I'm new to this whole unemployment process and feeling pretty overwhelmed reading through all these details! One thing that's helping me is breaking it down into smaller steps. I made a simple checklist for my weekly claims: 1) Update my job search log before filing, 2) Double-check any earnings from the week (even small amounts), 3) Read each question twice before answering, and 4) Take screenshots before submitting like @Natasha mentioned. It's making the whole process feel less scary. Also just wanted to say thank you to everyone sharing their experiences - it's really reassuring to know others have figured this out and that making honest mistakes isn't the end of the world as long as you're upfront about everything with NYS Department of Labor.

I just wanted to add something that helped me when I was confused about the work search requirements - you can actually call your local One-Stop Career Center for guidance on what counts as valid job search activities. They helped me understand that things like updating your resume, taking online skills courses, or even informational interviews can count toward your 3 weekly activities. The staff there are really knowledgeable about NYS Department of Labor requirements and they're way easier to reach than the main unemployment line. For @Amina's original question about the weekly claim - the key thing that gave me confidence was realizing that the system is designed to support people who are genuinely looking for work, so as long as you're honest about your activities and earnings, you'll be fine. The $75 freelance work is actually a good sign that you're actively trying to get back on your feet, and reporting it correctly shows NYS Department of Labor that you're following the rules. Don't let the complexity scare you - thousands of people successfully file these claims every week!

I went through this exact same situation about 4 months ago and can definitely confirm you can reapply right after your benefit year ends! The key is making sure you earned enough wages during your base period (typically the first 4 of the last 5 completed quarters). Here's what helped me get through the process smoothly: • Applied online on a Tuesday morning around 8 AM - much better system stability than afternoons • Had all my employment records organized: W-2s, pay stubs, exact employment dates, and employer contact info • Created a detailed job search log with company names, positions, application dates, and any follow-up activities • Made sure to answer unknown calls during business hours - they called me about 2 weeks after applying for a brief verification interview My processing time was about 3 weeks total, and my new weekly benefit amount ended up being pretty similar to my previous claim. The verification call was straightforward - they just wanted to confirm employment dates and asked about some of my recent job applications. One important tip: keep certifying weekly even while your new application is being processed. Don't let any weeks lapse or you might have to explain gaps later. The whole system is definitely frustrating and slow, but it does work if you stay on top of it. Hang in there and keep applying for jobs in the meantime. You've got this! 💪

I'm in a very similar situation - my benefit year just ended last month and I'm still searching for work. This entire thread has been incredibly helpful and honestly a huge relief! I was really worried I'd be left without any support, but it's clear from everyone's experiences that reapplying is definitely possible. I've been taking notes on all the great advice here: • Apply early in the week (Monday/Tuesday) around 7:30-8 AM • Have all employment records organized (W-2s, pay stubs, exact dates, employer info) • Keep detailed job search documentation with company names, dates, positions • Answer unknown calls during business hours for potential verification • Continue weekly certifications during processing The $2,600 minimum wage requirement in the highest quarter that @Sean O'Brien shared is really valuable info - I need to double-check my earnings to make sure I hit that threshold. Also good to know the processing typically takes 2-4 weeks. It's so reassuring to hear from people like @Amina Diop, @Jungleboo Soletrain, and @StarSailor who just went through this successfully. Makes the whole process feel way less scary when you know others have navigated it recently. Planning to apply next Tuesday morning with all my documents ready. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences - this community support makes such a difference! 🙏

Wow, reading through this whole thread has been eye-opening! I'm about to start looking for work after finishing school and had no idea the NY unemployment system was this complicated. It's honestly pretty scary that if I ever need to file, it might take days of troubleshooting just to access the basic service. Really appreciate everyone documenting all these workarounds though - I'm bookmarking this thread just in case. It's amazing how this community came together to solve what should be a simple government function. Hopefully NY fixes these issues soon, but until then at least we have each other's backs!

This thread is absolutely gold! I just spent 2 hours going in circles on the NY unemployment site before finding this discussion. I'm a returning filer (last claimed in early 2024) and was hitting the exact same wall as everyone else. Vincent's step-by-step method worked perfectly for me - had to clear my cache completely and go through the My NY.gov dashboard route rather than trying to navigate directly to unemployment services. Also had to switch from Firefox to Chrome and disable uBlock Origin. It's honestly insane that we need a whole community wiki just to file for benefits, but I'm so grateful you all figured out these workarounds! This should be pinned somewhere for other people struggling with the same issue.

I just went through this process last month after getting laid off from my marketing job in Manhattan. The 2-3 week timeline everyone mentioned is pretty accurate - mine took exactly 18 days from filing to first payment. One thing that really helped me was downloading the NY.gov mobile app instead of just using the website - I found it updated faster and was easier to navigate when checking my claim status. Also, since you mentioned rent stress, I'd recommend reaching out to 311 about emergency assistance programs. They connected me with a few resources that helped bridge the gap while waiting for benefits. The worst part is definitely that first waiting period, but once the payments start they're pretty consistent. Make sure you have your bank account info ready for direct deposit - it speeds things up significantly once you're approved!

Just wanted to add my recent experience to help ease some anxiety here - I filed my unemployment claim in early April after getting laid off from my finance job in Midtown. It took exactly 19 days to get my first payment, which aligns with what others are saying about the 2-3 week timeline. A couple things that helped me during the waiting period: 1) I called my utility companies to explain the situation and they were surprisingly understanding about extending due dates, 2) Many NYC food pantries don't require proof of income status and can help stretch your grocery budget while waiting, and 3) I set up account alerts for both my bank and the NY.gov site so I wasn't constantly checking manually. The hardest part is definitely the uncertainty, but based on what you've shared about your work history, your claim sounds very straightforward. Restaurant workers have been hit hard and the system recognizes this. Try to focus on things you can control (weekly certifications, having all your paperwork ready) rather than refreshing that status page constantly!

I'm in the exact same boat right now - submitted my wage documents about 6 days ago and the waiting is killing me! This thread has been super helpful though, so thank you everyone for sharing your experiences. @Mohammad Khaled - really hoping the expedited processing works out for you! Please keep us updated on how long it takes once they flagged your account. That could be really valuable info for the rest of us. One thing I learned from reading through all these responses is that I need to keep certifying weekly while waiting (thanks @Alina Rosenthal for that tip!). I almost made the same mistake of stopping my weekly certifications. The inconsistency in processing times is so stressful when you're depending on this money for rent and groceries. Some people get it in 5 days, others wait 5 weeks - there's got to be a better way to handle this system. But I guess for now we just have to work within what we've got. Going to try calling again today, but if that doesn't work I might also look into that Claimyr service. At least now I know what questions to ask if I do get through to an agent.

I'm also waiting on wage document verification right now - submitted mine about 8 days ago. This whole thread has been incredibly helpful to read through, so thank you everyone for sharing your experiences! The range of processing times people are reporting (5 days to 5+ weeks) is honestly pretty scary when you're relying on these benefits to pay bills. I've been calling daily but like most others here, just getting busy signals or the system hanging up after going through all the menus. @Mohammad Khaled - really glad you were able to get through and get your case flagged for expedited processing! That's encouraging to know they can actually do that for hardship situations. Definitely keep us updated on how quickly it moves once it's expedited. I think I'm going to give it until early next week and if I still can't get through the regular phone system, I'll probably try that Claimyr service too. At this point I just need to know my documents were received properly and there aren't any issues holding things up. Also thanks to everyone who mentioned continuing to certify weekly while waiting - I had no idea that was important and almost stopped doing it thinking I should wait for document approval first!