I'm going through the exact same thing right now! Filed my claim 3 weeks ago and still showing $0 weekly benefit amount even though I worked steadily for 18 months before getting laid off. I submitted the wage investigation request through my.ny.gov like others suggested but haven't heard anything back yet. The waiting is so stressful when you have bills to pay. Has anyone had success calling the wage investigation unit directly, or do you just have to wait for them to contact your employer?

I went through this exact situation last year and it was incredibly frustrating. What helped me was gathering all my documentation beforehand - W-2s, final paystubs, and any employment verification letters. When I finally got through to someone at NYS DOL after filing the wage investigation, they were able to process it faster because I had everything ready. Also, make sure to check if your employer went through any ownership changes or used a payroll company - sometimes wages get reported under different employer identification numbers which can cause this $0 issue. The backpay once it's resolved makes the wait somewhat worth it, but I know that doesn't help with immediate bills. Hang in there!

I can confirm what others are saying - the Wednesday timeline is pretty accurate in my experience. I've been collecting for about 6 weeks now and as long as I certify by Sunday evening, the money hits my Chase account every Wednesday morning between 5-7am. One thing that really helped me was setting up account alerts so I get a text the moment the deposit comes through. That way I know exactly when I can pay rent and other bills without having to constantly check my balance. The NYS system might be clunky but at least the payment timing has been reliable for me.

I've been getting my NYS unemployment payments for about 4 months now and can definitely confirm the Wednesday morning timeline. Usually hits my account between 3-6am on Wednesday if I certify by Sunday night. One tip that helped me - if you're worried about timing for rent, most landlords will accept a screenshot of your pending deposit or certification confirmation as proof that payment is coming. My landlord was understanding when I explained the NYS Department of Labor payment schedule. Also, if you have a good relationship with your bank, some will show pending ACH deposits a day early so you might see it Tuesday night. Just don't spend it until it actually clears!

Don't stress too much about having exact tip amounts memorized! When you file with NYS Department of Labor, they'll pull your wage records directly from what your employer reported to the state each quarter. This includes both your hourly wages and the tips that were reported through payroll. You'll mainly need to provide basic information about your employment dates and reason for separation. However, it's still good to keep any pay stubs or tip records you have handy in case there are any discrepancies or if they need additional verification. The system is designed to work with the information employers are already required to report, so you shouldn't have to reconstruct everything from memory.

I went through this exact situation a few months ago when my restaurant laid off half the staff before the holidays. You're absolutely eligible for unemployment benefits as a server in NY! The misinformation about restaurant workers not qualifying is unfortunately pretty common. Your employer has been paying unemployment taxes on your behalf, and both your hourly wages AND reported tips count toward your benefit calculation. I'd recommend filing your claim online as soon as possible - the NYS Department of Labor website walks you through everything step by step. One thing that helped me was having my last few pay stubs ready when I applied, just to reference employment dates and my employer's information. Don't let anyone discourage you from applying - you've earned these benefits through your work!

honestly the whole unemployment tax system is confusing AF. why can't they just make it simple and tell you straight up if you need to pay or not instead of all these weird exceptions and thresholds

Just went through this exact situation with my business last month! As an LLC with employees, you're definitely required to register for unemployment insurance if you meet the wage threshold. The key thing to remember is that it's not just about number of employees - if you pay $300+ in wages in any calendar quarter, you need to register within 10 days of meeting that threshold. Don't wait like I did! I had to pay some back taxes because I thought I had more time to figure it out. The registration process itself isn't too bad once you get started, but definitely don't delay if you think you might already be over that $300 quarterly limit.

Update: Just finished filing my new claim! The process was straightforward once I had all my information ready. One tip - they ask for exact dates of employment so make sure you have that info handy. My claim is now showing as pending and I should hear back within a few days about approval. Thanks everyone for the help!

Great to hear you got your claim filed successfully! Just wanted to add for anyone else reading this - if you're filing a new claim after your previous one expired, make sure to keep documentation of your job search activities from day one. Even while your claim is pending, NYS Department of Labor expects you to be actively looking for work. I learned this the hard way when they asked for my job search records retroactively during my eligibility review. Also, if you worked in multiple states during your base period, you might need to file an interstate claim which has different requirements.