I'm dealing with a similar situation right now - had to quit my job because my employer kept changing my work location with no notice, making my commute impossible with public transit. It's been really encouraging to read everyone's experiences here! One thing I learned from my case worker is that NYS Department of Labor also considers it good cause if the job changes violate the terms of your original employment agreement. So if you were hired with the understanding of a consistent schedule and they completely changed that, it strengthens your case. The waiting is definitely the hardest part, but it sounds like you have solid documentation. Keep your chin up - the system does work when you have legitimate reasons like yours!

I went through this exact same situation about 8 months ago - retail manager constantly changing my schedule at the last minute, making childcare a nightmare. The good news is that NYS Department of Labor absolutely recognizes this as good cause for quitting! What really helped my case was creating a timeline document that showed my original schedule versus all the changes, along with screenshots of the text messages. I also included a brief statement from my daycare provider confirming how the schedule changes affected my childcare arrangements. My adjudication took about 5 weeks, but I was approved. The key is being thorough with your documentation and clearly explaining how the schedule changes made it impossible to continue working. You've got this!

I went through something similar recently - my claim was pending for about 5 days before it cleared automatically. In my case, it turned out they were just backlogged from a system update. One thing that helped me was logging into my account multiple times throughout the day to see if any new correspondence showed up, even when there were no initial messages. Sometimes they post updates or requests for information that don't trigger email notifications right away. Also, if you're really stressed about the timing for rent, you might want to reach out to your landlord now to give them a heads up about the potential delay - most are understanding about unemployment processing delays.

I work for a local nonprofit that helps people navigate unemployment benefits, and from what I've seen, pending status during your first few weeks is actually pretty common. NYS DOL has automated flags that can trigger reviews for new claims - things like verifying your previous employer information, double-checking your benefit calculation, or just random quality assurance checks. The good news is that if it's just a routine review and there are no actual issues, the payment usually gets released retroactively once it clears. I'd recommend documenting everything (screenshots of your claim status, dates you filed, etc.) just in case you need it later. If you're still pending by early next week, try calling first thing Monday morning around 8:05 AM - that's when you have the best chance of getting through to someone.

Just file your claim asap dont worry about who pays what. The important thing is getting your benefits started because theres always delays with adjudication and stuff

Don't let the experience rating system discourage you from filing - it's actually designed to protect workers! The whole point is that employers who frequently lay people off or fire without good cause should pay more into the system. If you were legitimately terminated and not for misconduct, you absolutely deserve those benefits. The money is there specifically for situations like yours. I'd recommend documenting everything about your termination just in case your employer tries to contest the claim, but definitely file as soon as possible since there's usually a waiting period before benefits start.

Pro tip: set a recurring alarm on your phone for Sunday mornings. I do mine at 8am every week and it's become routine. The NYS Department of Labor system can be slow on Sunday mornings because everyone's trying to certify at once, so sometimes I wait until afternoon.

Just want to clarify something that might help - when you first get approved, they usually send you a letter or email with your specific certification day and instructions. But yes, it's typically Sunday for most people. One thing to watch out for is that if there's a holiday weekend, the certification might be delayed by a day. I learned this the hard way during Labor Day weekend! Also, make sure you're logging into the correct portal - there's the main NYS DOL website and then the separate unemployment services portal where you actually do the certification.

Just wanted to share my experience - I received my KeyBank debit card about 8 days after my first payment was issued. One thing to note is that the card comes in a plain white envelope from KeyBank, so it's easy to miss if you're not looking for it carefully. Also, make sure your address is correct in your my.ny.gov profile because that's where they'll mail it. I initially had an old address on file and had to update it before they could send a replacement card.

One thing I learned the hard way is to activate your KeyBank debit card as soon as you receive it! I waited a few days thinking I could activate it later, but then when I tried to use it at an ATM, it was declined. Had to call the activation number and they told me there's a time limit for activation after the card is mailed. Also, if you lose the card or it gets stolen, KeyBank will overnight a replacement for free, which is pretty convenient.