This whole immigration system is so confusing! Why can't they just have clear guidelines about what counts and what doesn't? I've been stressed about this exact thing for months. Good luck with your interview!

I went through this exact same situation! Was on NYS Department of Labor unemployment for almost a year while waiting for my citizenship interview. Not only did it not hurt my application, but the immigration officer actually seemed impressed that I was actively looking for work and following all the requirements. She said it showed I was being a responsible member of society. Just make sure you have your tax documents showing you paid into the unemployment system - that really helps demonstrate it's not welfare but earned benefits. You've got this!

The system is SO messed up. They make it almost impossible to reach anyone to ask questions but expect you to follow all these complicated rules perfectly. Meanwhile people are just trying to survive and pay rent.

I just went through this exact situation last month! I started driving for Uber while on unemployment and was terrified about reporting it correctly. Here's what I learned: you MUST report every penny you earn, even $20. But the good news is you can still collect partial benefits. NYS has a formula where they let you keep most of your unemployment plus some of your earnings. For me, when I made $120 in a week from Uber, they only reduced my $380 weekly benefit by about $30. So I actually came out ahead! The key is being 100% honest on your weekly certification. Don't risk fraud charges over a few bucks - it's just not worth it.

This whole thread reminds me of when I was on unemployment back in 2019. I was so paranoid about doing everything right that I probably spent more time reading the NYS Department of Labor rules than actually job searching lol. But seriously, the key is just to be honest about your work situation and when in doubt, call them or file anyway and let them sort it out.

The 26 weeks is from when you first filed your claim, not when you were approved. So if you filed 4 months ago, you've probably used up around 16-17 weeks already. You can check your exact remaining balance by logging into your NY.gov account - it should show you how many weeks you have left. And yes, you can definitely work part-time and still collect partial benefits as long as you report all your earnings when you certify each week. The system will automatically calculate what you're eligible for based on how much you earned that week.

File ASAP and then stay on top of your weekly claims! I can't stress this enough - you have to file every single week even if your initial claim is still being processed. Miss a week and you can't go back and claim it later.

Don't panic - you still have time! As others mentioned, you can file up to a year after becoming unemployed, but those first two weeks are lost. The key thing now is to act fast and be thorough with your application. Make sure you have all your employment documentation ready, including your final pay stub if possible. After you file your initial claim, set up reminders to file your weekly claims every single week - I use my phone calendar with alerts because it's so easy to forget. The weekly filing is just as important as the initial claim, and missing even one week means you lose that money permanently. You've got this!

To clarify for everyone: The standard timeline for NY unemployment payments in 2025 is: 1. Release date: This is when NYSDOL approves your payment 2. Processing: 1-3 business days (excluding weekends and federal holidays) 3. Bank posting: Depends on your financial institution (typically 0-1 additional days) So for a Saturday, August 30 release date, with Monday being Labor Day: - Tuesday, Sept 2: First business day of processing - Wednesday, Sept 3: Likely arrival for banks with faster processing - Thursday, Sept 4: Typical arrival for most banks If you need to verify your specific payment status, contacting NYSDOL directly is the most reliable option.

Hey Liam! I totally understand your stress about the timing. I've been getting NY unemployment for about 6 months now and I also have Chase. In my experience, Chase is pretty consistent - I usually get my deposit exactly 2 business days after the release date. Since your release is Saturday Aug 30 and Monday Sept 1 is Labor Day, you're looking at Tuesday Sept 2 as the first business day for processing. I'd expect to see it in your Chase account by Thursday Sept 4 at the latest, but possibly Wednesday Sept 3. Definitely call your landlord ASAP to give them a heads up. Most landlords are understanding about unemployment delays, especially if you communicate early. Take a screenshot of your release date as backup documentation. You got this!