How to survive unemployment while waiting for NYS Department of Labor benefits to kick in
Lost my warehouse job 6 weeks ago and I'm struggling to figure out how to make it through this period. Filed my NYS Department of Labor claim right away but it took 3 weeks to get approved and I'm still waiting for my first payment. My savings are nearly gone and rent is due next week. I know I need to keep filing weekly claims and do the job search requirements but honestly I'm spending so much time just trying to figure out how to pay for groceries. Has anyone been through this? What did you do to get by those first few weeks before the unemployment payments started coming in? I feel like I'm drowning here.
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Mateo Martinez
The waiting period between losing your job and getting your first UI payment is brutal, but there are resources that can help bridge the gap. First, make sure you're filing your weekly claims on time even if you haven't received payment yet - any delays in filing can cause payment delays. For immediate help with food, contact 211 (dial 2-1-1) for local food pantries and emergency assistance programs. Many utility companies have hardship programs if you call and explain your situation. Also check if your county has emergency rental assistance programs. The key is being proactive about reaching out for help rather than waiting until you're completely out of money.
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Nia Davis
•Thank you, I didn't know about the 211 number. I'll call them today. Do you know if using food pantries affects my unemployment eligibility at all?
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Mateo Martinez
•No, using food pantries or other emergency assistance won't affect your unemployment benefits at all. These are completely separate programs and NYS Department of Labor doesn't track or care about that kind of assistance.
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QuantumQueen
Been there, it sucks. Few things that helped me: sold some stuff I didn't need on facebook marketplace, asked family for a small loan to cover rent (swallowed my pride), and picked up some gig work like doordash while waiting for benefits. Just make sure any work you do gets reported on your weekly claim or you'll have problems later. Also if your claim is taking forever to process, you might want to try calling NYS Department of Labor but good luck getting through.
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Nia Davis
•I've been trying to call for two weeks but can never get through. The phone system just hangs up on me after being on hold.
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Aisha Rahman
•Had the same problem with calling NYS Department of Labor. Someone on here recommended claimyr.com - it's a service that calls for you and gets you connected to an actual agent. I was skeptical but tried it and actually got through to someone in like 20 minutes. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI that shows how it works. Might be worth checking out if you really need to talk to someone.
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Ethan Wilson
omg same situation here except I'm 8 weeks in and STILL haven't gotten a payment. my claim says approved but every weekly claim gets stuck on pending. I'm living off credit cards at this point which is probably making everything worse but what else can I do?? this system is so broken
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Mateo Martinez
•If your weekly claims are stuck on pending for that long, there's definitely an issue that needs to be resolved. Usually it's an ID verification problem or they need additional documentation. You really need to speak with an agent to find out what's causing the hold-up.
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Yuki Sato
The first month is always the hardest. Churches often have emergency funds even if you're not a member, and some have job search support groups too which might help with networking. Also check your local library - many have free internet, computers for job searching, and sometimes even job placement services.
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Carmen Flores
Don't forget about SNAP benefits (food stamps) - you can apply online and if you qualify you might get benefits within a week. Also if you have kids there are additional programs available. The stress is real but you'll get through this, just take it one week at a time.
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Sophia Bennett
I went through this exact situation last year and it was terrifying. A few things that really helped me survive those first weeks: plasma donation if you're eligible (can make $50-100/week), task-based apps like TaskRabbit or Instacart for quick cash, and don't be ashamed to reach out to local mutual aid groups on Facebook - they often help with groceries and small bills no questions asked. Also, if you're behind on rent, contact your landlord immediately and explain the situation - many will work with you if you're proactive about communicating rather than just disappearing. The anxiety is overwhelming but you're doing everything right by filing your claims on time. This phase won't last forever even though it feels endless right now.
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