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.

To answer the earlier question about benefit duration - regular unemployment insurance in NY provides up to 26 weeks of benefits. However, you must be actively job searching and filing weekly claims to continue receiving benefits. You'll also need to meet the work search requirements which typically involve applying for jobs and documenting your search activities.

Just wanted to add that with your income of $600/week, you'll also want to make sure you meet the minimum earnings requirement. In NY, you need to have earned at least $2,600 in your base period AND earned at least 1.5 times your high quarter earnings in your entire base period. Since you've been working 8 months consistently, you should be fine, but it's good to double-check. Also, don't forget that unemployment benefits are taxable income, so you might want to have taxes withheld or set aside money for tax season.

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.

Update: Just submitted my claim with my home address as work location and employer's address in Boston. The system accepted it but now says "pending review" so I guess I'll have to wait and see. Thanks everyone for the help!

Good luck with your claim! I went through something similar last year with a remote job for a California company while living in Queens. The pending review took about 3 weeks for me, but it did get approved eventually. Just keep an eye on your claim status and make sure to do your weekly certifications even while it's pending - that's super important or you could lose benefits for those weeks. If it stays pending for more than a month, definitely consider calling or using one of those callback services people mentioned.

As someone who's been lurking in this community for a while but just created an account, I have to say this thread has been incredibly educational! Maxwell's complete journey from confusion to resolution is exactly what I needed to see. I'm currently in week 2 of waiting after my monetary determination letter and was starting to panic, but reading about the 5-week timeline for employer disputes gives me much more realistic expectations. What really stands out to me is how proactive everyone has been about sharing specific, actionable advice - from checking status codes to preparing documentation to using services like Claimyr when traditional methods fail. The collaborative problem-solving here is amazing. I'm definitely following the advice about gathering all my documentation now. My employer hasn't contested anything yet, but after seeing how common these disputes are, I want to be prepared. The timeline document suggestion from Ashley is brilliant - I'm creating one today while everything is still fresh. Thanks to Maxwell for sharing his complete experience and to everyone who contributed their knowledge. This thread should definitely be a reference guide for anyone dealing with unemployment claims!

This thread has been absolutely incredible to read through! As someone who just joined this community after being laid off two weeks ago, Maxwell's complete journey from that initial 3-week panic to final resolution has given me such valuable insight into what to expect. The way everyone rallied around with specific advice - from checking status codes to preparing documentation - really shows the power of community knowledge. I'm particularly grateful for all the proactive documentation tips that came out of this discussion. I had no idea about checking payment history for status codes or the importance of gathering written evidence immediately. I'm creating my timeline document today and organizing all my layoff-related emails while everything is still fresh. The realistic 5-week timeline for employer disputes is so much more helpful than just wondering why payments aren't coming. What really stands out is how the unemployment system seems deliberately confusing - getting that monetary determination letter creates false hope for quick approval when there could be hidden issues requiring investigation. Without this community's collective wisdom, I would have been completely lost navigating this process. Maxwell, thank you for sharing every step of your experience and updating us throughout. This thread should honestly be required reading for anyone starting an unemployment claim. To everyone who shared their experiences and advice - you've created an invaluable resource that's going to help so many people avoid weeks of unnecessary stress and confusion!