I'm in the exact same boat as you @Natalie Wang - benefits stopped in early October and I'm owed about $4,200 now. This thread has been a lifesaver! I've been banging my head against the wall trying to get through on the regular unemployment line for months with absolutely zero success. Based on everything I'm reading here, it sounds like there are actually several approaches that work way better than the standard phone number: 1. Contact your state assembly rep or senator - seems like this has the highest success rate based on @Emily Parker and @Ezra Collins experiences 2. Use Claimyr to get connected to an actual agent - tons of people here swear by this service 3. Governor's office constituent services - mixed results but @Noah Torres got quick results this way 4. Certified letter to DOL commissioner - interesting backup option from @Kaylee Cook I'm going to try the assembly rep route first thing tomorrow morning, and if that doesn't move quickly I'll definitely use Claimyr. The fact that so many people here have actually gotten their benefits restored gives me hope that we're not just stuck forever in this broken system. Don't give up! It sounds like persistence with the right approach actually works. I'll update this thread with my results. Hang in there! 💪

I've been dealing with this exact same issue - my benefits stopped in September and I'm owed over $3,500 in back pay. After reading through all these responses, I'm feeling more hopeful than I have in months! The regular unemployment phone line has been completely useless for me too - I've called probably 75+ times and either get busy signals or sit on hold for hours just to get disconnected. Based on everyone's experiences here, I'm going to try a systematic approach: First, I'll contact my state assembly rep tomorrow morning since @Emily Parker and @Ezra Collins had such quick success with that route. If that doesn't show progress within a week, I'll definitely try Claimyr since so many people here are vouching for it. The certified letter to the DOL commissioner is also a smart backup plan. It's absolutely ridiculous that we have to become unemployment claim investigators just to get benefits we're legally entitled to, but I'm so grateful for communities like this where people share what actually works. The system is clearly broken, but at least there are ways around it if you know the right approach. Thanks to everyone for sharing your real experiences and not just generic advice. It gives me hope that there's light at the end of this tunnel! I'll definitely update this thread with my results.

I'm currently going through this exact same situation and it's such a relief to find this thread! My claim has been "assigned to a worker" for about 10 days now and the anxiety is real. I've called twice and gotten the standard "it's under review" response with zero specifics about what they're actually reviewing or how long it might take. Reading through everyone's experiences here has been both helpful and scary - seeing timelines anywhere from 2-7 weeks is making me stress about my upcoming bills. The complaint system that @Cole mentioned is something I had no clue existed and definitely sounds like a more productive approach than the endless phone calls that go nowhere. I've been certifying every week since reading the advice here, even though it feels like I'm just marking time while nothing happens. The uncertainty is honestly worse than just knowing it would take X amount of time. At least then I could plan accordingly instead of checking my account obsessively every day hoping for some kind of update. Thanks to everyone for sharing their timelines and strategies - it helps so much to know we're all dealing with the same broken system together. I'll definitely update if I learn anything new or if the complaint route ends up working!

I'm going through this exact same nightmare right now! My claim has been stuck in "assigned to a worker" status for 16 days and it's absolutely maddening. I've called 4 different times and each rep gives me a completely different story - first it was "routine processing," then "possible wage discrepancy," then "employer verification needed," and yesterday someone told me they couldn't see any notes at all about why it was flagged! The complaint system that @Cole mentioned is honestly the first actionable advice I've gotten through this whole ordeal. I had no idea there was a separate complaint process through their website - definitely going to try that if I hit the 3-week mark. It's insane that we have to become detectives just to get basic information about our own claims. I've been religiously certifying every Sunday even though my account balance stays at zero and it feels completely pointless. But reading everyone's experiences here, it sounds like that's crucial for getting backpay once this mess finally gets resolved. The financial stress is bad enough, but the complete lack of transparency about timelines or what's actually being reviewed is what's really driving me crazy. At least knowing we're all stuck in the same broken system together helps a little bit! Thanks to everyone sharing their timelines and strategies - this thread has been more helpful than any official DOL communication I've received. Will definitely update if I learn anything new or if filing a complaint actually gets me some real answers!

I was getting frustrated trying to reach NYS Department of Labor to ask about my benefit calculation and someone recommended claimyr.com - they actually got me through to a real person who explained exactly how my benefits were calculated. There's a video demo at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI that shows how it works. Way better than sitting on hold for hours.

The whole system is ridiculous. $504 maximum when rent alone costs more than that in most of the state. NYS Department of Labor hasn't increased benefits to keep up with cost of living AT ALL

Just wanted to add that I went through this same situation about a year ago. My employer never responded and my claim was approved after exactly 15 business days (3 weeks). The NYS Department of Labor will send a final determination letter once they make their decision. One thing that helped me stay sane during the wait was setting up text alerts through the NY.gov website so I got notified immediately when my claim status changed. Also, if you're really stressed about rent, some local organizations have emergency assistance programs that can help bridge the gap while you're waiting for unemployment to kick in. Check with 211 (dial 2-1-1) for resources in your area.

I'm going through the exact same thing right now - filed 12 days ago and still stuck in adjudication. Reading through everyone's experiences here is honestly such a relief because I was starting to panic that something was wrong with my claim. It's crazy how stressful the waiting period is when you're depending on that income. I've been religiously filing my weekly certifications and doing the job search requirements, but the uncertainty is killing me. Really appreciate everyone sharing their timelines and tips - especially the text alert suggestion from @Nathan Kim. Definitely going to look into that and the 211 emergency assistance while I wait this out. Fingers crossed we both hear something soon @Sophie Duck!

Another option if you're still stuck - check any correspondence from when you first registered your business or got your workers' compensation insurance. The unemployment account number is sometimes included in those initial business registration packets. Also, if you've ever had to file any employment-related forms with the state (like new hire reporting), those documents might have your account number referenced on them.

If you're an LLC that hasn't hired employees yet, you might not have been assigned an unemployment account number automatically. In New York, you typically only get assigned this number when you register as an employer (which happens when you hire your first employee or proactively register). If you haven't hired anyone yet but want to set up the account preemptively, you'll need to complete Form IA 100 (Initial Report of Employment) which you can find on the Department of Labor website. This will trigger the assignment of your unemployment insurance account number.