Same boat here! Filed 3 weeks ago for a layoff and still waiting. At least I know I'm not the only one dealing with this uncertainty.

I went through something similar about 6 months ago with a complex layoff situation. NYS Department of Labor took about 4 weeks to resolve mine, but the wait was definitely nerve-wracking. One thing that helped me was calling my local career center - they couldn't speed up the process but they were able to connect me with some emergency assistance programs while I waited. Also, make sure you're continuing to certify for benefits each week even while it's pending, otherwise you might miss out on back pay if approved. Hang in there!

yeah the whole system is confusing af. took me forever to figure out you have to file every sunday for the previous week. missed my first payment because i thought you filed whenever

The timing is important - you can file your weekly claim starting Sunday for the week that just ended. You have until the following Saturday to file it, but don't wait because if you miss the deadline you could lose that week's benefits permanently. Also make sure you're reporting your job search activities accurately on each weekly claim.

not all heroes wear capes but the person who told me about claimyr.com definitely deserves one. finally got through to unemployment after weeks of trying. switched from that trash debit card to direct deposit in literally 5 minutes.

Honestly, I'm going through the exact same nightmare right now. Got my card two weeks ago and every single ATM has hit me with fees - even the ones on their "approved" list! It's like they designed this system specifically to screw us over when we're already struggling. I've wasted almost $30 in fees just trying to get MY OWN MONEY out. The cash back trick at grocery stores seems to be the only thing that actually works without getting charged. Such BS that we have to jump through all these hoops just to access our benefits. Going to try that bank transfer option everyone's mentioning - anything to avoid feeding more money to KeyBank's fee machine 😤

One thing to keep in mind is that even if your initial claim is delayed, once it's approved you'll receive retroactive payments back to your filing date. So you won't lose any benefits you're entitled to, just the timing of when you receive them. Make sure you keep filing your weekly claims even while waiting for the determination.

I'm going through the exact same thing right now! Filed my claim about 10 days ago and it's been stuck on "under review" status with no updates. It's so stressful not knowing when to expect anything. I called the phone line multiple times but either get a busy signal or sit on hold for hours before getting disconnected. Has anyone had any luck getting status updates through their online portal, or is calling really the only way to get information about what's causing the delay?

Just wanted to add that if your mom is still worried, she can always call the Social Security Administration directly to confirm that unemployment benefits won't affect her disability payments. They have a customer service line and can give her peace of mind from the official source. But everyone here is absolutely right - these are two completely separate government programs with different funding sources and eligibility requirements. Your unemployment claim through NYS Department of Labor has zero impact on her Social Security disability benefits. Go ahead and file your claim - you've already waited 2 weeks and shouldn't delay any longer!

Just to add another perspective - I'm a former NYS Department of Labor employee and can confirm everything everyone has said here. Unemployment insurance and Social Security are administered by completely different federal and state agencies. UI falls under the Department of Labor system (both federal and state level), while Social Security is handled by the Social Security Administration. There's literally no computer system or database connection between them that would allow one to affect the other. Your mom's Social Security disability is based on her work history and medical condition - your employment status or unemployment benefits have absolutely zero bearing on her eligibility or payment amount. File your claim ASAP since you're already behind by 2 weeks!