 3 business days. THANK YOU all for your help - I was seriously about to have a breakdown over this.

Just wanted to share my experience since I went through something similar recently! I had the "effective days: 0" issue for about 5 weeks and it turned out to be a combination of ID verification AND a missing wage verification from one of my previous employers. What really helped me was keeping detailed notes every time I tried to call - writing down dates, times, and what the busy signal sounded like (sounds weird but the phone system has different busy signals for different queue statuses). I finally got through during lunch hour on a Wednesday and the agent was super helpful. She explained that sometimes the system gets "stuck" waiting for employer responses even when they're past deadline. My advice: definitely keep certifying weekly no matter what, and if you do get through to someone, ask them to walk through your entire claim step by step to identify ALL potential holds, not just the obvious ones. Good luck everyone dealing with this - the system is definitely overwhelmed right now but there are people on the other end who genuinely want to help once you can reach them!

To clarify the timeline: File your claim immediately (can be done online). You'll have a one-week waiting period that's unpaid. If your employer contests, it goes to adjudication which can take 2-6 weeks. If approved after adjudication, you get backpay for all eligible weeks. The sooner you file, the sooner the clock starts ticking.

Just went through this exact situation 3 months ago. File immediately - don't wait! The one-week waiting period Maxwell mentioned is accurate, but it only starts counting once you file. If your employer contests (which they probably will since you were fired), be prepared to explain your side during the adjudication process. The fact that you complained about safety issues before being fired could actually work in your favor - that might be considered retaliation rather than legitimate performance-based termination. Keep all documentation about those safety complaints. In the meantime, start job searching actively because you'll need to prove you're looking for work to keep getting benefits.

I'm really sorry you're going through this - dealing with a toxic manager is incredibly draining and those daily stress headaches are your body telling you this situation is seriously impacting your health. You absolutely deserve to explore your options for unemployment benefits given that you've been contributing to the system for 2 years. While it's true that voluntary resignations typically don't qualify for benefits, New York does recognize "constructive dismissal" situations where working conditions become so unreasonable that any rational person would quit. The key is building a solid case that shows "good cause" for your resignation. Here's what I'd recommend doing immediately: Start documenting everything - keep a detailed log of every incident with dates, times, witnesses, and specific examples of the toxic behavior. Screenshot or print any problematic emails. Most importantly, see a doctor about those stress headaches and be explicit that they're work-related - having medical documentation linking your physical symptoms to workplace stress can be crucial evidence for your claim. Consider calling NYS Department of Labor before you quit to discuss your specific situation, and look into whether your manager's behavior violates any company policies in your employee handbook. Even filing HR complaints (though they probably won't help) creates a paper trail showing you tried to resolve things internally. Your mental and physical health are worth more than any job. With proper documentation and the right approach, many people do successfully get benefits after initially being denied through the appeals process. You've earned those benefits - don't let them push you out without exploring all your options first.

I've been through almost the exact same situation and want to share what worked for me. After months of toxic management and developing physical symptoms (migraines, insomnia, anxiety), I finally quit and successfully got unemployment benefits through the appeals process. Here's what I wish someone had told me from the start: Document EVERYTHING immediately - I kept a detailed journal with dates, times, specific incidents, and how they affected me physically/emotionally. Screenshot problematic emails and texts. Most importantly, see a doctor about those stress headaches RIGHT NOW and explicitly connect them to work stress. That medical documentation was crucial for my case. Before quitting, I called the NYS DOL worker hotline (1-888-469-7365) to understand my options. They explained that "constructive dismissal" situations can qualify for benefits if you can prove any reasonable person would have quit under those circumstances. I also filed complaints with HR first (even though they didn't help) to show I tried internal channels. When I applied for benefits, I was initially denied but won on appeal. The key was using specific language in my resignation letter - instead of "personal reasons," I wrote that I was resigning due to "ongoing workplace conditions that created an untenable work environment, including repeated harassment and conditions that adversely affected my health." The appeals process took about 2 months but was absolutely worth it. Don't let them push you out without fighting for benefits you've earned through 2 years of contributions. Your health matters more than any job, and you have more options than you might think. Start documenting now while incidents are fresh, get medical documentation, and know your rights!

The whole NYS Department of Labor system is so confusing! They make you jump through hoops just to find out basic information about your own benefits. Why can't they just have a simple calculator that actually works?

Based on $700 weekly for 8 months, you're probably looking at somewhere between $250-350 per week, but that's just a rough guess. The actual amount depends on exactly when you worked, what quarters those wages fall into, and whether you had any other jobs during your base period. You really need to file the claim to get the exact calculation.

One thing to keep in mind is that if you do end up needing to file for unemployment, don't wait! You should file as soon as possible after becoming unemployed because there's typically a one-week waiting period before benefits begin, and benefits are only paid from the date you file your claim (not retroactively to when you lost your job). Also, since you mentioned you've been at your current job for 8 months, make sure you have all your wage information ready - pay stubs, W-2s, etc. The Department of Labor will verify your earnings with your employer, but having your own records can help speed up the process if there are any discrepancies.

Just to add some clarity on the base period calculation that others mentioned - since you started working in May last year and it's now late May, your base period would likely include Q2 2024 (April-June), Q3 2024 (July-September), Q4 2024 (October-December), and Q1 2025 (January-March). So you'd have earnings from about 6-7 months in your base period if you filed now. The key is that your highest quarter earnings get divided by 26 to determine your weekly benefit rate, with a minimum of $104/week and maximum of $504/week in NY. Given your consistent $600/week earnings, you're looking at roughly $300-320/week as others estimated.