I've been dealing with this for months now and honestly the timing is all over the place. Sometimes it updates at 7:30am sharp, other times I'm checking until like 3pm. What I've noticed is that if you file late Sunday night it might not process until later Monday. Also check your bank account directly - sometimes the money hits before the website even updates the status. The whole system needs a major overhaul tbh 🙄

The inconsistency is so frustrating! I've been collecting for about 6 months and there's literally no pattern. Some weeks it updates at 7:45am, other weeks I'm sitting there refreshing until 2pm wondering if something went wrong. What helps my sanity is setting a reminder to check at noon instead of obsessing over it all morning. If it's not updated by then, I know to expect it later in the day. The system definitely wasn't built with our stress levels in mind 😤

The general rule is file the day after your last day of work or as soon as you know you'll be unemployed. For layoffs with advance notice, you can sometimes file before your last day if you have a specific end date. But in most cases like yours where you're already separated, file immediately. The my.ny.gov system will walk you through everything step by step.

I went through this exact same confusion when I lost my job last year! The key thing to remember is that your benefit year starts from when you file, not when you became unemployed. Since you're already 5 days past your last work day, definitely file today - don't wait any longer. I made the mistake of overthinking it and lost a whole week of potential benefits. The online system at my.ny.gov is actually pretty straightforward once you get started. Just have your Social Security number, driver's license, and employment history ready. The sooner you file, the sooner your waiting week starts counting down. Good luck!

I went through this exact same situation about 8 months ago! Had a main job at a publishing company and was doing some weekend work at a coffee shop that I quit in February because the early morning shifts were exhausting me before my regular workday. Then got laid off from my main job in June due to company downsizing. The wording on those questions definitely confused me too, but here's what I learned after successfully getting through the process: Answer NO to question 1 since you didn't lose ALL employment due to lack of work (you voluntarily quit the part-time job), then YES to question 1a since your main job definitely paid more than $5040. I was super worried that quitting the coffee shop job would hurt my claim, but it had zero impact on my eligibility. During my phone interview, they asked about both jobs - I explained that I left the coffee shop due to schedule conflicts and was laid off from my main job due to budget cuts. Since my primary income source was clearly lost through no fault of my own, I got approved and started receiving benefits after the waiting week. The whole process took about 2-3 weeks from application to first payment. Just be completely honest about your work history and remember that they're really focused on whether your main source of income was lost involuntarily. You should be totally fine - don't stress too much about it!

I went through this exact situation about 10 months ago! Had a main job at a healthcare clinic and was doing some evening dog walking that I quit in January because it was getting too physically demanding after long workdays. Then got laid off from my clinic job in May due to staffing cuts. The question wording is really confusing, but after successfully completing the whole process, here's what worked for me: Answer NO to question 1 since you didn't lose ALL employment due to lack of work (you voluntarily quit the part-time job), then YES to question 1a since your main job definitely paid more than $5040. I was really nervous about this too because I thought quitting the dog walking would somehow affect my eligibility, but it had absolutely no impact on my claim. During my phone interview, they asked about both positions - I explained that I stopped the dog walking due to physical strain and was laid off from my clinic job due to budget reductions. Since my primary income source was clearly lost through no fault of my own, I got approved without any issues. The whole process took about 2-3 weeks from application to first payment. Just be honest about your work history and focus on the fact that your main source of income was lost involuntarily. The system really is designed to identify whether your primary income was lost through no fault of your own - you should be good to go!

The NYS Department of Labor phone lines are impossible to get through to ask questions like this. I've been trying for days to speak with someone about my specific situation. Has anyone had luck actually reaching an agent recently?

just apply and see what happens. worst they can say is no right?

ugh the whole system is so frustrating!! they make it impossible to get benefits even when you legitimately need them. i know people who got denied for the stupidest reasons

Before you quit, definitely document everything you can about the toxic behavior - save any inappropriate emails, texts, or messages from your manager. Write down dates, times, and details of incidents with witnesses present if possible. Also check if your company has an employee handbook that outlines policies about workplace conduct - violations of their own policies can strengthen your case for "good cause" if you do end up quitting. The key is showing you tried to resolve it through proper channels first and that the situation was genuinely intolerable.