Glad you got it sorted out! For anyone else reading this thread - calling ahead to the local office to confirm they can print the documents on the spot is definitely recommended. Some locations might not have the same capabilities or might require appointments. Also worth noting that if you do go in person, bring a photo ID and your social security card just in case they need additional verification.

Just want to add another tip for anyone in this situation - if you're dealing with a tight deadline like OP was, you can also ask your caseworker (if you have one assigned) to email you an unofficial summary of your benefits. While this won't work for all purposes, some rental offices will accept it as interim documentation while you wait for the official paperwork. I had to do this when my landlord needed proof quickly for a lease renewal. The caseworker was able to send me a simple email stating my weekly benefit amount and dates of coverage, which bought me time until the official documents arrived. Obviously this depends on having a responsive caseworker, but worth trying if you're in a pinch!

I'm currently going through this exact same situation! Filed my claim about a week ago and have been absolutely panicking seeing those $0s everywhere. I was convinced I'd messed something up in my application or didn't qualify somehow. This thread has been such a lifesaver - it's incredible how many people are dealing with the identical experience right now. The NY unemployment system really is terrible at communicating what's happening during processing. They could easily add a simple "Claim under review - processing time 2-4 weeks" message instead of just showing $0 and leaving everyone to think their claim was denied. I haven't received any document requests in my portal yet, but based on everyone's timelines here it sounds like I should expect something soon. Just set up my Sunday certification reminder after reading all these comments - seems like that weekly certification is absolutely crucial even when everything shows zero. The waiting is brutal when you're depending on these benefits to pay bills, but reading all these success stories about getting backpay makes me feel so much more confident. It's amazing how this community can provide the clarity that the actual unemployment website completely fails to give. Thanks to everyone sharing their experiences - you're helping so many stressed newcomers like me understand this confusing process! 🙏

I'm going through the EXACT same thing right now! Just filed my claim about 5 days ago and seeing those $0 amounts everywhere was absolutely terrifying. I was convinced I'd somehow screwed up my application or that I didn't qualify at all. This thread has been such a lifesaver - it's incredible how many of us are dealing with this identical scary situation. The NY unemployment system is honestly cruel for not explaining what's happening during processing. Like, would it really be that hard to add a simple "Your claim is being processed - please allow 2-4 weeks" status message instead of just showing $0 and leaving everyone to panic? I haven't received any document requests in my portal yet, but based on everyone's timelines here, it sounds like I should expect something in the next week or two. Already set up my Sunday certification reminder after reading all these comments - seems like that weekly certification is absolutely crucial even when everything shows zero. The waiting is brutal when you're depending on these benefits to pay rent and bills, but reading everyone's success stories about eventually getting backpay makes this whole process feel so much more manageable. It's amazing how this community provides the clarity that the actual NY unemployment website completely fails to give us. Thanks to everyone who took the time to share their experiences and timelines - you're helping so many anxious newcomers like me understand this confusing and stressful process! 🙏

I'm going through the exact same thing right now! Just filed my claim 5 days ago and was totally confused about why the system is telling me to certify when I haven't gotten any kind of approval confirmation yet. This whole thread has been a lifesaver - I had no idea this was actually the normal process for NY unemployment. It's honestly pretty ridiculous how the NYSDOL website doesn't explain this clearly at all. I was starting to panic thinking maybe I did something wrong or my application got lost in the system. But reading everyone's experiences here has given me so much peace of mind. Definitely going to start certifying this weekend as instructed and just be patient while waiting for that determination letter. Thanks to everyone for sharing their stories - it's really comforting to know that even though this process feels completely backwards, it actually does work out if you just follow the system's timeline!

I'm dealing with this EXACT same situation right now! Filed my NY unemployment claim 6 days ago and have been stressing out about whether I should certify without getting that official approval first. This entire thread has been such a huge relief - I had no idea this was the standard process for everyone in NY! The NYSDOL website really doesn't explain this timeline clearly at all, which is so frustrating. I was convinced I must have done something wrong or that my application got stuck somewhere in the system. But seeing all these people confirm that you're supposed to start certifying while your claim is still under review has given me so much peace of mind. I'm definitely going to follow everyone's advice here and start my weekly certifications as instructed this weekend. It's wild how backwards this process feels but clearly that's just how NY unemployment works. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences and timelines - it's incredibly helpful to know what to expect over the next few weeks while I wait for that determination letter!

Just went through one of these appointments yesterday and wanted to jump in with my experience! I was totally stressed about it too after getting that same "REIMAGINE Your Career" message - the wording really does make it sound more dramatic than it is. Mine was over Zoom and lasted about 25 minutes. The counselor was actually super chill and mainly just wanted to confirm I was doing my required job search activities. I had a basic list of applications (just company names and dates in a notebook) and she was totally fine with that level of documentation. The best part - when I mentioned I'd been helping out at my local library as a volunteer, she was really positive about it! She said it showed I was staying active and engaged while job searching, which is exactly what they want to see. So definitely bring up your school volunteering - they'll probably see it as a great thing. Since it's virtual, you might be able to work around your volunteering schedule easier than you think. You could potentially do it earlier in the day or even from your phone if needed. But if you absolutely have to reschedule, try calling the career center number (not the regular unemployment line) right at 8 AM - that's when you're most likely to get through. Try not to worry too much! These counselors really aren't trying to trip anyone up. They just want to see you're making an honest effort with your job search. The fact that you're already volunteering shows exactly the kind of initiative they're looking for. You'll be fine!

Just wanted to add my perspective since I went through this exact situation about 6 weeks ago! I was super anxious about the appointment too, especially because I had a conflict with a volunteer commitment at my daughter's daycare. The appointment ended up being way less stressful than I expected - about 30 minutes over Zoom with a really understanding counselor. She mainly just wanted to verify I was actively job searching and meeting the work requirements. I had a simple list of jobs I'd applied to (nothing fancy, just company names and dates) and that was totally sufficient. Here's the key thing - definitely mention your school volunteering! When I brought up my daycare volunteer work, the counselor was genuinely impressed and said it showed community engagement and skill development. They actually view volunteer activities as a huge positive because it demonstrates you're staying productive while job searching. I ended up being able to reschedule by calling the career center number directly at exactly 8:00 AM - got through after about 15 minutes on hold. Much better than trying the main unemployment line! Don't stress too much about this - these counselors aren't looking for reasons to cut benefits. They just want to see you're making a genuine effort. Your volunteering commitment actually shows the exact kind of responsible attitude they want to see. You've got this!

Just a heads up - if you're running QB Desktop 2022 or older, you might need to manually download the latest tax tables to get the correct 2025 wage base limits. The automatic updates sometimes don't include all the state-specific changes for unemployment insurance.

I work in payroll for a small business in NY and we had this exact same issue earlier this year. After updating the wage base in QB, make sure you also run a liability adjustment report to see if any employees were incorrectly charged UI tax on wages above $12,800. You might need to process manual adjustments for those employees and file amended returns with NYS Department of Labor if the overage was significant. Also, double-check that your company's SUI rate is correct in the system - sometimes QB doesn't pull the right rate from your Department of Labor account.