When do you get unemployment benefits in NY - timing questions
I'm confused about the timing of when unemployment payments actually start. I filed my initial claim last Tuesday and did my first weekly claim certification yesterday. My account shows 'monetary determination complete' but I still don't see any payment dates or amounts. When should I expect to actually receive money? Do I need to wait for some kind of approval first? I'm really stressed about rent coming up and need to know if I should be looking for other options.
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Sean Flanagan
There's usually a one-week waiting period for new claims before your first payment. Since you just filed last week, you probably won't see your first payment until after you complete next week's certification. The money typically hits your account 2-3 business days after you certify each week, assuming there are no issues with your claim.
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Anastasia Kozlov
•Thanks! So I should expect my first payment sometime next week if everything goes smoothly? That's actually better than I thought.
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Zara Mirza
just make sure your direct deposit info is set up right in your my.ny.gov account or you'll be waiting even longer for a debit card to arrive
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NebulaNinja
The waiting week applies to your first week of unemployment, not necessarily your first week of filing. If you were employed during the week you filed, that week might not count as your waiting week. You need to have a full week where you're unemployed and available for work. Also make sure you're completing your job search requirements - 3 work search activities per week in NY or your payments can be delayed.
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Anastasia Kozlov
•Oh I didn't realize about the job search thing! I've been applying to jobs but haven't been tracking it formally. Do I need to log these somewhere?
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NebulaNinja
•Yes, you need to keep a detailed log of your work search activities. NYS Department of Labor can audit this at any time. Include company names, contact info, dates, and type of contact (online application, phone call, etc.). You don't submit it weekly but you must have it ready if requested.
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Luca Russo
ugh the whole system is so confusing! I remember waiting like 3 weeks for my first payment because nobody explained the waiting period thing properly. then when I finally got through to someone at NYS Department of Labor they acted like it was obvious
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Nia Wilson
If you're having trouble getting through to NYS Department of Labor to check on your claim status, I used this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that actually got me connected to a real person. They have this demo video (https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI) that shows how it works. Saved me hours of calling and getting disconnected. Might be worth trying if you need to verify your payment timeline or have questions about your claim.
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Mateo Sanchez
•Never heard of that but honestly anything is better than sitting on hold for 2 hours just to get hung up on
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Aisha Mahmood
The timing also depends on if there are any red flags on your claim. If NYS Department of Labor needs to verify anything about your employment or eligibility, your claim could go into adjudication which adds weeks to the process. Hopefully yours is straightforward!
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Amara Oluwaseyi
Another thing to watch out for - make sure you're certifying for benefits on the right days. In NY you can usually certify starting Sunday for the previous week, and you have until the following Saturday to do it. If you miss your certification window, you could delay your payments even more. I learned this the hard way when I forgot to certify one week and had to wait an extra week to get back on track. Set a reminder on your phone!
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