I'm dealing with a similar situation right now - got laid off in October and just filed last week after finally accepting that my job search wasn't going anywhere fast. The 4-week backdate rule is frustrating but it's firm. What I found helpful was calling early in the morning (like 8 AM sharp) to avoid the worst of the phone queue nightmare. Also, when you do your weekly certifications, keep detailed records of your job search activities - I use a simple spreadsheet with company names, positions applied for, dates, and contact info. The DOL can request this information during audits so it's better to be over-prepared. Don't let the regret about waiting eat at you too much - focus on getting your claim processed quickly and staying consistent with your weekly certifications. Every week you delay filing costs you more money.

I'm going through the exact same situation right now - got laid off in late September and kept thinking "next week I'll find something" until here we are in January. The 4-week backdate limit is brutal but it's unfortunately set in stone. I finally filed my claim two weeks ago and just got approved yesterday. Here's what I wish I knew earlier: when you file online at my.ny.gov, have ALL your employment info ready (last 18 months of employers, dates, wages, reason for separation). The initial application took me about 45 minutes but having everything organized helped. Also, they scheduled my phone interview for about 10 days after I filed - be honest about why you delayed but don't overthink it. The rep told me that while they can't extend the backdate period, they understand people don't always know the rules. Most importantly, file TODAY if you haven't already. Every day you wait is money lost. The weekly benefit in NY ranges from $104-$504 depending on your previous wages, so even getting just 4 weeks backdated plus ongoing benefits is better than nothing. Hang in there - I know it's frustrating but at least we can still get help going forward.

Most employers just confirm the separation details honestly. The ones who fight every claim usually get flagged by NYS Department of Labor for review. Companies know that fighting legitimate layoffs just wastes everyone's time and can hurt their relationship with the unemployment office for future issues.

Just went through this process myself a few months ago when my retail job was eliminated. The employer response thing stressed me out too, but it turned out to be pretty straightforward. NYS Department of Labor sent my former employer the paperwork, they confirmed it was a layoff due to store closure, and my benefits were approved within 2 weeks. Since you mentioned it was a legitimate layoff due to budget cuts, you should be fine. Most employers won't waste time fighting claims they know are valid. Keep any documentation you have about the layoff just in case, but try not to worry too much about it!

I've been collecting NY unemployment for about 7 months now and I'm with Webster Bank. My payments are really consistent - always exactly 2 business days after showing "released" on the DOL website. The first payment took 4 business days though, which had me pretty stressed at the time! One thing I learned that might help others - if you log into your bank account online, sometimes you can see the deposit listed under "pending transactions" or "recent activity" even before it shows up in your available balance. This saved me so much anxiety because I could see it was actually there, just not available yet. Also, Webster Bank's customer service can see pending ACH deposits on their end if you call and ask specifically about unemployment payments. For anyone still waiting, especially on their first payment, try not to stress too much! The state system is slow but reliable. Once it says "released" the money is definitely coming - it's just a matter of the banking processing time. Good luck everyone!

I've been getting NY unemployment for about 2 months now with KeyBank and wanted to share my experience since I see a lot of people waiting anxiously for their first payments. My payments consistently take exactly 2 business days after showing "released" - very reliable timing. But my very first payment took 5 business days and I was absolutely panicking by day 4! Turns out that's completely normal for the initial payment since they have to verify all your banking information. One thing that really helped me was calling KeyBank directly and asking if they could see any pending ACH deposits from New York State Department of Labor. They were able to confirm it was in their system on day 3, which gave me so much peace of mind even though it didn't actually post until day 5. Also want to echo what others have said about setting up account alerts - total game changer! I get a text the moment any deposit hits my account so I don't have to constantly check the app. The waiting is definitely stressful but once you get through that first payment, the timing becomes very predictable. Hang in there everyone!

I'm currently dealing with the same exact situation - week 4 of pending status and getting absolutely nowhere with the regular NYSDOL channels! This thread has been incredibly helpful in showing there are actual solutions beyond the endless automated phone loops. @Sean Kelly congratulations on finally getting your backpay - the employer verification issue explanation is really eye-opening since my former employer has also been slow to respond to documentation requests. @Emma Wilson the Office of Special Investigations complaint option is something I never would have found on my own - definitely adding that to my backup plan! @Giovanni Mancini your point about systematic documentation is spot on, I've been loosely tracking my failed calls but need to start recording reference numbers and dates more carefully. It's both frustrating and reassuring to know so many others are stuck in identical situations - really highlights how broken this system is. Based on all the success stories shared here, I'm planning to contact my assembly person first thing tomorrow morning. This community has provided more actionable advice in one thread than weeks of trying to navigate official channels. Will definitely update with my results - thank you everyone for sharing what actually works instead of the usual "keep calling" advice that goes nowhere!

I'm currently on week 3 of pending status and this thread has been a lifesaver! Reading everyone's experiences has given me hope that there's actually a way out of this nightmare. @Sean Kelly so glad you finally got your backpay - the employer verification issue makes perfect sense since my previous company has been dragging their feet on everything post-termination. @Emma Wilson I had no clue about the Office of Special Investigations complaint option, that's definitely going on my list of backup strategies! @Giovanni Mancini your documentation advice is gold - I've been casually tracking my failed calls but clearly need to get more systematic about recording reference numbers and dates. It's incredible how this community has figured out what actually works while the official system just leaves you hanging in limbo. I'm calling my assembly person's office first thing Monday based on all these success stories. The fact that so many of us are dealing with identical situations really shows how fundamentally broken this system is, but at least we're helping each other find real solutions! Will definitely report back with my progress. Thank you everyone for sharing actionable advice instead of the useless "keep trying" responses you get from official channels.

dont overthink it just file and be honest about everything. the worst that happens is they tell u to wait a week or two

I went through this same situation a few months ago. The important thing to remember is that vacation pay is allocated to specific time periods - usually the weeks immediately following your last day of work. So if you got laid off on a Friday and have 2 weeks of vacation pay coming, that pay typically covers the next two weeks. During those weeks, you might not be eligible for unemployment benefits (depending on the amount), but after that period ends, your regular benefits should kick in. Definitely file your initial claim right away though - there's usually a waiting period anyway, and you don't want to delay the process. Just be upfront about the vacation pay situation when you do your weekly certifications.