Filed NY unemployment claim showing $0 benefit amount - normal while "application is being processed"?

Yeah this is totally normal. Everyone gets that $0 message at first while they process ur claim. It took about 3 weeks for mine to update with the real amount. Just gotta wait it out, frustrating I know.

After dealing with this same issue, I found the best solution was using claimyr.com to get an actual person on the phone. Talking to a live agent got my benefits calculated correctly within days instead of weeks of silence. Best decision I made - they call, wait on hold, then connect you directly to a rep. Check out their process here: https://youtu.be/Rdqa1gKtxuE

The $0 thing is just how the system works when theyre still processing. But 104 days remaining is weird. Should be 104 EFFECTIVE DAYS which equals 26 weeks (4 effective days per week). The system is so confusing.

I had literally the exact same issue in October. My claim was pending for like 2 months because they needed to verify my identity but NEVER TOLD ME. They eventually emailed me asking for documents. Check your email spam folder and keep an eye out for any mail from them.

This is EXACTLY why the NY unemployment system is trash 🗑️ They dont explain anything clearly and everyone gets confused. And good luck getting anyone on the phone to explain it! The message basically means they haven't finished processing your claim yet. You'll get a determination letter with your real benefit amount eventually.

Did you upload all your required documents? I got stuck at $0 because they needed additional proof of income but the system never notified me properly. Log into your account and check if there's anything in the 'Uploaded Documents' section that shows as missing or incomplete.

I'm actually a former UI claims examiner (not in NY tho). The $0 means they haven't calculated your monetary eligibility yet. They need to verify your wages from all employers in your base period. If any employers don't respond quickly or if there's any discrepancy in your work history, it can delay things. This is totally normal during initial processing.

I almost lost my mind dealing with that exact message! I finally got it resolved by using claimyr.com - they got me connected to an actual person who fixed everything in one call. Before that I was calling nonstop for weeks with no luck.

I've been through the NY unemployment system 3 times in the last few years and this happens EVERY. SINGLE. TIME. The system initially shows $0 while they process. Keep certifying weekly and eventually (usually 2-4 weeks) it will update with your correct amount and pay you retroactively for all certified weeks.

THE MOST IMPORTANT ADVICE: Keep certifying weekly no matter what!!!! Even with the $0 showing. Once your claim gets processed, they'll pay you for all those weeks at once. If you skip certifying, you lose those weeks forever.

Have you checked your mail? They often send determination letters through regular postal mail rather than electronically. I never got an email but got a letter 10 days after filing with my benefit amount.

Honestly my friend had this issue and what worked for her was calling her state representative's office. They have connections at the unemployment office and can sometimes get things moving faster. Worth a try if you're stuck for more than a couple weeks!

Here's what you need to know about the ny unemployment $0 benefit situation: First - this is completely normal during initial processing. Your claim is in the system but hasn't been fully reviewed yet. Second - KEEP CERTIFYING WEEKLY! This is critical. Even though it shows $0, you need to certify every week you're unemployed. Once approved, you'll get retroactive payments. Third - The system is overwhelmed right now. Average processing time is 3-4 weeks, but can take up to 8 weeks in some cases. Fourth - If you need to speak with someone (which can dramatically speed things up), your best option is claimyr.com - they'll wait on hold and connect you directly to an agent when one is available. I was stuck for weeks until I used their service. Fifth - Check both your email AND physical mail daily. They sometimes send important notices requiring response via mail only. Sixth - Make sure you've uploaded all required documentation. Login to your account and verify nothing is missing. Hang in there - the system is frustrating but it does eventually work!

Check if you qualify for partial benefits while they process your claim. If you've been working reduced hours or have any part-time work, you might be eligible for something in the meantime.

LMAO everyone here acting like this is normal... its NORMAL for the NY unemployment system which is COMPLETELY BROKEN. In what world should people have to wait weeks or months for benefits they need immediately? The whole system needs to be thrown in the garbage 🗑️

It could also mean you might not qualify based on your wages in the base period. Did you work enough quarters in the past 18 months to qualify?

I swear I must be the only person who had a smooth experience with NY unemployment 😂 Filed on a Monday, got my determination by Friday, payment the following week. Either I got insanely lucky or the system works better for some people than others.

Just went through this exact same thing last month! The $0 showing is completely normal - it's just the system's way of saying "we're still working on it." Mine took about 2.5 weeks to update with the actual benefit amount, then I got all the backpay at once for the weeks I had certified. The key things: 1) Keep certifying every single week even though it shows $0, 2) Check your messages in the online portal daily - they might request additional documents, 3) Don't panic about the $0 amount, it will update once they finish processing. Since you already found the message asking for pay stubs in your portal, you're on the right track! Upload those ASAP and you should see movement within a week or two after they receive them.

I went through this exact same situation last year and it was so stressful! The $0 showing is definitely normal during processing - it's basically the system's placeholder while they verify everything. What helped me was creating a simple checklist to stay on top of things: - Certify weekly (even with $0 showing) ✓ - Check online portal messages daily ✓ - Check email AND physical mail ✓ - Keep records of everything ✓ It took about 3 weeks for my actual benefit amount to show up, then I got a nice chunk of backpay for all the weeks I had certified. The waiting is the worst part but you're doing everything right by staying proactive and checking your messages. Once you upload those pay stubs they requested, things should move much faster! Hang in there - you've got this! 💪

I'm going through this exact same thing right now! Filed my claim last week and seeing the same $0 amounts across the board. It's so nerve-wracking when you're counting on these benefits to pay rent and bills. Reading through everyone's responses here is actually really reassuring though - sounds like this is just how their system works during processing. I've been religiously checking my email and the online portal every day, and I'm definitely going to keep certifying weekly even with the $0 showing. Has anyone had experience with how long it takes after you submit the requested documents? I just uploaded my tax forms yesterday after finding a message in my portal (thanks to whoever mentioned checking there!). Hoping it speeds things up from here 🤞 The NY unemployment system really needs a complete overhaul - the lack of clear communication about what's happening during processing just creates so much unnecessary anxiety for people who are already stressed about being unemployed.

I just went through this exact same situation a few months ago and I totally understand the anxiety! The $0 showing is completely normal - it's basically the system's way of saying "we're still crunching the numbers." What really helped me was setting up a routine: I'd check my online portal every morning with my coffee, certify religiously every Sunday (set a phone alarm!), and kept a simple folder with copies of all documents I submitted. The good news is that you already found the message requesting pay stubs - that's actually a positive sign that they're actively working on your claim! Most people miss those portal messages entirely. Once I submitted my requested documents, my benefit amount updated within about 10 days, and then I got a nice backpay deposit for all the weeks I had certified. The waiting is absolutely brutal when you're stressed about finances, but you're doing everything right. Keep certifying weekly no matter what - that backpay will be a lifesaver once it comes through. You've got this! 💪

Hey Dmitry! I just went through this exact same situation about 6 weeks ago and I completely understand the stress you're feeling right now. That $0 showing up everywhere is honestly terrifying when you're depending on those benefits! But I can confirm what everyone else is saying - this is totally normal during the initial processing phase. The system basically shows $0 as a placeholder while they're verifying your employment history and calculating your actual benefit amount. Since you already found that message in your portal asking for pay stubs, you're actually ahead of the game! A lot of people miss those entirely. I'd recommend uploading those documents ASAP if you haven't already - in my experience, things moved much faster once I submitted what they requested. A few things that helped me stay sane during the wait: - Set a weekly phone reminder to certify (mine was Sunday evenings) - Check the online portal every morning but try not to obsess over it throughout the day - Keep copies of everything you submit in a folder My timeline was: filed claim → 3 weeks of $0 showing → submitted requested docs → benefit amount updated 1 week later → backpay for all certified weeks hit my account 3 days after that. The key is just staying consistent with that weekly certification even though it feels pointless with the $0. That backpay is going to be such a relief when it finally comes through! You've got this! 🙏

I went through this exact same situation about a month ago and can totally relate to that sinking feeling when you see $0 everywhere! But I promise this is completely normal during the initial processing phase. The fact that you found the message requesting pay stubs in your portal is actually a really good sign - it means they're actively working on your claim. A lot of people never check their messages and end up waiting way longer than necessary. Here's what worked for me: I uploaded the requested documents within 24 hours, and my benefit amount updated exactly 8 days later. Then I got a lump sum backpay for all 4 weeks I had been certifying during the $0 period. Pro tip: Set up a recurring phone alarm for Sunday evenings to certify weekly. Even though it feels pointless when everything shows $0, that weekly certification is what triggers your backpay once the claim gets approved. The NY unemployment system is definitely frustrating with its lack of clear communication, but it does work eventually. You're doing everything right by staying proactive and checking your messages. Hang in there! 💪

Just wanted to add my recent experience to help ease anyone's worries! I filed my NY unemployment claim about 3 weeks ago and went through this exact same $0 situation. Like everyone else has mentioned, it's completely normal during processing. What I found helpful was keeping a simple log of my weekly certifications and any documents I submitted. I also screenshotted everything just in case. My timeline was pretty typical - filed on a Tuesday, got the document request (W2s in my case) about 10 days later, submitted them the same day I saw the message, and my benefit amount updated exactly 6 days after that. The backpay was definitely worth the wait - getting 3 weeks of benefits all at once was a huge relief! One thing I'd add to all the great advice here: if you have direct deposit set up, make sure your bank info is still current in the system. I had to update mine because I'd switched banks since my last claim years ago. Stay patient everyone - the system is slow but it does work! Keep certifying weekly no matter what those zeros say! 💪

I'm going through this exact same thing right now! Just filed my claim last Monday and have been checking obsessively every day seeing those scary $0s everywhere. Finding this thread has been such a lifesaver - I was starting to think I did something wrong with my application. It's wild how the NY system just shows $0 without any explanation of what's happening. Like, would it really be that hard to add a simple status message saying "Processing - please allow 2-4 weeks" or something? Instead we all just sit here panicking thinking our claims got rejected. I haven't gotten any messages in my portal yet asking for documents, but after reading everyone's experiences here I'm going to check it religiously. Setting up that Sunday certification reminder right now too - seems like that weekly certification during the $0 period is absolutely crucial for getting that backpay later. Thanks to everyone who shared their timelines and experiences. It's so reassuring to know this is just how their broken system works and not a sign that something went wrong. The waiting game begins! 🤞

Going through this exact same situation right now! Filed my claim about 10 days ago and have been stressing about those $0s showing everywhere. This entire thread has been incredibly helpful - I had no idea this was just normal processing behavior. I've been checking my portal obsessively but haven't received any document requests yet. Based on everyone's experiences here, it sounds like I should expect something in the next week or so. Already set up my Sunday certification reminder after reading all these comments - seems like that's absolutely critical even when everything shows $0. The lack of clear communication from NY's system is honestly cruel. When you're already stressed about being unemployed, seeing $0 benefits with no explanation is terrifying. They could easily add a simple "Processing - allow 2-4 weeks" message instead of leaving everyone to panic. Really grateful for everyone sharing their timelines and experiences here. Knowing that 2-4 weeks is normal and that backpay comes through makes this so much more bearable. Going to try to stop obsessing over the portal and just check once a day like some of you suggested. Thanks for the sanity check everyone! 🙏

I'm dealing with this exact same issue right now! Filed my claim about 5 days ago and seeing those $0 amounts everywhere was honestly terrifying. I was convinced I'd somehow screwed up my application or that I didn't qualify. This thread has been an absolute lifesaver - it's incredible how many of us are going through the identical experience. The NY unemployment system really needs to add some kind of status indicator explaining that claims are being processed instead of just showing $0 and leaving everyone to panic. I haven't received any document requests in my portal yet, but based on everyone's timelines here, it sounds like that's coming in the next week or two. Already set up my Sunday certification reminder after reading all these comments - seems like that weekly certification is absolutely crucial even when everything shows zero. The waiting is brutal when you're depending on these benefits, but reading everyone's success stories with getting backpay makes it feel manageable. Thanks to everyone who took the time to share their experiences and timelines - you're helping so many of us stressed newcomers understand this confusing process! 🙏

Just wanted to chime in as someone who went through this exact same nightmare about 2 months ago! Seeing that $0 benefit amount is absolutely terrifying when you're depending on those benefits to survive. I can confirm what everyone else is saying - this is completely normal during processing. My timeline was: filed claim → $0 showing for 3 weeks → got document request in portal → submitted docs within 2 days → benefit amount updated 1 week later → received massive backpay lump sum for all weeks I had certified. The most important things: 1) Keep certifying weekly no matter what (set a recurring phone alarm!), 2) Check your portal messages daily for document requests, 3) Don't panic about the $0 - it's just a placeholder while they crunch numbers. I know the waiting is brutal when bills are piling up, but based on your post it sounds like you're doing everything right. You already found the pay stub request in your portal which puts you ahead of most people! Once you submit those, things should move much faster. The NY system is absolutely terrible at communication but it does eventually work. Hang in there - that backpay is going to be such a relief when it hits! 💪