Different claims process at different speeds depending on your employment history and reason for separation. If you were laid off from a straightforward job, approval is usually quick. If you quit, were fired, or had multiple employers, it takes longer for them to verify everything. The important thing is to keep filing your weekly claims and respond promptly to any requests for additional information.

I went through this same situation a few months ago and the waiting is definitely nerve-wracking! One thing that helped me was setting up direct deposit if you haven't already - once you're approved, payments come faster that way than waiting for debit cards or checks. Also, make sure you're checking both your my.ny.gov messages AND your physical mail regularly. Sometimes the approval letter shows up in one place before the other. In my case, I saw the approval in my online account a day before the letter arrived. Hang in there - 10 days is still within the normal timeframe, especially if you were laid off for straightforward reasons.

I'm new to this community but this thread is exactly what I needed to see! I've been on unemployment for about 2 weeks after my retail management position was eliminated, and I've been feeling pretty lost about what to do next. The idea of CDL training honestly never occurred to me, but reading through everyone's experiences here makes it sound like a really viable path forward. I love that you can potentially keep your benefits during training - that would make such a huge difference for me financially. I'm definitely going to start researching trucking jobs in my area this week and then contact my local One-Stop Career Center. Thanks to everyone who shared their stories and advice - this community is incredibly helpful for someone just starting to navigate the unemployment system!

This is such a helpful thread! I'm about 4 weeks into unemployment after being laid off from my job at a logistics company, and I had no idea about the WIOA program until reading all these responses. The fact that you can potentially keep your unemployment benefits while doing CDL training is a game-changer for me. I actually have some experience with freight and shipping from my previous job, so trucking feels like a natural next step. I'm going to call my local One-Stop Career Center this week to get the ball rolling. One thing I'm wondering about - has anyone dealt with getting training approved if you have a clean driving record but maybe a couple of minor traffic violations from several years ago? I'm worried that might hurt my chances of approval, even though they're pretty old at this point.

I'm also a per diem worker (radiology tech) and have been stressing about this exact same thing! Reading through everyone's experiences here has been SO helpful. I've been answering NO to refusing work when I just don't pick up shifts from our scheduling app, but I was always second-guessing myself. The way the lawyer @Sofia Ramirez explained the legal distinction really cleared things up - there's a big difference between shifts being posted for anyone to claim vs. someone specifically calling you with an offer. It's frustrating that the NY unemployment system makes this so confusing for per diem workers when we're such a huge part of the healthcare workforce. I'm going to keep answering the same way and document everything just in case. Thanks everyone for sharing - it's reassuring to know we're all dealing with the same struggle!

I'm also a per diem worker (occupational therapist) and this thread is exactly what I needed! I've been having panic attacks every Sunday when I have to do my weekly certification because I was never sure if I was answering correctly. Like so many of you, I work through an app where shifts are posted and we can claim them - but some weeks I just don't pick any up (especially after really busy periods when I need to recharge). The explanation from @Sofia Ramirez about the legal distinction between "available shifts" and "direct offers" finally makes sense of this whole mess. I've been answering NO to refusing work when I just don't claim shifts from the portal, and it sounds like that's correct. It's honestly insane that NY doesn't have clearer guidance for per diem workers - we're everywhere in healthcare! This thread should be stickied or something because I guarantee thousands of other per diem workers are dealing with this same confusion every week.

I'm going through this exact same nightmare right now! Just spent 2 hours trying to create a NY.gov ID account and keep getting that same "different username" error when I KNOW I've never used their system before. Reading through this thread has been such a relief - I was starting to think I was losing my mind! The detective work everyone has done here is absolutely incredible. @Kiara Greene's discovery about the three partial records and the "cross-system database conflicts" magic phrase is pure gold. I'm now realizing my issue might be connected to when I registered to vote after moving last year, or maybe from when I helped my mom research Medicare supplement plans on a NY state website. I'm definitely going to try the 8 AM call strategy tomorrow armed with all my info variations - old addresses, different email formats, and even family connections who might have listed me as an emergency contact. It's completely bonkers that we need to become database archaeologists just to access basic government services, but this thread has given me actual hope instead of just frustration. This community is amazing for sharing real solutions instead of just venting. Thank you all for turning this bureaucratic disaster into a collaborative troubleshooting masterpiece! I'll report back with my results 🤞

Just wanted to add my experience to this incredible thread! I was dealing with the same "different username" error for almost a week and was about to give up when I found this goldmine of troubleshooting advice. After reading through everyone's detective work, I realized my issue might be connected to when I helped my elderly neighbor set up her heating assistance application online a few years ago using my laptop. I also registered as a poll worker back in 2022, which probably created another data fragment in their system. I tried the 8 AM call strategy this morning using the "cross-system database conflicts" phrase that @Kiara Greene discovered, and it worked! The rep found TWO partial records - one from the poll worker registration and another from when I was listed as a backup contact on my brother's unemployment claim during COVID (which I had completely forgotten about). It took about 35 minutes on the phone, but she was able to merge the records and clear the conflicts. Finally have my NY.gov ID working! For anyone still fighting this battle: definitely try calling right at 8 AM, use that magic phrase, and have ALL your info ready - old addresses, different email formats, family member names who might have listed you as a contact for anything NY state-related. The key is being persistent and not letting them brush you off with "try again later." This thread has been absolutely invaluable - thank you all for sharing your real experiences and creating the unofficial troubleshooting guide that should exist on their website but doesn't! 🙌

Hey! Just wanted to share my experience since I literally went through this exact same thing about 2 weeks ago. The waiting period after seeing "Questionnaire Complete" is definitely the most stressful part because you have no idea what's happening! My timeline: Got my monetary determination letter with PIN exactly 19 days after submitting. The letter comes in a pretty official NYS Department of Labor envelope - definitely don't toss it thinking it's junk mail! A few things I wish I had known: **Start your work search log TODAY** - even if you have to recreate the past week from memory. You'll need 3 documented activities per week once you start certifying. I used a simple spreadsheet: Date | Company | Position | Application Method (Indeed, LinkedIn, company website, etc.) **Save everything** - Take screenshots of every page during the process and save all confirmation emails. The system can be glitchy and having documentation saved me when I had questions later. **Backdating works** - You can claim benefits back to your actual last day of work, even weeks before you applied. I was unemployed for 8 days before I even knew I could file, and got paid for all of it. **Certification timing** - Once you get your PIN, certify early Sunday morning (like 7-8am). The website gets super slow later in the day and sometimes crashes. The initial setup when you first log in with your PIN will have you certify for ALL weeks since your last day of work, so be ready with your work search activities for each week. Hang in there - the waiting is the worst part but once you're in the system it becomes much more routine! 🙏

Just went through this same process a few weeks ago! The wait for your PIN is definitely nerve-wracking but here's what helped me get through it: **Timeline**: Mine took about 2.5 weeks to arrive, but I've seen people get it anywhere from 10 days to a month depending on their current backlog. **Important while waiting**: Start documenting your job search activities NOW! You'll need to report 3 per week once you start certifying. I kept a simple log with date, company name, position applied for, and where I applied (LinkedIn, Indeed, company site, etc.). Trust me, trying to remember weeks later is impossible. **About the PIN**: It comes in an official NYS DOL envelope with your monetary determination letter. Don't accidentally toss it as junk mail! The letter will have your weekly benefit amount and the 4-digit PIN you need. **Backdating**: Good news - you can claim benefits back to your actual last day of work, even if you applied later. When you first log in with your PIN, the system will have you certify for ALL missed weeks since you became unemployed. **Weekly certification**: You can do it any day but Sunday-Thursday works best. I certify Sunday mornings around 8am to avoid website crashes later in the day. The waiting is honestly the hardest part! Once you get your PIN and start the weekly routine, it becomes much more manageable. Keep your chin up - you're doing everything right! 👍