Once you get logged in properly, you should also be able to see your payment history and when your next weekly claim is due. The system updates pretty regularly so you can track any changes to your status.

Just want to add that when you do get into my.ny.gov successfully, don't panic if your status shows "pending" for the first week or two - that's totally normal! The DOL has to verify your employment history and eligibility before they can approve your claim. I was worried when mine stayed pending for almost 2 weeks but it eventually went through. Also make sure to keep filing your weekly certifications even while it's pending, otherwise you could miss out on back pay once it gets approved.

Just wanted to add that if your claim does go into adjudication for any reason, that can add several more weeks to the process. But for a straightforward layoff like yours, you should be fine. The key is to keep filing those weekly certifications and be patient.

I'm in a similar situation - filed my claim about 8 days ago after being laid off from my office job and still waiting. The uncertainty is really stressful when you're already dealing with losing your job. From what everyone's saying here, it sounds like 2-3 weeks is pretty normal, so I guess we just have to hang in there. Thanks for asking this question because I was wondering the same thing!

This has been such a valuable thread! As someone who's been collecting NY unemployment for about 6 months now, I can confirm what everyone is saying - short trips are absolutely fine. I've traveled to visit family in Pennsylvania, North Carolina, and even took a week-long vacation in Miami, and never had any issues as long as I kept up with my work search requirements and was ready to come back if needed. The key thing I learned early on is that the "residence" question is really asking about your permanent living situation, not temporary travel. I always certify online from wherever I am and answer honestly about my permanent address remaining the same. It's great to see Mason's update that everything worked out perfectly - that's exactly what should happen when you handle it correctly!

I went through this exact same situation last month when I visited my parents in Florida for a few days! I was so nervous about messing up my certification, but everything worked out fine. Like everyone else has said, the key is understanding that they're asking about permanent residence changes, not temporary travel. I certified online from Florida, answered 'no' to the residence question since I hadn't moved, and my benefits continued normally. The most important thing is making sure you can still do your work search activities and would be able to return quickly if you got a job opportunity. It's such a relief to see Mason's update confirming everything went smoothly - this is exactly how it should work when you handle it correctly!

Most common reasons for overpayment are not reporting work income correctly or being disqualified after the fact (like if they find out you quit instead of being laid off). If you're being honest on your weekly claims and have proper documentation you should be okay. The key is keeping good records of everything just in case.

I totally understand your anxiety about this! I was in the same boat a few months ago, constantly worrying about getting hit with an overpayment notice. What really helped me was setting up a simple system to track everything. I created a basic spreadsheet with tabs for my weekly claims (screenshots and dates), job search activities, and any work/income I report. For the job search piece, I log way more than the minimum 3 contacts per week - usually 5-6 just to be safe. Each entry includes company name, position, application date, method (Indeed, company website, etc.), and any responses. It takes maybe 10 minutes per week but gives me huge peace of mind. Also, I check my payment history on my.ny.gov every few weeks to make sure there are no flags or issues. The system does show pending determinations or problems if there are any. As long as you're being honest and thorough with your reporting, you should be fine. The horror stories usually involve people who didn't report work income or made genuine mistakes with the confusing rules.

Make sure she understands the weekly claim requirement too! Even after the initial application is approved, you have to file every week to actually receive payments. I know someone who got approved but didn't realize they had to keep filing weekly and missed out on several weeks of benefits.

One thing I'd add is to make sure your neighbor has her most recent pay stub and any termination paperwork from her employer ready. The system will ask for her last day of work and final wages, so having those exact dates and amounts will make the process smoother. Also, if she was laid off due to lack of work (not fired for cause), that makes her eligible right away. The initial application usually takes 2-3 weeks to process, but she should start filing weekly claims immediately after applying even before getting approved - those weeks can be paid retroactively once she's approved.