How long is waiting week for unemployment in NY - when do payments actually start?

Thanks! So I still have to do the weekly certification even for the waiting week? That seems weird if I'm not getting paid for it.

I had the same issue trying to reach NYS Department of Labor by phone. If you need to talk to an agent, I used a service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that helped me get through. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI showing how it works. Saved me hours of calling and getting hung up on.

10 days total doesn't sound too bad. I was worried it would be weeks before I saw anything.

That's really helpful context about it being a federal requirement! I didn't realize the waiting week was about verifying eligibility. Quick question - when you mention keeping records of job search activities, do you know how many job contacts NYS Department of Labor typically requires per week? I want to make sure I'm meeting their requirements from the start.

That's way too long - something is definitely wrong with your claim. After approval, payments usually start within 1-2 weeks max. You need to call NYS Department of Labor ASAP or log into your online account to see if there are any issues holding up your payments. Sometimes there are additional verification steps or pending issues that aren't obvious. Don't wait any longer with bills coming due - be persistent about getting answers from them.

@Gilberto Cabrera That delay is definitely not normal - I agree with @Lucas Lindsey that you need to get on this right away. When you log into your NY.gov account, check if there are any pending issues "or if" they re requesting'additional documentation. Sometimes they need identity verification, wage verification, or other paperwork before releasing payments. Also check if your direct deposit info is set up correctly - I ve seen'people wait weeks only to find out their bank info was wrong. If you can t get'through by phone, try the live chat feature on the NYS Department of Labor website during off-peak hours early morning (works best for me . )

@Keisha Thompson That s'such a great tip about showing the approval letter to landlords and utility companies! I never thought about that but it makes total sense - at least it shows you have something coming in. I m'definitely going to try that approach if my rent situation gets tight. Quick question though - do you know if the weekly certification filing window is the same for everyone, or does it depend on when you first filed? I want to make sure I don t'accidentally miss my window like you almost did.

@AaliyahAli The filing window depends on your last name! NYS Department of Labor assigns specific days based on the first letter of your last name. If your last name starts A-F you file Sunday, G-N file Monday, O-Z file Tuesday. But you can actually file on your assigned day OR any day after that during the same week - you just can't file early. So if you're supposed to file Monday but miss it, you can still file Tuesday or Wednesday of that same week. Just don't wait too long or you might miss the cutoff for that week entirely. You can check your exact schedule in your online account under the weekly certification section.

@StarSurfer Thanks for that detailed breakdown! The Sunday start date clarification is really helpful - I was also confused about whether it started from my actual filing date or not. That emergency assistance tip is gold too - I had no idea counties offered temporary rent help while waiting for unemployment. Do you happen to remember which counties you found that offer this? I'm in Nassau County and could really use that info. Also, when you called NYS Department of Labor, what time of day did you have the best luck getting through? I've been trying for days but keep getting disconnected or put on eternal hold.

@Lydia Bailey I m'not StarSurfer but I can help with the Nassau County question! Nassau County does have emergency assistance through their Department of Social Services - they offer temporary assistance for rent and utilities while you re'waiting for other benefits. You can call them at 516 (227-8000) or visit their office in Uniondale. Suffolk County has similar programs too if anyone reading this is out there. As for calling NYS Department of Labor, I ve'had the best luck calling right at 8 AM when they open, or surprisingly late in the day around 4:30 PM. Avoid calling on Mondays at all costs - everyone calls then after the weekend. Also try the online chat feature first thing in the morning, sometimes it s'faster than the phone lines.

@Zara Khan This is super helpful, thanks for sharing your timeline! I m'still in my waiting week right now and the direct deposit tip is clutch - I was wondering whether to wait for the debit card or set that up. Quick question about the screenshot advice - do you know if there s'a way to download or print those records from the NY.gov portal? I want to keep good records but screenshots feel like they might not be official enough if I ever need to prove something to NYS Department of Labor later on. Also, when you say your waiting week included the Sunday before you filed, does that mean if someone files early in the week like (Monday/Tuesday their) waiting week is actually shorter in real time?

@Jake Sinclair Great question about the real-time waiting period! You re'right that filing early in the week can make it feel shorter. If you file on a Monday, your waiting week still runs Sunday-Saturday, so you re'only waiting about 6 days instead of a full week from your filing date. As for downloading records, you can actually print directly from the NY.gov portal - just use your browser s'print function and save as PDF. I do both screenshots AND PDF saves to be extra safe. The PDF versions look more official and have the NY.gov header, which is helpful if you need documentation later. Also wanted to add that direct deposit typically processes 1-2 business days faster than the debit card, and you don t'have to worry about the card getting lost in the mail happened (to my neighbor and caused a whole mess with getting a replacement .)