I'm new to this community and in almost the exact same situation! Just got laid off yesterday with a lump sum severance payment covering through mid-March 2025. After reading through all these incredibly detailed experiences, I'm convinced - filing immediately is definitely the way to go. What really struck me is how everyone who's been through this has the same advice: file now, be thorough with severance details, and don't let the phone system frustrations delay you. The fact that NY's system actually has specific sections for lump sum severance makes me feel much more confident about the process. I'm going to follow the advice here and gather all my employer documentation today, then file first thing tomorrow morning. The tips about taking screenshots, calling at 8 AM if needed, and setting up weekly certification reminders are so practical and helpful. Thanks to everyone for creating such an amazing resource! This thread has been way more informative than hours of trying to navigate official websites. To anyone else in similar situations - the guidance here is crystal clear and comes from people who've successfully navigated this exact scenario.

I'm a newcomer to this community and just wanted to say how incredibly valuable this thread has been! I'm dealing with a similar situation - got laid off two weeks ago with severance through January paid as a lump sum next month. Reading through everyone's experiences has completely changed my approach. I was planning to wait until February to file, thinking I couldn't apply during my severance period. But the unanimous advice from people who've actually been through this is crystal clear: file immediately and let the system handle the severance calculations. The practical tips shared here are amazing - from calling at exactly 8:00 AM to get through the phone system, to taking screenshots during the application process, to setting up weekly certification reminders. These are the kinds of real-world insights you'd never find in official documentation. What really convinced me is hearing from multiple people who had 5-7 week processing delays. If I waited until February to file, I might not see benefits until April! That's exactly the kind of costly mistake this community helped me avoid. I'm filing my claim today and following all the guidance shared here. Thank you to everyone who took the time to share their detailed experiences - this is exactly what people need when navigating such a confusing system!

Just wanted to chime in as someone who went through this exact nightmare! Filed in early March and got that terrifying $0 determination letter that made me think I was completely screwed. Spent literally 6 weeks calling every single day trying to get through - easily made 200+ calls with no luck. Finally bit the bullet and used claimyr.com after seeing everyone recommend it here. Best $20 I ever spent! Got connected to an agent in under an hour who explained that my employer was just dragging their feet on the wage verification. She put in a priority request and within 5 days my benefits updated to $387/week with full back pay from my filing date. The relief was incredible! For anyone still waiting - I know it's absolutely terrifying when bills are piling up, but the system DOES work eventually. Keep certifying weekly no matter what, and seriously consider using claimyr if you've been waiting more than a month. It's worth every penny to get actual answers instead of stressing in the dark. You've got this! 💙

I'm going through this exact same thing right now and this thread has been incredibly helpful! Filed 4/20 and just got my $0 determination letter yesterday. I was completely freaking out thinking I did something wrong or wasn't eligible, but reading everyone's experiences here makes me realize it's just the normal waiting process for wage verification. Really appreciate all the detailed timelines and advice, especially about keeping up with weekly certifications even with the $0 showing - I definitely would have stopped doing that without knowing better! The claimyr service sounds like a game changer based on everyone's success stories. Going to give it a try next week if I don't hear anything. Thanks for creating such a supportive community where we can all help each other navigate this confusing system! 🙏

FINAL UPDATE: My wage reconsideration was approved! It took almost 5 weeks, but I finally got a revised Monetary Determination showing my correct wages of $41,850. My weekly benefit amount increased from $318 to $504! They're also sending me retroactive payments for the difference on the weeks I've already certified. For anyone dealing with this issue, here's what worked for me: 1. Submitted all my W-2s and quarterly pay stubs through the messaging system 2. Got a letter from my employer confirming my wages 3. Called (multiple times) until I got through to someone who could check on the status Thanks to everyone who helped with advice. This forum was a lifesaver when I was stressing about this whole situation!

Congratulations Justin! This is such great news and proves that persistence really pays off. The fact that your weekly benefit went from $318 to $504 shows just how significant these wage reporting errors can be. For anyone else reading this who might be in a similar situation - Justin's success story shows that even though the process can be frustrating and time-consuming, it's absolutely worth fighting for your correct benefits. The difference between what you should receive versus what they initially offer can be life-changing when you're unemployed. Also want to emphasize what Justin did right: he kept detailed records, got employer verification, and didn't give up even when it took 5 weeks. That retroactive payment is going to make a huge difference for his financial situation right now. Thanks for sharing your journey with us - posts like this help the whole community!

One thing to keep in mind is that if you receive any severance pay from your employer, it might affect when your unemployment benefits start. NYS considers severance as wages, so your benefits could be delayed until after the severance period ends. Also, make sure you have all your employment documents ready when you file - things like your last pay stub, separation notice, and Social Security card. The application process goes much smoother when you have everything organized upfront.

@Mateo Rodriguez Welcome to the unemployment process! As others mentioned, NY's standard duration is 26 weeks. Since you're new to this, here are a few practical tips: 1) File your claim ASAP online at labor.ny.gov - don't wait, 2) Set up direct deposit to avoid delays with benefit payments, 3) Keep a job search log from day one (I use a simple spreadsheet with company names, positions, dates, and contact info), and 4) Save all correspondence from NYS DOL in a folder. The system can seem overwhelming at first, but once you get into the weekly routine of filing your claim and documenting your job search, it becomes manageable. Your retail experience should definitely help you find something new - lots of employers value that customer service background. Good luck!

I'm dealing with this exact same situation right now and this thread has been incredibly helpful! I just filed my claim last week after being laid off from a Washington state-based company that I work for remotely from Buffalo. When I called DOL, they had zero wage records for my main employer - only some small contract work I did locally showed up. The rep seemed totally confused about how to handle it and just told me to "send some documentation" without any clear guidance. After reading through everyone's experiences here, I now understand I need to specifically ask for a "Combined Wage Claim investigation" and be very organized about submitting my paystubs. It's really frustrating that this is such a common issue but there's virtually no clear information about it on the DOL website or training for the reps. I'm going to call back tomorrow armed with all the terminology and steps everyone has shared here. Thank you all so much for taking the time to document your experiences - it's given me hope that this will eventually get resolved, even if it takes longer than a normal claim!

This thread has been a lifesaver for me! I'm currently going through this exact situation - just filed my claim after being laid off from an Illinois-based company where I work remotely from Staten Island. The DOL rep I spoke with yesterday had zero record of my wages and seemed completely baffled when I explained I work for an out-of-state company. She just told me to "submit some pay records" without any specific guidance on the process or timeline. After reading through everyone's experiences here, I now understand this is way more common than I thought and there's actually a specific process for it. I'm going to call back tomorrow and specifically ask for a "Combined Wage Claim investigation" using the exact terminology mentioned here. I'll also make sure to upload my paystubs through the online portal with clear labeling as "Out of State Employer Wage Verification" and ask for a case number to track progress. It's really encouraging to hear that people are successfully getting through this process, even though it takes several weeks longer than normal claims. The fact that you eventually get back pay once everything is resolved is reassuring too. Thanks to everyone who took the time to share their detailed experiences - you've given me a clear roadmap for navigating this complicated process!