When can you collect unemployment benefits in NY - confused about eligibility timing
I'm really confused about when exactly you're allowed to start collecting unemployment in New York. My company laid me off two weeks ago and I filed my claim right away, but I keep hearing different things about waiting periods and when benefits actually start. Some people say there's a one week waiting period, others say you can collect immediately. My claim status just shows 'pending' and I haven't received any payments yet. Can someone explain when you're actually eligible to collect unemployment benefits? I'm getting stressed about my bills and need to know what to expect.
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Amina Diallo
In New York, you can collect unemployment benefits starting from your first week of unemployment as long as you meet the eligibility requirements. There's no waiting period like some other states have. However, your first payment might be delayed while NYS Department of Labor processes your initial claim and verifies your employment history. The 'pending' status usually means they're still reviewing your information.
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Paolo Conti
•That's helpful, thank you! So if I filed two weeks ago, I should be able to get benefits for both weeks once it's approved? Do I need to keep filing weekly claims while it's pending?
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Oliver Schulz
Yes you need to keep filing your weekly claims even while your initial claim is pending! This is super important - if you don't file weekly claims you could lose those weeks of benefits even after your claim gets approved. Log into your my.ny.gov account every week and complete your weekly certification. Make sure you're actively looking for work too since that's required.
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Natasha Kuznetsova
•wait really?? I thought you couldn't file weekly claims until your claim was approved. I've been waiting three weeks and haven't filed any weekly claims...
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Oliver Schulz
•Oh no, you should definitely start filing weekly claims ASAP! You might still be able to get those weeks if you can show good cause for the delay, but don't wait any longer. Call NYS Department of Labor to ask about backdating those weeks.
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AstroAdventurer
The timing also depends on why you lost your job. If you were laid off or your position was eliminated, you can collect right away assuming you meet the work history requirements. But if you were fired for misconduct or quit without good cause, you might be disqualified. NYS Department of Labor will investigate the reason for separation before approving benefits.
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Javier Mendoza
I had such a hard time getting through to NYS Department of Labor when my claim was stuck like this. Spent hours on hold just to get disconnected. Finally used a service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that got me connected to an actual agent in minutes. They have a video showing how it works at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI. Made such a difference being able to talk to someone who could check my claim status and explain exactly what was holding it up.
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Paolo Conti
•I've been trying to call for days with no luck. Is this service legit? I'm desperate to find out what's going on with my claim.
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Javier Mendoza
•Yeah it worked for me. They basically just help you get through the phone system faster instead of waiting on hold forever. Worth it when you need answers about your benefits.
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Emma Wilson
The whole system is so confusing!! I filed last month and still don't understand half the stuff on my account. Like what does 'monetary determination' even mean?? And why do they need so much documentation just to verify I worked somewhere?
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Amina Diallo
•Monetary determination shows how much you're eligible to receive based on your past earnings. It's calculated using your wages from the base period (usually the first 4 of the last 5 quarters). The documentation helps prevent fraud and ensures benefits go to people who actually qualify.
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Malik Davis
just keep filing every week and eventually it will go through, took mine like a month to get approved but I got all the back pay
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Emma Thompson
@Paolo Conti - I went through the exact same thing last year! The key points everyone mentioned are spot on: 1) Keep filing your weekly claims even while pending - this is crucial! 2) NY has no waiting period, so you're eligible from week 1 if approved 3) The pending status is normal while they verify everything. One thing that helped me was checking my online account regularly for any requests for additional documents - sometimes they ask for pay stubs or separation paperwork and if you miss those requests it delays everything even more. Also make sure you're documenting your job search activities because they can ask for that info during the review process. Hang in there, it's stressful but once it gets approved you should get all the back pay for the weeks you've been filing!
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Alina Rosenthal
•@Emma Thompson This is really helpful advice! I didn t'realize they might request additional documents during the review - I ve'been checking my account but maybe not frequently enough. Quick question - when you say documenting "job search activities, do" you mean keeping a list of where you applied? I ve'been applying to jobs but haven t'been keeping detailed records. Should I start doing that now even though my claim is still pending?
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