I remember being so stressed about this same thing! The word 'separation' made it sound like something bad was happening with my claim. But it's totally normal - every unemployment claim has to go through separation determination. As long as you were truly laid off and didn't quit voluntarily, you should be fine once they complete their review.

I went through this exact same thing when I got laid off from my retail job last month! The separation review is just their standard process to make sure you qualify for benefits. Since you mentioned you were laid off due to slow business, that's considered "lack of work" which definitely qualifies you for unemployment. The "under review" status just means they're verifying the details with your former employer. In my case, it took about a week and a half before the status changed to approved. Try not to stress about it - as long as you were honest about being laid off and didn't quit or get terminated for misconduct, you should be good to go once they finish the review process.

Just to add some clarity - the NYS Department of Labor also has a minimum work requirement of at least 2 calendar quarters during your base period. So even if you meet the earnings thresholds that others mentioned, you need to have actually worked in at least 2 different quarters. Since you mentioned working part-time last year plus your current 6 weeks, you might already meet this if your previous job spanned multiple quarters. The good news is that once you qualify, your weekly benefit amount is based on your highest quarter earnings, so every week you work now is potentially increasing that amount!

I was in a similar situation when I first started working! One thing that really helped me understand my eligibility was actually calling the NYS Department of Labor directly, even though the wait times can be brutal. But here's a pro tip - if you do need to call them, try calling right when they open at 8 AM or during lunch hours when it's sometimes less busy. Also, make sure you have your Social Security number and any previous employer information ready. The representatives are actually pretty helpful once you get through, and they can look up your specific wage history and tell you exactly where you stand with the earnings requirements. It's worth the wait to get definitive answers about your situation!

I'm dealing with this exact same issue right now! Reported 16 hours of part-time work on my certification this week and boom - "break in claim" status. It's so stressful when you're already struggling financially and then the system throws you this curveball with zero explanation. Thank you everyone for sharing your experiences - it's really reassuring to know this is just a normal processing delay and not something I messed up. I'll definitely keep certifying weekly and try to be patient for the next few days. Has anyone noticed if there's a particular day of the week when these usually get resolved, or is it pretty random?

I'm in the EXACT same boat right now - reported 14 hours of part-time work yesterday and woke up to that terrifying "break in claim" message this morning! My heart literally dropped because like you, I have bills due next week and was depending on that payment. Reading through everyone's experiences here has been such a lifesaver though. It sounds like this is completely normal for first-time part-time work reporting and should resolve within the next few business days. I'm definitely going to keep certifying weekly like everyone suggested and try not to panic. Thank you so much for posting this question - knowing I'm not the only one going through this makes it so much less scary! Hoping we both get good news soon 🤞

I just wanted to jump in here as someone who went through this exact same nerve-wracking experience about 6 months ago! The waiting for that first payment is absolutely brutal, especially when you're already financially stressed. I remember checking my bank account like 10 times a day and panicking that something was wrong with my claim. My first payment took exactly 9 business days after certifying, and like others mentioned, both weeks came through at once. What really helped me was understanding that NY's system treats the first payment differently - they run additional fraud prevention checks and verifications that don't happen with subsequent payments. Once that first one hits though, every payment after comes like clockwork in 2-3 days. For anyone currently waiting - hang in there! The "processed" status really does mean your money is coming, it's just their backend systems being extra cautious. I know it doesn't help with immediate bills, but the payments do come through and they'll backpay everything you're owed.

I'm currently in this exact situation too and finding this thread has been such a relief! Just finished my second week of certifying on Sunday and I'm on day 3 of waiting with a "processed" status but no payment yet. I was starting to get really anxious because like everyone else mentioned, the DOL website makes it sound like payments should arrive in 2-3 days max. Reading all these experiences showing 7-10 business days is actually normal for the first payment has really calmed my nerves. It's especially tough when you're already financially tight and this money is what you're counting on to keep things afloat. The waiting game is brutal but I'm feeling more confident now that the payment will come through soon. Thanks to everyone for sharing their timelines - this community support makes such a difference when you're going through this stressful process!

Just make sure you update your address with PA immediately. I forgot to do that when I moved and it caused all sorts of problems with my payments getting delayed.

I went through this exact situation last year when I moved from Ohio to NY. The key thing is to file your initial claim with Pennsylvania since that's where you worked and earned your wages. Once you have your PA claim established, you'll need to register with the NYS Department of Labor's job search system to fulfill any work search requirements. PA and NY have agreements in place that make this process smoother than it sounds. Just be prepared for some paperwork and make sure to keep both states informed about your job search activities. The good news is you don't lose your benefits just because you moved!