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I filed my NY unemployment claim about 10 days ago after being laid off from my manufacturing job, so I'm right there with you Summer! Based on everything I've read here and my own research, it seems like most straightforward claims are processed within that 7-14 day window everyone keeps mentioning. One thing I've been doing that's helped my anxiety is setting specific check-in times rather than constantly refreshing my account. I check once in the morning around 8 AM and once in the evening around 6 PM. It keeps me informed without driving myself crazy with constant monitoring. I also wanted to echo what others have said about being proactive with your landlord. I had that conversation yesterday and was surprised how understanding mine was - apparently unemployment delays are pretty common and most landlords have dealt with this before. Having that conversation early definitely reduced my stress level. The weekly certification thing seems to be the golden rule everyone agrees on, so I've been treating that like a sacred appointment every Sunday morning. From what I understand, missing even one week can really complicate things later. Hoping we both hear good news soon! This community has been incredibly helpful for navigating all of this. Keep us posted on how things go!
Hey Heather! It's so reassuring to connect with someone else who's in almost the exact same timeline as me - you're just a few days ahead which is perfect for comparison. I love your approach of setting specific check-in times rather than obsessively refreshing. I've definitely been guilty of checking my account way too often and it's just making me more anxious. Going to try your morning and evening schedule starting tomorrow. You're absolutely right about the landlord conversation - I finally called mine this afternoon after reading all the advice here, and you're right that they were much more understanding than I expected! Turns out they've had several tenants go through unemployment delays over the past few years, so they know the drill. Such a relief to have that stress off my shoulders. And yes, weekly certification seems to be the one thing literally everyone agrees is crucial. I've got my Sunday morning alarm set and I'm treating it like the most important appointment of my week! Really hoping we both get good news in the next few days since you're at day 10. Please keep us updated on how your claim progresses - it would be so helpful to have someone just ahead of me sharing their experience in real time!
I just wanted to jump in here as someone who went through this exact same anxiety just a few months ago. Filed my NY unemployment claim in December after getting laid off from my office job, and I was absolutely panicking about the timeline too. My experience was right in that 7-14 day range everyone's mentioning - took exactly 13 days from filing to first payment. The key things that helped me: 1. Keep doing those weekly certifications religiously - this seems to be the #1 most important thing 2. Check your online account daily but try not to obsess (easier said than done, I know!) 3. Make sure you're checking the Messages section, not just payment status 4. Have backup plans ready - I talked to my landlord early, signed up for food assistance, and looked into utility payment deferrals The waiting is honestly the worst part, but it sounds like you're doing everything right. Your situation (3 years same employer, straightforward layoff) should process pretty smoothly. One thing that really helped my peace of mind was remembering that when it does come through, you'll get backpay for all the weeks you've been certifying. So even though the wait is stressful, you're not actually losing money - just having to wait longer to access it. Hang in there! Based on what you've described, I'd be surprised if you don't hear something positive within the next week or so.
Thank you so much Oliver! Your timeline of 13 days is really reassuring, and I appreciate you breaking down the key things that helped you. It's so validating to hear from someone who went through this exact same anxiety just a few months ago - sometimes it feels like I'm the only one who's ever been this stressed about waiting for unemployment! I'm definitely taking your advice about having backup plans ready. I've already talked to my landlord (thanks to all the encouragement here), and I'm planning to look into food assistance and utility deferrals this week. You're absolutely right that having those safety nets in place gives so much peace of mind. The reminder about backpay is really helpful too. I keep forgetting that I'm not actually losing money, just having to wait to access it. That mental shift makes the waiting feel less catastrophic. Based on your timeline and everyone else's experiences here, I'm cautiously optimistic I'll hear something in the next few days since I'm coming up on day 4. This whole community has been incredible for managing the anxiety of this process. Thank you for taking the time to share your experience!
If you're having trouble getting through to NYS Department of Labor to check your wage history or get questions answered about your potential benefit amount, I used a service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that helped me actually reach a live agent. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI showing how it works. Was worth it for me since I couldn't get through on my own after trying for days.
One more thing to consider - if you do get laid off, file your claim immediately even if you're getting severance pay. The waiting period starts from when you file, not when the severance runs out. I made the mistake of waiting until my severance ended and lost out on a week of benefits because of the mandatory waiting week. Also, severance typically won't affect your eligibility as long as you're genuinely unemployed and available for work.
That's really helpful advice about filing immediately! I didn't know about the waiting period starting from when you file rather than when you're actually without income. So even if I'm getting severance for a few weeks, I should still file right away? And there's still a mandatory waiting week even in 2025?
Just make sure Florida actually participates in the interstate program. Most states do but there can be weird exceptions or temporary suspensions.
Good point! @Paolo Ricci do you know where I can verify that Florida participates? I want to double-check before we finalize our moving plans.
Florida definitely participates in the Interstate Benefit Payment Plan! I went through this exact process when I moved from NY to Tampa last year. The key is calling NYS Department of Labor's interstate unit directly at (518) 457-2635 - they handle all out-of-state transfers. You'll need to file a change of address with NY and register with Florida's CONNECT system for job search compliance. Start this process at least 2-3 weeks before your move to avoid any payment delays. Your $420 weekly benefit amount should continue unchanged since NY remains your paying state.
This is super helpful! @Dylan Campbell Thank you for sharing that direct phone number - that s'exactly what I needed. I m'going to call them tomorrow morning to get the process started. Did you have to provide any specific documentation when you filed the change of address with NY? And how long did it take for Florida s'CONNECT system to approve your registration?
I'm currently facing this exact situation too! Just submitted my unemployment application three days ago and received an unexpected job offer this afternoon. Reading through everyone's experiences here has been incredibly reassuring - it's clear that calling NYS Department of Labor directly to officially withdraw the claim is the right approach. Based on all the detailed advice shared, I'm planning to call first thing tomorrow morning at 8:00 AM with my SSN, application confirmation number, and submission date ready. It's so helpful to know that the agents are understanding about these situations and that properly withdrawing won't affect future applications. The persistence with redialing seems to be key, but knowing it typically only takes 5-10 minutes once connected makes it totally worth the effort. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences - this thread is exactly what I needed to feel confident about handling this properly!
That's such great timing with your job offer! You're definitely taking the smart approach by planning to call tomorrow morning with all your info ready. Based on everyone's experiences shared here, it really does seem like the 8 AM calling strategy with persistence on the redials is the way to go. It's so reassuring to see how many people have successfully handled this exact situation recently - makes it clear this is totally routine for the NYS Department of Labor agents. The fact that it's typically resolved in under 10 minutes once you get through, plus you get both a confirmation number and email verification, should give you complete peace of mind. Good luck with your call tomorrow and congratulations on the job offer! Would be great to hear how it goes if you end up updating us.
I literally just went through this exact same process this morning! Applied for unemployment benefits on Monday, got a job offer yesterday, and called NYS Department of Labor at 8:00 AM today to withdraw my application. It took about 20 redials to get through, but once I connected with an agent, the whole process was super smooth and only took about 5 minutes. They asked for my SSN, full name, and application date, then immediately processed the withdrawal and gave me a confirmation number. The agent was really professional and mentioned that they actually appreciate when people call to properly withdraw claims they don't need since it helps them manage their workload better. I also got an email confirmation a couple hours later which was great for my records. Definitely call as soon as possible rather than just ignoring it - the agents handle these requests all the time and there are zero penalties. Have your info ready and be persistent with the redialing at 8 AM! Congrats on finding work so quickly - what an awesome problem to have!
Wow, this is so timely! I'm literally in the exact same situation right now - just submitted my application yesterday and have a promising job lead that might turn into an offer. Reading your experience from this morning is incredibly reassuring, especially knowing the whole process only took 5 minutes once you got through. The 20 redials doesn't sound too bad compared to some other experiences shared here. I love that you mentioned the agent actually appreciating these calls - that really takes the anxiety out of making it. The email confirmation afterwards is such a nice touch for peace of mind. If my job lead pans out, I'm definitely following your exact approach - calling at 8 AM with all my info ready and being persistent with the redialing. Thanks for sharing such a fresh, real-time experience!
Noah Torres
I moved from Syracuse to Florida while collecting NYS unemployment about 8 months ago and everything worked out fine! The process was pretty straightforward - I updated my address in the my.ny.gov system right before I moved and made sure to answer all the weekly certification questions honestly. The key thing that helped me was keeping really detailed records of my job search activities in Florida. I used a simple spreadsheet with columns for company name, position, date applied, and method of application. NYS never actually asked to see it, but having that documentation gave me peace of mind. One tip - make sure you can still access your NY.gov account from your new state, sometimes there can be weird technical glitches with state websites when you're accessing from out of state. I also kept my NY phone number for the first few months just to avoid any potential communication issues. The benefits continued without any problems as long as I kept certifying weekly and showing I was actively looking for work. Moving while on unemployment is totally normal and legal - don't let it stress you out too much!
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Amara Oluwaseyi
•@Noah Torres This is so helpful, thank you! I m'about to make the same move and your spreadsheet idea is brilliant. I ve'been keeping loose track of my applications but nothing that organized. Quick question - when you say you kept your NY phone number for a few months, did you eventually change it or are you still using it? I m'wondering if there are any advantages to keeping the NY number long-term versus switching to a local number right away. Also, did you have to register with Florida s'job services or anything like that, or was it purely just continuing with NYS requirements?
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Ava Thompson
I actually went through this exact situation about a year ago when I moved from Manhattan to Boston while collecting unemployment benefits! You can definitely continue receiving NYS unemployment while living in Pennsylvania - it's completely legal and more common than you might think. The most important thing is to update your address in your my.ny.gov account immediately when you move. During your weekly certifications, just be honest about your location and continue demonstrating that you're actively seeking work in the Philadelphia area. Keep detailed records of your job applications there since NYS may ask for documentation of your job search activities. I never had any issues with the process, and my benefits continued smoothly as long as I met all the usual requirements. One small tip - I'd recommend keeping your current phone number for at least the first month or two to avoid any potential communication hiccups with NYS Department of Labor. The move itself won't disqualify you from benefits, so don't worry too much about it! Good luck with the relocation and job search in Philly!
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Harper Thompson
•@Ava Thompson Thanks for sharing your experience! I m'curious about the phone number tip you mentioned - did you run into any specific issues when you eventually switched to a Boston number, or was it just a precautionary measure? I m'trying to decide whether to get a Philadelphia number right away or wait a bit. Also, when you were job searching in Boston, did NYS have any requirements about the types of positions you applied for or was it pretty flexible as long as you were actively looking?
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