I'm in a similar boat - just started working at a synagogue a few months ago and wasn't sure about the unemployment situation if things don't work out. From reading everyone's responses it sounds like most religious organizations in NY do participate in the unemployment system. It's reassuring to know that filing won't cause any issues even if there's uncertainty about eligibility. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences, this thread has been really informative for those of us working in religious organizations!

I was in a very similar situation last year when I got laid off from my job as a youth coordinator at a Methodist church in upstate NY. I was so worried about the religious exemption issue that I almost didn't file, but I'm glad I did! My claim was approved without any issues. The church had been paying unemployment taxes all along. The NYS Department of Labor representatives I spoke with said that most churches in New York do participate in the system unless they're very small operations. Don't let the religious aspect discourage you from filing - you earned those benefits through your work. The online application process was straightforward and I received my first payment within a few weeks. Best of luck with your claim!

THE WORST PART IS TRYING TO GET THEM ON THE PHONE OMFG. I spent THREE WEEKS trying to reach a human being at NY unemployment to fix an issue with my claim. The phone system is a joke - either busy signals or it hangs up on you after making you go through all the prompts!!!

Hey Hunter! I'm in a similar situation - bartender at a place in Manhattan that went from packed to ghost town practically overnight. I successfully got partial unemployment and it's been a lifesaver while I figure things out. The key things that helped me: 1) When you apply online, be super clear that your hours were cut due to "lack of work" not that you're "still employed" 2) Keep detailed records of your daily earnings and days worked - you'll need this for weekly certification 3) Try to consolidate your shifts into fewer days if possible because of NY's weird day-counting system. Also heads up - the website will probably crash on you multiple times during the application process. Don't give up! Save your progress frequently. The whole system is frustrating but the benefits really help bridge the gap. Good luck and hang in there - this rough patch won't last forever! 🙏

Been there! My redetermination took about 5 weeks but that was during a busy period. The waiting is the worst part honestly. Just try to stay patient and keep documenting everything in case they need more info later.

I'm going through something similar right now - got my redetermination notice about 2 weeks ago and it's definitely stressful not knowing when it'll be resolved. From what I've researched, the NYS DOL website mentions they aim to complete most redeterminations within 6-8 weeks, but like others have said, it really depends on your specific situation. One thing that helped ease my anxiety was setting up the online account if you haven't already - at least you can see the status updates there even if they're minimal. Hang in there, and definitely keep filing those weekly claims like Omar mentioned!

The whole system is so confusing! Why can't they just give you a simple estimate when you start the application process? I spent hours trying to calculate mine and still wasn't sure until I actually got approved.

I've been through this process recently and want to add that you should also check if you qualify for the alternative base period if your regular base period doesn't meet the requirements. This uses the most recent four quarters instead of the first four of the last five. Also, keep in mind that the 50% calculation has a minimum weekly benefit of $104, so even if your calculation comes out lower, you'd still get at least that amount. The my.ny.gov site does have a worksheet you can download under the "Unemployment Insurance" section that walks through the math step by step - it's buried in there but helps a lot once you find it.

Just wanted to jump in here as someone who's been helping folks with this exact issue! I work as a benefits advocate and we've been seeing this endless loop problem constantly since the January update. A few additional tips that have worked for people I've helped: 1. If you're copy-pasting any information (like employer names or addresses), try typing it manually instead - sometimes hidden formatting characters cause issues 2. Make sure your browser isn't auto-filling any fields, as this can sometimes introduce weird characters 3. If you have a hyphenated last name or company name, try removing the hyphen temporarily just for the submission Also wanted to mention that if you're still stuck after trying all these workarounds, you can request to have your claim put on hold while you resolve the reporting issue - this prevents any potential benefit delays while you're fighting with the system. You just need to call and explain the technical difficulties you're experiencing. It's frustrating that we need all these workarounds, but at least there are multiple solutions that seem to help different people depending on their specific situation!

Wow, reading through all these comments has been such a relief - I thought I was going crazy! I've been stuck in this same endless loop for the past few days trying to report my part-time retail job. Based on everyone's suggestions, I think my issue might be that I've been using the "&" symbol in my employer's name (it's "Smith & Co"). Going to try removing that and typing everything manually instead of copy-pasting. It's honestly mind-blowing that such simple things like punctuation marks can break a government website, but at least now I have a roadmap of things to try. Thanks to everyone for sharing their experiences and solutions - this community is a lifesaver when dealing with such a frustrating system!