Same boat here - filed 4 weeks ago and nothing. At least I know I'm not alone in this. The uncertainty is the worst part.

I'm going through the same thing right now - filed my initial claim about 3.5 weeks ago and still showing as pending. It's frustrating because you hear such different timelines from everyone. I've been trying to stay patient but it's hard when you're not sure if it's normal delays or if there's an actual issue with your claim. Thanks for posting this question, it helps to see I'm not the only one dealing with this right now.

Construction workers often get confused by this because seasonal work creates uneven quarters. Your base period might not include your best earning periods if the timing doesn't line up right with when you filed your claim.

This is exactly why I wish NYS Department of Labor would provide clearer examples on their website. I'm also in construction and had no idea about the base period quarters thing until I started digging into it. Your $425 weekly benefit actually sounds reasonable if you had some slow quarters mixed in with your higher earning ones. The timing of when you file really does matter - I've heard of people waiting a few weeks to file if they knew a high-earning quarter was about to become part of their base period, though obviously you can't wait too long since benefits are backdated only so far.

Also don't forget about the partial unemployment option if you find part time work. You can sometimes still collect benefits if your hours are reduced.

Just wanted to add that if you're in marketing like the original poster, you might also want to look into whether your company offered any severance or COBRA benefits that could help bridge the gap. Some marketing roles also qualify for freelance/contract work that could supplement partial unemployment benefits. Also, consider using this time to update your portfolio and maybe get some certifications - LinkedIn Learning and Google have free courses that could make you more competitive when those 26 weeks are up. The key is treating job searching like a full-time job itself.

ugh the whole system is so confusing!! why cant they just make it simple for people who are already going through hard times

@Dylan Evans, I went through something similar when I moved from NY to Florida to help with my elderly father. A few key things that helped me: 1) Get a letter from your mom's doctor detailing her condition and need for care - this was crucial for proving "good cause" 2) Keep records of any communication with your employer about remote work options (emails, etc.) to show you tried to keep the job 3) File your claim ASAP even while gathering documents - you can submit additional proof during adjudication. The process was stressful but NYS Department of Labor did approve my case once I provided the medical documentation. Hang in there!

Just to add some perspective - even after your employer responds, NYS Department of Labor can take additional time to review everything and make their decision. In straightforward layoff cases like yours it's usually approved quickly, but they still have to go through their process. Hang in there!

I went through this same process about 6 months ago when I was laid off from my tech job. My employer actually responded within 3 days, but then it took NYS Department of Labor another 10 days to process everything and update my claim status. The whole thing felt like it took forever when you're stressed about money. One thing that helped me was setting up direct deposit ahead of time through the my.ny.gov portal so when the payment was finally approved, it came through faster. Also, if you were laid off due to downsizing like you mentioned, that's typically a pretty straightforward approval once they get through the paperwork. Try not to stress too much - you should be good!