I'm dealing with the exact same frustrations right now! Been waiting 4 weeks with my claim stuck in pending status and the phone system is absolutely useless. What's really getting to me is how unclear everything is - like I had no idea there were specific work search logging requirements beyond just applying to jobs. The whole system feels like it was designed to discourage people from actually getting benefits. Has anyone found a reliable way to get status updates without having to spend entire days on hold?

I'm going through the exact same nightmare right now - filed 5 weeks ago and still stuck on pending with zero communication from NYS DOL about what's causing the delay. The most frustrating part is how the system gives you no real information about what's happening behind the scenes. I've tried calling dozens of times but like everyone else, I just get disconnected after hours of waiting. Starting to wonder if there's some magic trick to actually getting through to a human being who can explain what documents they need or what's holding up the process. At this point I'm considering reaching out to my local representatives because this can't be how the system is supposed to work.

also if you have any kind of severance pay or vacation payout that might delay when you can start collecting. learned that the hard way

One thing I'd add is that if you're collecting any kind of pension or retirement benefits, that can also affect your unemployment eligibility or reduce your weekly benefit amount. NYS Department of Labor will offset your UI benefits if you're getting a pension from a base period employer. Also, if you're self-employed or doing gig work while collecting, you need to report ALL earnings - even small amounts can trigger overpayment issues if not reported properly. The key is being completely transparent about your work situation when you file.

This thread has been so helpful! I'm in a similar situation where my hours at a retail store got cut from 32 to about 15 hours per week. Reading about the 25% earnings deduction formula really clarifies things - I was worried that working any hours would completely cancel out unemployment benefits. It sounds like it's definitely worth applying since I'm working less than 4 days now. One question though - if my schedule is inconsistent week to week (sometimes 12 hours, sometimes 20), do I just report whatever I actually earned that specific week when I file my weekly claim? And does anyone know if there's a minimum number of hours you need to have worked before the reduction to qualify for partial benefits?

One thing I haven't seen mentioned yet is the waiting week requirement. In NY, you typically have to serve one unpaid waiting week before benefits start, but this applies to partial unemployment too. So even if you get approved quickly, your first week of benefits will be unpaid. Also, make sure you file your claim as soon as your hours get reduced - you can't backdate partial unemployment claims like you sometimes can with regular unemployment. I learned this the hard way when I waited a month thinking my hours might go back up. Lost out on several weeks of potential benefits because I didn't file right away when the reduction happened.

Just wanted to add that I had a similar issue last month after the system update. What worked for me was actually logging out of ALL NY.gov services first (including any other state services you might be logged into), then clearing my browser completely, and THEN doing the password reset. Apparently the system sometimes gets confused if you're logged into multiple NY.gov services at once. Also, make sure you're not using any browser extensions that auto-fill passwords - those can sometimes conflict with the new security system. Hope this helps someone else avoid the frustration!

Had the exact same issue two days ago! Super frustrating when you know your login is correct but the system keeps rejecting it. What finally worked for me was doing a complete browser reset - cleared all cookies, cache, saved passwords, everything. Then I went to the NY.gov ID site (not the unemployment site directly) and did a fresh password reset from there. Apparently the February update changed how the authentication works between NY.gov ID and the unemployment portal, so sometimes they get out of sync. Also make sure you're using the updated URL that someone mentioned earlier. The whole process took about 30 minutes but now everything works perfectly. Really wish they'd sent out better communication about these changes ahead of time!

I'm going through this exact same thing right now! Just started collecting unemployment last week and the uncertainty about payment timing is driving me crazy. Reading all these responses is actually really reassuring - it sounds like the 2-3 business day window after "payment released" is pretty standard. I'm definitely going to try that tip about setting up bank notifications and keeping track of the pattern. It's so helpful to know that everyone goes through this anxiety in the beginning and that it gets easier once you learn how your specific bank handles the deposits. Thanks for posting this question because I was too embarrassed to ask!

I'm new to unemployment benefits and this whole thread has been incredibly helpful! I just filed my first claim last week and I'm already anxious about the payment timing. It's such a relief to see that everyone experiences this same stress in the beginning. The tips about setting up bank notifications and tracking the pattern in a phone note are brilliant - I'm definitely going to do both of those things. I had no idea that different banks process ACH deposits at different times, which explains why my friend gets hers earlier than expected while I'm still waiting. Thanks to everyone for sharing their experiences and making this less scary for those of us just starting out with the NYS Department of Labor system!