I was in your exact situation last yr... exhausted benefits, couldn't find work, thought I was screwed. I ONLY found a solution by talking to an actual human at unemployment. Obviously impossible to get through on phone but I used claimyr.com which was clutch. Agent helped me understand exactly what I needed to qualify again and suggested other programs in the meantime. Best money I spent all year tbh.

I'm in a similar situation - exhausted benefits last summer and have only had sporadic freelance work since. From reading through all these comments, it sounds like the key requirements are: 1) Your benefit year needs to be fully over (52 weeks from when you first applied), 2) You need earnings in at least 2 quarters since your last claim began, 3) At least $2,600+ in your highest quarter, and 4) Total base period wages need to be 1.5x your highest quarter. With only 6 weeks of temp work, you probably won't qualify yet, but definitely look into those other assistance programs people mentioned (SNAP, 211, local food banks). The job market really is brutal right now - you're not alone in this struggle!

Did you manage to get your certification done? The site was having maintenance issues last night.

Just wanted to add that if you're dealing with a busy interview schedule like the original poster, you can also certify online from your phone using the mobile site. I've done this between interviews when I couldn't get to a computer. The mobile interface is pretty straightforward and saves you from missing deadlines when life gets hectic. Good luck with the job search!

Don't panic! I literally did the exact same thing two weeks ago - went out with friends on Sunday and completely forgot to certify until Monday morning. I was so stressed thinking I'd lost a week of benefits! But everyone here is right - you have until Saturday at midnight to certify for the previous week. I logged in Monday afternoon and it went through perfectly fine. My payment was maybe delayed by one day but that was it. The NY system actually expects people to miss Sunday sometimes, which is why they give you the full week. Just make sure you don't let an entire week pass without certifying because then you'd have to call (and good luck with that!). Set up multiple phone reminders - I now have one for Sunday morning and another for Wednesday just in case. Trust me, this won't affect your claim at all!

You're absolutely fine! I've missed Sunday certification more times than I can count and it's never been an issue. You have until Saturday at 11:59 PM to certify for the previous week, so you've got plenty of time. Just log into the NY unemployment website and certify like normal - your payment might be delayed by a day or two but you won't lose any money. I actually prefer certifying on weekdays now because the website runs way smoother than Sunday mornings when everyone's trying to access it at once. Definitely set up a recurring reminder on your phone though - I have mine set for Sunday at 9 AM and it's been a lifesaver. The NY system is stressful enough without adding unnecessary panic about missing deadlines!

I'm experiencing the exact same issue! Filed my claim 3 weeks ago, got approved, but my weekly benefit amount keeps showing $0 despite having qualifying wages from my previous job. After reading all these helpful responses, it's clear there are many potential causes - from SSN mismatches to employer wage reporting errors to incorrect certification answers. I'm going to start by uploading my W-2 and recent pay stubs through my.ny.gov portal, then double-check that I'm answering all the weekly certification questions correctly. If that doesn't resolve it within a couple weeks, I'll try visiting a local NYS Department of Labor office with all my documentation. It's frustrating but reassuring to know others have successfully resolved this issue. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences and solutions!

I went through this exact same situation about 2 months ago and it was incredibly frustrating! My weekly benefit amount was stuck at $0 for almost 6 weeks despite being approved. What finally resolved it for me was discovering that my former employer had submitted my quarterly wage report with my middle initial included, but I had filed my unemployment claim without it. This tiny discrepancy was enough to prevent the system from matching my wages to my claim. I ended up having to visit the local NYS Department of Labor office with my Social Security card, driver's license, W-2, and several recent pay stubs. The representative was able to see the name mismatch immediately and corrected it in their system. Within 5 business days, my weekly benefit amount was properly calculated and I received all the back payments I was owed. If uploading documents online doesn't work, I'd definitely recommend the in-person visit - sometimes these database matching issues can only be fixed by someone with direct system access.

As someone who recently went through this process, I wanted to share what I learned. The key is really that restaurant job you mentioned - that's likely your ticket to benefits. When I applied, I had to provide my base period wages (usually the first 4 quarters of the last 5 completed quarters before you file). Make sure you have your W-2 or final pay stub from the restaurant ready. The NYS DOL will calculate your weekly benefit based on those covered wages, not your gig income. One heads up though - when you file your weekly claims, you'll need to report any gig work earnings, and they might reduce your benefit dollar-for-dollar depending on how much you make. But having some income is better than none! I'd recommend applying online through the NY.gov website rather than trying to call - the online system walks you through everything step by step.

I've been following this thread closely as I'm in a similar situation with gig work. One thing I wanted to add - if you do end up qualifying through your restaurant job, make sure you understand the "able and available" requirement. The NYS DOL requires that you be actively seeking full-time work and available to accept suitable employment. This means you can't just rely on gig work while collecting benefits - you need to be genuinely looking for traditional W-2 employment. Keep a log of your job search activities (applications, interviews, networking) because they can ask for this information during eligibility reviews. Also, when you report your weekly gig earnings, be honest about the hours worked too, not just the income. Working too many hours doing gig work could raise questions about your availability for full-time employment.