The whole NYS Department of Labor system is so confusing with their deadlines and hours. They should make this information clearer on their website instead of having people guess when things are due.

I totally agree with everyone about the phone system being frustrating! One tip that's helped me - try calling right at 8:00 AM when they open, or during lunch hours around 12-1 PM when call volume sometimes drops. Also, make sure you're using the correct phone number for your specific issue (they have different lines for different problems). For weekly claims, I always submit mine on Sunday evenings just to be safe since the deadline is Sunday at midnight. The my.ny.gov portal is usually pretty reliable for online filing if you can avoid the phone calls altogether.

just wanted to say good luck with your claim! nonprofit work is really important and its good that you can get benefits while you look for something new

I went through this same situation last year when I got laid off from a nonprofit arts organization in Brooklyn. The uncertainty was really stressful! But like others have said, most nonprofits in NY do pay into the unemployment system. I was able to file my claim online and got approved pretty quickly. One tip - when you file, make sure to list your job title exactly as it appeared on your pay stubs. The NYS Department of Labor system can be picky about matching employment records. Also keep copies of everything you submit because sometimes they'll ask for documentation later during the review process. Hope this helps and hang in there!

Wait I'm confused about something - if you appeal and lose, can you appeal again? Or is that it? Also do you have to keep filing weekly claims while the appeal is processing?

I went through this same situation with NYS Department of Labor about 8 months ago. Definitely appeal - you have nothing to lose and everything to gain. The 30-day deadline is firm, so don't wait. I filed my appeal online through my.ny.gov which was pretty straightforward. The hearing was conducted over the phone and lasted about 20 minutes. The hearing officer asked me to walk through exactly what happened when I was laid off, and I had my layoff notice and final paycheck stub ready to reference specific dates. My former employer didn't even participate in the hearing, which apparently happens a lot. I won my appeal and got about 6 weeks of back payments. The whole process took about 2 months from filing the appeal to getting my first check. Don't let them intimidate you - if you were truly laid off due to business reasons, you deserve those benefits.

Adding to what others have said - one thing that caught me off guard was that the exemptions can change if your business grows. For example, if you start as a family business employing only relatives but later hire outside employees, you might lose that exemption status. Also, some exemptions have annual wage thresholds that reset each year, so you need to monitor your payroll carefully. I'd recommend keeping detailed records from day one and maybe consulting with a payroll specialist who knows NYS Department of Labor requirements inside and out. It's one of those areas where being proactive can save you major headaches down the road.

As someone who just went through the registration process, I can tell you that you typically need to register within 30 days of meeting the liability requirements - there's no grace period once you cross the threshold. The NYS Department of Labor is pretty strict about this timeline. I'd recommend setting up a quarterly review of your payroll to track when you might hit those thresholds (like the $300 per quarter per employee rule). That way you can register proactively rather than scrambling after the fact. Also, even if you think you qualify for an exemption, it's often safer to register anyway since the penalties for late registration are much worse than just paying the taxes from the start.

I'm going through the exact same thing right now! Missed my appointment on September 18th and completed all the makeup requirements on the 22nd. It's been about 10 days now and my account is still on hold. The anxiety is killing me because I really need those benefits to cover my expenses. But reading through everyone's experiences here is giving me so much hope - it sounds like the 10-12 day timeline that @Diego Vargas mentioned is pretty standard, and most people do get it resolved eventually. I've been following all the advice from this thread: certifying every week even though I'm not getting paid, trying to call right at 8am when they open, and keeping detailed records of everything. Haven't gotten through on the phone yet but I'm not giving up! It's honestly such a relief to know I'm not the only one dealing with this nightmare. The NY unemployment system is so broken but at least we're all supporting each other through it. Thanks @Dylan Wright for starting this thread - it's exactly what I needed to see today! 🙏

I'm going through this exact same situation right now too! Missed my appointment on September 20th and did the makeup requirements on the 24th. It's been about a week and a half now and my account is still on hold. The financial stress is unreal when you're counting on those benefits. But honestly, this thread has been such a blessing to find! Reading everyone's experiences and timelines is giving me so much hope. Sounds like that 10-12 day window @Diego Vargas mentioned is pretty typical, so I'm trying to stay patient even though it's hard. I've been doing everything you all suggested - certifying every week, attempting the 8am phone calls (no luck getting through yet), and documenting everything with dates and times. It's crazy how broken this system is, but at least we're all going through it together and can support each other. The waiting game is brutal but seeing that most people do eventually get their holds lifted is keeping me going. Thanks @Dylan Wright for posting this - it's exactly what I needed to see to know I'm not alone in this mess! Hopefully we'll all get good news soon 🤞