I'm currently in week 5 of waiting for my claim to clear adjudication and honestly, this entire thread has been like finding a treasure chest of hope! I was getting so anxious thinking that those 5 weeks of missed benefits would just disappear into the void. Reading story after story of people getting their full back pay from their original filing date is incredibly reassuring - it seems like this is actually the standard process, not some lucky exception. My situation is similar to many here - employer delays in responding to verification requests - and it's comforting to know that NYS Department of Labor recognizes these delays aren't our fault. I'm definitely saving all the practical advice about manually certifying for back weeks and checking payment history carefully. The financial strain has been intense, but knowing that literally everyone who shared their experience here got their retroactive benefits once approved is giving me the strength to keep pushing through. Thank you all so much for taking the time to document your journeys - this kind of community support is invaluable when you're navigating this stressful system!

I'm currently in week 6 of adjudication hell and this thread is literally saving my mental health right now! My claim got stuck because my previous employer apparently "lost" the initial request for separation information and then took weeks to respond to the follow-up. I was starting to think those 6 weeks of benefits were just gone forever, but reading everyone's experiences here is giving me real hope. The fact that literally every person who shared their story got their full back pay once approved is incredibly reassuring. I've been living off savings and credit cards, and knowing that $3,600+ in retroactive benefits is coming once this nightmare ends is helping me stay sane. I'm screenshot-saving all the advice about checking for manual weekly certifications and following up if payments don't appear within 2 weeks. This community is amazing - thank you all for sharing your experiences and giving those of us still waiting the hope we desperately need!

Make sure you have your bank account info ready for direct deposit setup too. Also if you were in a union or had any pension contributions, that might affect your claim so have those details available.

One thing to add - if you were laid off, try to get a separation letter from your employer stating the reason (layoff, lack of work, etc.). While not absolutely required, it can really speed up the process since NYS Department of Labor won't have to contact your employer to verify the reason for separation. This is especially helpful if your former company is slow to respond to unemployment inquiries.

I'm having this EXACT same issue today! Just finished uploading all my documents about 2 hours ago and got that same blank page everyone's talking about. I was literally about to re-upload everything thinking I messed something up, but finding this thread has been such a relief. It's absolutely wild that NY's unemployment system can't provide a basic "upload successful" message in 2025 - like this is web development 101 stuff! Reading through everyone's experiences, especially @Yara Nassar's update that her documents were actually received despite no confirmation, gives me hope that mine went through too. Going to follow the advice here and wait 3-5 business days before panicking. Thanks to everyone for sharing their experiences - it's crazy that we have to rely on community forums to figure out if government systems are working properly!

I'm experiencing this exact same issue right now! Just uploaded my documents about an hour ago and got that terrifying blank page with absolutely no confirmation. I was about to start the whole process over again thinking I'd somehow messed up the upload, but reading through all these experiences has been incredibly reassuring. It's honestly shocking that NY's unemployment system still can't provide basic upload confirmations in 2025 - this seems like such fundamental website functionality. Really grateful for everyone sharing their stories here, especially @Yara Nassar for following up with confirmation that your documents were actually received despite the system issues. Based on all the advice in this thread, I'm going to resist the urge to re-upload everything and wait the recommended 3-5 business days before taking any action. It's frustrating that we have to rely on community forums to understand whether government systems are working properly, but at least we can help each other navigate these technical glitches!

Thanks everyone for the helpful info! Just want to add that you can also check your potential benefit amount before filing by using the NYS DOL benefit calculator on their website. It'll give you an estimate based on your wages from the past 18 months. Also, @Liam O'Sullivan make sure you file as soon as you're laid off - there's a one week waiting period before benefits start, and you can't get benefits for weeks you don't file. The sooner you start the process the better!

One thing to keep in mind is that your benefit amount is calculated using your "base period" which is usually the first 4 of the last 5 completed calendar quarters before you file. So if you file in January 2025, they'd look at your wages from January 2024 through September 2024. This means if you had a pay raise recently or worked more hours in recent months, that might not be reflected in your benefit calculation. Also, just to clarify on the overtime question - yes, all wages including overtime, bonuses, and tips are counted when they calculate your weekly benefit rate. The good news is at $18/hour for 35 hours, you should qualify for benefits since you need to have earned at least $2,600 in your base period.

The NYS Department of Labor will definitely scrutinize quit claims more than layoffs or terminations. You'll likely face an adjudication period where they investigate your reasons for quitting. During this time, you won't receive benefits. If you do have good cause documented, make sure you file your weekly claims even during adjudication - if you're eventually approved, you'll get backpay for those weeks.

Have you considered consulting with an employment attorney before making your decision? Many offer free consultations and can help you understand if your situation might qualify as constructive dismissal or if there are legal protections you should know about. Sometimes having a lawyer send a letter to your employer about the harassment can either improve the situation or create documentation that strengthens your unemployment claim if you do end up quitting. Also, keep in mind that NYS has specific laws about hostile work environments - if you can establish that pattern, it could really help your case with the Department of Labor.