Hey Omar! I went through this exact same nightmare last fall when my benefits ran out 4 weeks before my new job started. Here's what I wish someone had told me from day one: apply for EVERYTHING simultaneously. Don't wait to hear back from one program before applying to others - they all have different funding sources and timelines. Start with 211 tomorrow morning (seriously, call right at 8am), then immediately apply for SNAP online, and contact your local Community Action Agency for emergency rent assistance. Also check if your area has any "Rapid Rehousing" programs - they're not just for homeless people, they also help prevent evictions. One thing that really saved me was asking my landlord for a payment plan. I showed them my job offer letter and explained the gap, and they let me pay half the rent on time and half when I got my first paycheck. Most landlords would rather work with you than deal with eviction proceedings. Also, if you have any old textbooks, electronics, or decent clothes, selling them on Facebook Marketplace can bring in quick cash. I made about $300 in a week just clearing out stuff I didn't need anyway. You're so close to having steady income again - these 3 weeks are going to suck but you WILL get through this. The fact that you already have a job lined up puts you miles ahead of where I was. Hang in there!

Reading through all these responses has been so helpful - I'm amazed at how many resources and options I didn't even know existed! I'm making a priority list for tomorrow: 1) Call 211 at 8am sharp, 2) Submit SNAP application online, 3) Contact my landlord with my job offer letter to discuss a payment plan, 4) Look into local Community Action Agency and mutual aid groups. I'm also going to reach out to my new employer to see if there's any flexibility on the start date. It's incredible how this community came together with practical advice - from emergency assistance programs to quick gig work to even plasma donation. I was panicking when I first posted but now I feel like I actually have a solid plan to get through these next 3 weeks. Thank you all so much for taking the time to help a fellow person in need. I'll update this thread once I start hearing back from some of these programs in case it helps others in similar situations!

I just wanted to thank everyone who has shared their experiences here - this thread has been incredibly valuable as I navigate my own situation. My graphic design consultancy has been completely dead since January, and I was really unsure about whether I could file for unemployment while technically still owning the business. The detailed accounts from Isabella, Oliver, Daniel and others have given me the confidence to move forward with filing my claim. A few additional tips I've gathered from my own research that might help others: 1) Keep screenshots of your empty project pipeline/client communications showing the lack of work, 2) Document the exact date of your last client payment, and 3) Be prepared to explain how you're actively job searching beyond just waiting for your business to recover. I'm planning to file next week and will try to update this thread with my experience to help future business owners in similar situations. The NYS Department of Labor system definitely seems complex for self-employed individuals, but it's encouraging to see that people have successfully navigated it while keeping their businesses dormant rather than fully dissolved.

I'm in almost the exact same situation with my freelance web development business - no income since late December and really struggling to make ends meet. This thread has been incredibly helpful in understanding the process. Based on everyone's experiences, it sounds like the key is being able to prove you're "totally unemployed" rather than just having slow business. I've been keeping my business technically open hoping things would turn around, but I think it's time to face reality and file. One question I have that I haven't seen addressed - has anyone dealt with the situation where you have outstanding invoices from before your income stopped? I have about $2,000 in unpaid invoices from November/December clients. If those payments eventually come through while I'm collecting unemployment, how does that affect the claim? Do I need to report it as income even though it's for work performed before I became unemployed? I want to make sure I handle this correctly from the start. Thanks to everyone who's shared their experiences - it's really reassuring to know I'm not alone in this situation.

Hey Aisha! I just went through this exact same process a couple months ago and totally understand the anxiety. From my experience and what I've gathered from others here, the timeline really varies but seems to be running 6-10 weeks lately due to backlogs. A few things that helped me: 1) Set up those text/email alerts through the DOL portal so you know immediately if there's movement, 2) Keep certifying weekly even during the appeal - super important!, and 3) If you hit the 8-week mark with no update, definitely reach out to your state senator's office like Saleem mentioned - they seem to have more pull than assembly members. Also, document everything in case you need to escalate later. I know the financial stress is overwhelming but try to hang in there - most people I know eventually got approved, it just takes way longer than it should. Sending you positive vibes! 🤞✨

I'm dealing with the exact same situation - submitted my reconsideration request about 5 weeks ago and still waiting! The anxiety is real when bills keep coming but there's no income. One thing that's helped me cope is creating a weekly check-in routine where I log into the portal, make any necessary calls, and update my tracking spreadsheet all on the same day. It gives me a sense of control even when everything feels uncertain. Also echoing what others said about reaching out to your state senator's office if you hit that 8-week mark - I'm preparing to do that myself if needed. We're all rooting for you! This community has been such a lifeline during this stressful process. 💪

I'm new to this whole unemployment process and just ran into this exact same confusion! I've been searching through my my.ny.gov account for the past couple hours looking for some mysterious "unemployment insurance number" that my potential employer is requesting. Reading through all these responses has been such a huge relief - I was starting to think I completely missed some important step or document. The terminology is definitely confusing because "unemployment insurance number" really does sound like it should be some specific identifier that NYS DOL assigns to you. It's clear from everyone's experiences that the best approach is to just call the employer directly and ask them to clarify exactly what they need. Thanks to everyone who shared their stories here - this thread is going to save me from probably spending the whole weekend searching for something that doesn't exist as a separate number!

I just joined this community because I'm dealing with this exact same frustrating situation! I've been approved for unemployment benefits but can't find this "unemployment insurance number" anywhere in my documents or my.ny.gov account. Reading through everyone's experiences here has been incredibly reassuring - I was starting to panic thinking I missed some critical step in the application process. The terminology is so confusing because it really sounds like there should be some official number that gets assigned by NYS DOL. It's clear from all the responses that this is a super common issue and the solution is usually much simpler than we think. I'm definitely going to call my employer tomorrow to ask exactly what format they need rather than continuing to search for something that probably doesn't exist as a separate identifier. Thanks to everyone for sharing their stories - this community is such a lifesaver for navigating these confusing processes!

This is exactly the kind of detailed breakdown I needed! I'm currently in week 2 of unemployment after getting laid off from my job in Albany. My former employer just sent me paperwork showing they'll be paying out $3,200 in vacation time next Friday. Based on my previous weekly gross of $800, that works out to exactly 4 weeks of coverage. What's really helpful from reading everyone's experiences is understanding that I need to report this for the 4 weeks immediately following my last day of work, not spread it out randomly. I'm definitely going to contact my HR department to get official documentation showing the weekly breakdown - seems like that's crucial for staying compliant with DOL requirements. It's frustrating that this isn't explained clearly on the official website, but threads like this are invaluable for navigating the system properly!

This thread has been incredibly helpful! I'm actually going through this right now - got laid off 3 weeks ago and my employer just told me they're sending about $2,100 in vacation pay next week. Reading through everyone's experiences, it's clear I need to: 1) Get documentation from HR showing which specific weeks the vacation covers, 2) Calculate my weekly gross ($525) to determine how many weeks this represents (4 weeks), and 3) Report it properly on my weekly claims for those periods. What I'm still unsure about is the timing - if I receive the lump sum payment next Friday, do I report it on the weekly claim for that specific week, or do I spread it across the 4 weeks it's supposed to cover starting from my last day of work? The DOL website really doesn't make this clear at all!