wait what about if you get fired for being late too much? asking for a friend lol

Just went through this process myself! For the hostile work environment situation, document everything you can - emails, texts, any HR complaints you filed, witness contacts, etc. NYS considers constructive dismissal (being forced to quit due to intolerable conditions) as potentially qualifying for benefits, but the burden of proof is on you. I'd recommend filing anyway and letting them make the determination rather than assuming you won't qualify. The worst they can do is deny it, and you can always appeal with more documentation. Also keep in mind that even if initially denied, many people win on appeal once they can present their case more thoroughly.

I'm new to unemployment benefits and just started seeing "payment progress" on my claim status too. Reading through these responses is really helpful! It's reassuring to know this is actually a positive sign that everything is moving along normally. The NYS system can be pretty confusing when you're not familiar with all the different status messages they use.

I've been getting unemployment benefits for about 3 months now and "payment progress" has become pretty routine for me. It usually shows up for about a day or two after I certify my weekly claim, then switches to "released" and I get the deposit within another day. I think they added this status to help people track where their payment is in the process instead of just wondering why it's taking a few days. Much better than the old system where you'd just have to wait and hope everything went through okay!

Just file online and see what happens. My neighbor worked at a church and got benefits last year so it's definitely possible.

I went through this exact situation with my sister who worked at a synagogue. The key thing is that under the CARES Act and subsequent legislation, religious organizations that previously opted out of unemployment insurance can now have their employees covered under certain circumstances. Your wife should definitely file through the NYS Department of Labor website - don't let the church discourage you from trying. When she files, she should list her employment accurately and let the system determine eligibility. The worst case is they deny it, but many religious workers have been successfully approved. Make sure she has all her pay stubs and employment documentation ready when she applies.

omg the system is so confusing!! why cant they just let you get both if you need the money?? dealing with all this paperwork while trying to take care of family is stressful enough

I'm sorry to hear about your mom's stroke, Amina. This is such a difficult situation to navigate. From what others have shared, you're right that you can't collect both simultaneously, but I wanted to add that you should also check if you're eligible for FMLA (Family and Medical Leave Act) through your employer. While FMLA is unpaid leave, it provides job protection for up to 12 weeks if your employer has 50+ employees and you meet the other requirements. This could give you some security about getting your job back after caring for your mother. You might be able to use PFL for the income replacement while FMLA protects your position. Definitely worth asking HR about this option alongside the PFL application.

Just wanted to add that if you're still having issues with ID.me, another thing that helped me was making sure my face was completely centered in the camera frame and holding very still during the scan. Also, remove any glasses or hats if you're wearing them - even if your ID photo has them. The system is super picky about matching exactly what it sees. I also found that having a plain white or light colored wall behind you works better than a busy background. Hope your video appointment goes well tomorrow!

For anyone else struggling with ID.me, I wanted to share what finally worked for me after weeks of failed attempts. I was getting the same "Unable to verify identity" errors on multiple devices. What ended up working was: 1. Using incognito/private browsing mode 2. Disabling any ad blockers or browser extensions 3. Making sure my internet connection was stable (used ethernet instead of WiFi) 4. Taking the photo during mid-morning when lighting was consistent The key thing that made the difference was actually updating my browser to the latest version - apparently ID.me has compatibility issues with older browser versions. Also, if you wear contacts, try taking them out for the verification - I read somewhere that the reflections can interfere with the facial recognition. Hope this helps someone avoid the frustration I went through! The video chat option is definitely worth trying if all else fails.