Just started collecting benefits in early February so this thread is perfect timing! Was literally just wondering about this yesterday. The 3-4 month timeline everyone's mentioning gives me a good benchmark to work with. I've been pretty casual about tracking my job applications - just keeping them in my email drafts folder - but after reading Charlotte's detailed breakdown I realize I need to get way more organized. Planning to set up a proper spreadsheet this weekend with all the specifics (dates, companies, positions, application method, responses, etc.) before that first appointment comes around. Really appreciate everyone sharing their real experiences here instead of just guessing. Makes the whole thing feel way less intimidating knowing it's typically just a straightforward check-in about your job search efforts! 📋

Just wanted to add my two cents as someone who's been through this process a few times now! Been collecting since September and have had two appointments so far - one at 3 months and another at 6 months. The spacing seems pretty consistent with what Charlotte mentioned. One thing I'd recommend beyond the great record-keeping advice already shared is to also track any temp work or gig jobs you might do while collecting - they want to see that info too since it affects your weekly claim. Also, don't be nervous about the appointment itself! The caseworkers I've dealt with have been pretty understanding and helpful. They're not trying to catch you in some gotcha moment, they just want to make sure you're actively looking and following the requirements. The whole thing really is more of a check-in than an interrogation. Hope this helps ease some anxiety for the newer folks! 😊

As someone completely new to the unemployment benefits system, this thread has been absolutely invaluable! I had no idea that per diem workers could even qualify for unemployment while still technically employed - I always assumed you had to be completely laid off or fired to be eligible. Reading through everyone's real experiences with NYS Department of Labor has taught me so much more than any official government website ever could. The consistent advice about documenting every attempt to get shifts and being completely transparent about your situation really stands out. It's incredibly encouraging to see how many people have successfully gotten their claims approved in similar circumstances. What really resonates with me is the concept that getting zero hours through no fault of your own essentially equals being unemployed, even if you're still on the roster. This community's willingness to share detailed, real-world experiences makes navigating such a confusing system feel so much more manageable for newcomers like me. Thank you to everyone who took the time to explain their situations - it's given me confidence that there are actually solutions available for per diem workers facing these challenging circumstances!

As someone who's completely new to understanding unemployment benefits, this entire discussion has been so enlightening! I had absolutely no clue that per diem workers could qualify for unemployment while still technically employed - I always thought you needed to be fully terminated or laid off. Reading through everyone's real experiences with NYS Department of Labor has been incredibly educational and much more helpful than trying to decipher official government websites. The key takeaways I'm seeing are: be completely honest about your situation, document every attempt to get shifts, and make it clear you're available for full-time work elsewhere. It's really reassuring to see how many people have successfully gotten their claims approved by simply being transparent about getting zero hours through no fault of their own. This community's willingness to share detailed experiences makes what seemed like an overwhelming process feel actually manageable for newcomers like me. Thank you to everyone who took the time to explain their situations - it's given me so much more confidence in understanding how the system works for per diem workers!

I'm going through this exact same situation right now - my 11-month contract with a financial services company ends in 10 days and they just confirmed no renewal due to "budget constraints." This thread has been absolutely invaluable! I was really panicking about whether I'd be eligible for unemployment benefits, but reading everyone's successful experiences here has given me so much relief. Based on all the great advice shared, I've already started organizing my documentation: original contract with the renewal option clause, all my performance reviews (thankfully all positive), the official email about non-renewal, and even some internal messages where my team lead mentioned being disappointed they couldn't extend my position. I'm planning to file my claim on my very last day of work and have already started preparing my job search activity log. One thing I wanted to ask - for those who mentioned the 2-3 week timeline from filing to first payment, did you have to do anything special during that waiting period, or is it mostly just waiting for the adjudication process to complete? Thanks so much to everyone who shared their experiences - this community support makes such a stressful situation feel much more manageable!

I'm currently in this exact situation too - my 9-month contract with a marketing firm ends in 4 weeks and they just let me know they won't be renewing due to "budget reallocations." This whole thread has been such a lifesaver! I was really worried about navigating the unemployment system, but seeing so many people successfully get approved for benefits after contract non-renewals is incredibly reassuring. I've been following all the advice here and gathering my documentation: original contract agreement, the non-renewal email from HR, my quarterly reviews, and even some Slack conversations where my manager mentioned wishing they could keep me but corporate made the budget decision. Planning to file my claim on my actual last day of work. One thing I'm curious about - has anyone dealt with a situation where the employer offered to provide a reference letter specifically for unemployment purposes? My supervisor mentioned they'd be happy to write something confirming my good performance and that the non-renewal was purely a business decision on their part. Would that be helpful to include with my application, or is the standard documentation usually sufficient? Thanks to everyone for sharing such detailed experiences - this community is amazing!

I just had my mandatory virtual review appointment two weeks ago and wanted to share my experience since I was in almost the exact same situation as you! I was super anxious about it, especially because my home internet is really unreliable. Here's what ended up working for me: I went to my local library and reserved a study room for the appointment. Most libraries let you book them for free, and the wifi was rock solid. I brought my phone charger and had everything ready about 30 minutes early since they warn about being up to 2 hours late (mine was actually only about 20 minutes late). The call itself was honestly much more relaxed than I expected. The rep went through my work search records pretty thoroughly - they asked for specific details about the last 4-5 jobs I'd applied to, including company names, positions, dates, and which websites I used. Having everything written down beforehand was a lifesaver. They also checked that my JobZone profile was updated (definitely do this the night before!) and asked about any barriers I was facing in my job search. The whole conversation felt more like they were trying to help me succeed rather than catch me doing something wrong. My biggest piece of advice: create a simple spreadsheet or document with all your job applications from the past month. Include company name, position, date applied, and method (Indeed, company website, etc.). This made the call go so much smoother and showed them I was taking my search seriously. You've got this! The fact that you're already thinking ahead and preparing shows you'll do just fine.

I had my virtual review appointment about 6 weeks ago and can definitely relate to your anxiety! I was also worried about connection issues since I live in a rural area with unreliable service. Here's what worked for me: I ended up going to a local Starbucks that I knew had strong wifi, found a quiet corner, and used wifi calling on my phone with headphones. The call ended up being about 75 minutes and they called roughly 50 minutes late (much better than the 2-hour warning they give). The conversation was actually pretty straightforward. They asked about: - Specific details of my recent job applications (company names, positions, dates) - How I've been using JobZone (definitely update your profile beforehand!) - Any challenges I'm facing in my job search - Whether I needed help with resume or interview skills The rep was genuinely helpful and even pointed me toward some job resources I hadn't known about. It felt more like a supportive check-in than an interrogation. My advice: Make a simple list of your recent job applications with all the details, find a reliable connection spot (library study rooms are great too!), and don't stress too much. As long as you're genuinely looking for work and can show your efforts, you'll be fine. They really do seem focused on helping people succeed rather than cutting benefits. Good luck!

Just went through this myself a few weeks ago! They automatically used my old KeyBank card from 2023, even though I hadn't used it in almost a year. The funds showed up within 2-3 business days of my certification being processed. One thing I learned - if you're not sure if your card is still active, you can test it by trying to check the balance at an ATM or through KeyBank's automated phone line (1-866-295-2955) before your payment is scheduled. That way you'll know ahead of time if there might be any issues. Also, make sure your address is updated in both your unemployment profile AND with KeyBank if you've moved, otherwise you might run into the same problem @Molly Chambers mentioned!

This is such a helpful thread! I'm actually going through the exact same situation right now - just got approved for NY unemployment again after working for about 10 months. I still have my KeyBank card from 2023 and it doesn't expire until 2026, but I was worried they might automatically send a new one anyway. Reading everyone's experiences here has been super reassuring. I'm definitely going to call that KeyBank number (1-866-295-2955) that @Lara Woods and @Edison Estevez mentioned to check if my card is still active before my first payment comes through. Better to know now than wait and wonder! Also going to double-check my address info in both systems since I moved last year. Thanks everyone for sharing your real experiences - way more helpful than trying to navigate the official websites!