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If I could give 10 stars I would If I could give 10 stars I would Such an amazing service so needed during the times when EDD almost never picks up Claimyr gets me on the phone with EDD every time without fail faster. A much needed service without Claimyr I would have never received the payment I needed to support me during my postpartum recovery. Thank you so much Claimyr!
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Really made a difference, save me time and energy from going to a local office for making the call.
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An incredibly helpful service
An incredibly helpful service! Got me connected to a CA EDD agent without major hassle (outside of EDD's agents dropping calls – which Claimyr has free protection for). If you need to file a new claim and can't do it online, pay the $ to Claimyr to get the process started. Absolutely worth it!
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Used this service a couple times now. Before I'd call 200 times in less than a weak frustrated as can be. But using claimyr with a couple hours of waiting i was on the line with an representative or on hold. Dropped a couple times but each reconnected not long after and was mission accomplished, thanks to Claimyr.
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I tried for weeks to get thru to EDD PFL program with no luck. I gave this a try thinking it may be a scam. OMG! It worked and They got thru within an hour and my claim is going to finally get paid!! I upgraded to the $60 call. Best $60 spent!
Ask the community...
- DO post questions about your issues.
- DO answer questions and support each other.
- DO post tips & tricks to help folks.
- DO NOT post call problems here - there is a support tab at the top for that :)
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Zainab Omar
I'm in a similar boat - just got laid off from my teaching assistant position and my COBRA costs would be $680/month which I definitely can't afford on unemployment. Reading through these responses is really helpful. One question though - if I apply for Medicaid now while on unemployment, what happens if I find a new job that offers health insurance? Do I need to notify them right away or can I finish out the month? I don't want to accidentally have overlapping coverage issues.
You need to report the job change within 10 days of starting new employment - that's the standard requirement for most NYS benefit programs. If your new job offers health insurance, you can usually keep Medicaid until the employer coverage kicks in (there's often a waiting period). Just call the Medicaid office or update your case online through NY State of Health as soon as you get the job offer. They'll help you coordinate the transition so you don't have gaps or overlaps in coverage.
Ava Williams
I was in the exact same situation last year after getting laid off from my data entry job. Applied for Medicaid while collecting unemployment and got approved within 3 weeks. The key thing that helped me was gathering all my documentation beforehand - unemployment benefit determination letter, recent payment history from my.ny.gov, and bank statements showing my benefit deposits. Also want to mention that if you have any ongoing prescriptions or medical appointments coming up, mention the urgency when you apply - they can sometimes expedite cases for people with immediate medical needs. The $420 weekly you're getting should definitely qualify you, so don't stress too much about the income part.
This is really helpful advice! I hadn't thought about gathering all the documentation beforehand. Quick question - when you mention the unemployment benefit determination letter, is that the same as the initial eligibility notice they sent when I first got approved for benefits? I want to make sure I'm bringing the right paperwork when I apply.
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Luca Russo
I'm going through the exact same thing right now! Filed my claim about 2.5 weeks ago and have been refreshing my my.ny.gov account way too many times daily. This thread is honestly a godsend - I had no idea that 2-3 weeks was the normal processing time and was convinced I'd messed something up on my application somehow. I was also laid off due to company downsizing, so it's reassuring to see so many others in similar straightforward situations. The informed delivery tip is genius - just signed up for that immediately after reading these comments. It's wild how much the anxiety builds up when you don't know what to expect timeline-wise. Reading everyone's experiences here has really helped me realize that "claim under review" for this long is totally normal and not a red flag. Going to try to limit myself to checking once per day instead of my current obsessive refreshing habit. Thanks for asking this question - you've helped so many of us realize we're not alone in this waiting game!
Rajan Walker
•@Luca Russo I m'literally in the exact same situation - filed about 2 weeks ago and have been checking my account probably 10+ times a day! This thread has been such a relief to find. I had no clue that 2-3 weeks was standard processing time and was starting to think I d'made some mistake on my application. Also got laid off due to company restructuring, so it s'really comforting to see so many of us with similar straightforward cases all going through this same waiting period. The informed delivery tip is amazing - signing up for that right now! It s'crazy how much stress builds up when you don t'know what timeline to expect. Reading everyone s'experiences here has completely changed my perspective from something "must be wrong to" this "is just how the process works. Definitely" going to try the once-daily check limit instead of my current refresh obsession. Thanks for sharing - it really helps knowing we re'all in this together!
I'm so glad I found this thread! Just filed my unemployment claim 5 days ago and was already starting to get anxious about not hearing anything yet. Reading everyone's experiences here is incredibly reassuring - I had no idea that 2-3 weeks was the normal processing timeline. Like many of you, this is my first time applying for unemployment benefits and I've been checking my my.ny.gov account multiple times a day wondering if something was wrong. I was also laid off due to company downsizing, so it sounds like I'm in a similar straightforward situation as most people here. Definitely going to sign up for that informed delivery service - what a smart tip! It's amazing how much better I feel knowing that "claim under review" status is completely normal at this stage and that I'm not alone in this waiting process. Going to try to be more patient and limit my account checking to once daily. Thanks everyone for sharing your timelines and experiences - this community support makes such a difference during an already stressful time!
@Anderson Prospero Welcome to the waiting club! 5 days is still super early in the process, so you re'actually in a great spot timeline-wise. It s'so smart that you found this thread early on - I wish I had known about the 2-3 week processing time from the beginning instead of panicking after just a few days. Since you re'also dealing with a company downsizing situation, you re'definitely in good company here with a straightforward case that should process smoothly. The informed delivery tip really is a game changer for peace of mind. I ve'found that knowing this waiting period is completely normal makes it so much easier to be patient. You re'already ahead of the curve by planning to limit your account checking - trust me, the obsessive refreshing just makes the time crawl by! Keep filing those weekly claims and try to stay positive - you ve'got this!
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Yuki Ito
Just wanted to follow up - were you able to get through using any of these methods? The waiting week credit issue is specifically mentioned in DOL guidance as requiring specialist assistance, which is why it forces you into the phone queue. For those still struggling, document each call attempt (date/time) in case you need to show you were actively trying to resolve the issue.
That's awesome that you got through! I'm still stuck in the same situation - been trying for over a week now. Just signed up for Claimyr based on your success story. Quick question - did they charge you upfront or only after they successfully connected you to a rep? And did you have to stay by your phone the whole time or could you go about your day?
Steven Adams
•@Isabella Oliveira They only charge after you successfully connect with a rep - no upfront payment! You can definitely go about your day. They send you text updates on your position in queue, and when it s'your turn they call you first to make sure you re'available before connecting you to the DOL rep. I was able to run errands and just kept my phone with me. Super convenient compared to sitting by the phone hitting redial all day!
I'm dealing with the exact same waiting week issue right now! It's so frustrating that they force you to call for something that should be automated. Reading through all these suggestions gives me hope though. I'm going to try the Wednesday 10:30am strategy first since that seems like solid insider info, and if that doesn't work I'll definitely look into Claimyr. The fact that multiple people here got through using different methods makes me feel like there's actually a light at the end of the tunnel. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences - this community is a lifesaver when dealing with these government systems!
@Anastasia Kozlov Welcome to the struggle! I went through this exact same nightmare about 6 months ago. One thing I d'add to the great advice already here - if you do try calling on Wednesday at 10:30am like Carmen s'brother suggested, have your claim information ready to go social (security number, PIN, employer details because) once you get through, they ll'want to verify everything quickly. Also keep a notepad handy to write down any reference numbers they give you. The whole process moves fast once you actually reach someone. Good luck - you ve'got this! 💪
@Anastasia Kozlov I just went through this exact same situation last week! Pro tip - when you do get through and (you will! ,)ask the rep to also check if there are any other pending issues on your account while you have them on the line. I found out I had a minor address verification flag that would have caused problems later. Also, once they process your waiting week credit, you might see a brief delay before you can certify online - don t'panic! It usually updates within 2-4 hours. The rep told me this is normal as their systems sync up. Hang in there, the relief when you finally get it resolved is amazing!
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Laila Fury
I'm in a very similar situation and have been researching this extensively! Based on what I've found, you should definitely apply. NYS allows partial unemployment benefits when you have reduced income from contract work. The important thing is that your weekly contract earnings need to be less than your weekly benefit amount. They use a formula where you can earn up to about $50 (varies by benefit amount) without any reduction, then they deduct 25% of earnings above that threshold from your benefits. So if your weekly benefit is $400 and you earn $200 from contracts, you'd still get a decent partial payment. The tricky part everyone's mentioning about reporting when work is performed vs when paid is crucial - always report for the week you did the work, not when the check arrives. I'd suggest applying online at labor.ny.gov and being completely transparent about your contract situation. Keep detailed records of all work performed and payments. Even if you only qualify for partial benefits, it's better than nothing while you rebuild your client base!
@Laila Fury This breakdown of the formula is incredibly helpful! I ve'been trying to understand the math behind partial benefits for weeks. The $50 threshold before any deduction plus the 25% calculation above that makes so much more sense than what I was imagining. Your example with $400 weekly benefit and $200 contract earnings really helps me visualize how this would work in my situation. I m'definitely going to apply online this week - you re'right that even partial benefits would be a huge help while I m'rebuilding my client base. Thanks for mentioning labor.ny.gov too, I wasn t'sure if that was the official site or if there were other portals. Really appreciate everyone in this thread sharing their experiences - it s'making this whole process feel way less intimidating!
Ethan Clark
I'm actually going through this exact situation right now too! Just wanted to add that when I called NYS Department of Labor last week (finally got through after trying for days), the rep confirmed that you absolutely can collect partial benefits with ongoing contract work. She emphasized that the key is being completely upfront about all income when you file your weekly claims. One thing that surprised me was that they said even if your contract work is sporadic or project-based, you still need to report it for the specific weeks when you actually performed the work, regardless of payment timing. The agent also mentioned that they're seeing a lot more people in mixed employment situations lately, so they're pretty familiar with these cases. Definitely worth applying - the worst case is they say no, but from everything I'm hearing here and from my own research, it sounds like you have a solid chance of qualifying for at least some benefits to help bridge the gap while you rebuild your client base.
@Ethan Clark Thanks for sharing your recent experience with actually getting through to NYS Department of Labor! It s'really encouraging to hear from someone who spoke directly with a rep about this exact situation. The confirmation about partial benefits with ongoing contract work is exactly what I needed to hear. I ve'been hesitating to apply because I wasn t'sure if my small ongoing contract would complicate things, but it sounds like they re'used to handling these mixed employment cases. The point about reporting work for the specific weeks when performed not (when paid keeps) coming up in this thread - I m'glad the agent confirmed that timing rule. I m'definitely going to apply this week. Do you remember if they mentioned anything about how long the approval process typically takes for cases like ours with contract work involved?
Ravi Patel
•@Ethan Clark This is super reassuring! I ve'been trying to get through to someone for over two weeks with no luck, so hearing about your recent conversation gives me hope that the reps actually understand these mixed employment situations. The fact that they re'seeing more cases like this lately makes sense - I feel like so many people are in similar boats with the gig economy and contract work becoming more common. I m'curious, did the agent mention anything about what documentation you should keep on hand for the contract work? I ve'been saving all my invoices and project agreements, but wondering if there s'anything else they typically ask for when reviewing these types of claims. Thanks for sharing this info - definitely gives me the confidence to move forward with applying!
Giovanni Moretti
This is such valuable information! I'm bookmarking this thread because I've had similar scares before where my certification seemed to disappear into the void. It's really reassuring to know that these verification holds can be resolved quickly once you actually get through to someone. The frustrating part is that the system creates these holds automatically but then requires human intervention to fix them - seems like they could at least send an email notification when a hold is placed so we're not left guessing what happened. Thanks for following up with the resolution @Aaron Boston!
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Hannah Flores
•Completely agree about the notification issue! I'm new here but dealing with similar uncertainty right now - my certification from two days ago isn't showing either. This whole thread has been incredibly helpful, especially knowing that verification holds are apparently common after their February update. @Aaron Boston thanks so much for sharing your resolution, it gives me hope that mine might be a similar quick fix once I can actually get through to someone. Going to try calling tomorrow morning with all my info ready like @Brandon Parker suggested!
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Zara Shah
@Hannah Flores I hope you get through quickly tomorrow! Based on what happened with @Aaron Boston, it sounds like these verification holds from the February system update are creating a lot of confusion but are relatively easy to fix once you reach an agent. One tip I'd add - if you get disconnected while on hold (which happens way too often with NYSDOL), don't give up! Sometimes calling back immediately gets you into a shorter queue. Also, if tomorrow doesn't work out, that Claimyr service @Nathaniel Mikhaylov mentioned might be worth trying - anything to avoid losing a week's payment over a system glitch that could be fixed in 5 minutes by an agent.
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Giovanni Gallo
•@Zara Shah That s'really good advice about calling back immediately if you get disconnected! I didn t'know that could put you in a shorter queue. I m'definitely going to try calling first thing in the morning and keep that tip in mind. It s'so frustrating that we have to develop all these workarounds just to get basic help with our benefits, but I m'grateful for communities like this where people share what actually works. Fingers crossed I can get this resolved quickly like @Aaron Boston did!
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