NY Department of Labor approved my UI claim - what's next with certification and the waiting period?

Just got an email from unemployment saying my claim can be paid now. The email started with "Thank you for your patience. We have determined that your unemployment insurance (UI) claim can now be paid." They mentioned that they previously mailed a determination letter with information about my weekly benefit rate right after I applied. The email explained that if I provided bank account information when applying, benefits will be deposited directly into that account. Otherwise, I'll receive a Conduent Way2Go debit card by mail within three weeks. They emphasized that I need to continue certifying every week between Sunday and Saturday to claim benefits. I can certify either: - Online at labor.ny.gov/signin by clicking "Unemployment Services" button, then "Certify to Claim Your Weekly Benefits Here" - Or through the automated phone service by calling 888-581-5812 They mentioned something about a waiting period and 26 weeks of benefits. Specifically, the email stated "UI benefits are currently available for 26 weeks, or 104 effective days. Before receiving benefits on a new UI claim, you must serve an unpaid waiting period that equals one full week (four days) of benefits. The waiting period extends into the next week if you work during the week you filed your claim for or if you do not serve an entire waiting period." Not sure what to do next. Do I need to wait for anything or can I start certifying right away? Also confused about the tax withholding part - the email mentioned something about reviewing my records and adjusting tax withholdings if necessary. This is from the NY Department of Labor. Has anyone gone through this process recently? What should I expect next?

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21 comments

Yuki Ito

Listen up because this is important. Your claim is approved and here's what you need to know: 1. Certify EVERY week starting this Sunday. Use labor.ny.gov/signin or call 888-581-5812 2. First week is unpaid (waiting week) 3. You get 26 weeks total 4. Set up direct deposit ASAP unless you want the debit card 5. Consider tax withholding - they take 10% federal, 2.5% state If you need help reaching someone, try claimyr.com - they'll wait on hold and connect you to an agent. Saved me hours of frustration. Don't miss any weeks certifying or you'll have problems. Good luck! 💯

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Amina Diallo

Just went through this same process last month! Few things to add that helped me: 1. Download the NY Labor app if you haven't - makes certifying way easier than the website 2. Keep screenshots of your certifications just in case there are issues later 3. If you're getting the debit card, activate it immediately when it arrives - mine got locked because I waited too long 4. The waiting week thing confused me too but basically you certify for week 1 but don't get paid, then week 2 you get paid for both weeks Also heads up - sometimes the certification system goes down Sunday mornings so try certifying later in the day if you have issues. The phone system is usually more reliable than the website. Good luck! 🍀

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Connor O'Reilly

Hey! Just wanted to chime in as someone who literally just went through this exact process last week. That approval email is your green light - you're all set to start certifying! A couple things that really helped me: - The labor.ny.gov website can be super slow on Sunday mornings, so I ended up using the phone system (888-581-5812) which was way faster - Make sure you answer all the certification questions honestly - they ask about any work you did, income earned, etc. Even if you worked just a few hours, report it - Keep track of your certification dates! I use my phone calendar to set weekly reminders The waiting week thing threw me off too but it's pretty straightforward - you certify for that first week but don't get paid for it. Think of it like a one-week "deductible" before your benefits kick in. One more thing - if you haven't already, definitely check that your address is correct in the system. My friend had issues because his mailing address was wrong and his determination letter got sent to the wrong place. You're in the home stretch now! The approval is the hardest part to get through 👍

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Miguel Ramos

Just wanted to add my experience since I went through this exact same thing about 6 months ago! That approval email is basically your "you're done with the hard part" notification - you can absolutely start certifying this upcoming Sunday. A few things that really saved me headaches: 1. The online system at labor.ny.gov works best if you clear your browser cache first. I had so many issues until someone told me this trick. 2. When you certify, they'll ask if you looked for work that week. During my claim period you had to say yes and list 3 job search activities, but I heard they might have changed the requirements recently. Just answer honestly based on what you actually did. 3. About the tax withholding - definitely think about this carefully! I opted to have taxes taken out (10% federal, 2.5% state) and was glad I did come tax season. But if you need every penny right now, you can always opt out and deal with taxes later. 4. The determination letter they mentioned should have your weekly benefit amount. Mine took about a week to arrive in the mail, but you don't need to wait for it to start certifying. You're basically at the finish line now! The approval email means all the review stuff is done and you just need to do your weekly check-ins to get paid. Congrats on getting through the worst part! 🙌

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