Just wanted to add my experience - I had forfeit days last summer and was able to get them reduced by calling the 209 number. The key was having all my paperwork ready and being really clear about what happened. I got through on my third try (called early morning around 8:15am) and the rep was actually pretty helpful. She looked at my account and saw it was an honest mistake with reporting part-time work, so she reduced my forfeit from 6 weeks to 2 weeks right there. Definitely worth trying the phone first before going the formal appeal route, especially if it's just a reporting error.

I'm dealing with a similar forfeit penalty situation right now and this thread has been super helpful! One thing I wanted to add - when you do call (whether through the regular 209 number or using a service like Claimyr), make sure you have your determination notice number handy. The reps can pull up your case much faster if you give them that reference number right away. Also, I've found that being polite but persistent really helps - some reps are more willing to help than others, so if the first person you talk to seems unhelpful, it's worth trying again with someone else. The early morning call time tip sounds smart too - I'm going to try that approach tomorrow!

I'm in almost the exact same situation! Got my withdrawal of determination letter for forfeit days just last week. Reading through all these responses is so helpful - I had no idea about things like the "pending determination reversal" flag or that the system might need manual intervention. It's both reassuring and frustrating to see how common these delays are. I'm definitely going to call this week armed with all the specific questions people mentioned here. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences - it's making me feel way less alone in dealing with this bureaucratic maze! Will update if I learn anything new from my call.

I just went through this exact same process! Got my withdrawal letter in January for 30 forfeit days that were originally imposed for "failure to report work search activities" (which was total BS since I had been reporting everything correctly). Here's what actually happened with my case: Called the 888-209-8124 number after waiting 2 weeks with no automatic processing. Took me literally 4.5 hours on hold but finally got through to an agent who was actually helpful. She told me that withdrawal letters don't automatically trigger the payment system - there's a separate "backpay reconciliation" process that has to be manually initiated by an agent. My payments showed up exactly 5 business days after that call. The agent also mentioned that if you had any weeks where you partially worked during the forfeit period, those calculations can get more complicated and might take longer to process. One tip: when you call, ask them to email you a confirmation that they've initiated the backpay process. I got an email within 24 hours confirming they had "submitted account for retroactive benefit calculation" which gave me peace of mind that it was actually moving forward. The whole system is honestly a nightmare but the withdrawal letter is definitely good news - just don't expect it to happen automatically!

Wow, this thread has been such a lifesaver! I'm completely new to dealing with unemployment and forfeit penalties, and honestly had no idea it could be this complicated just to find out what you owe. Reading through everyone's experiences has been both reassuring (I'm not alone in this confusion!) and incredibly educational. The fact that Anderson had to try multiple different methods just to get basic account information really shows how broken the system is, but I'm so grateful for communities like this where people share their real experiences. The variety of solutions shared here - secure messaging, Claimyr, manual calculations, strategic calling times, and even warnings about potential interest charges - has basically created the comprehensive guide that NYSDOL should have provided from the start! I'm currently dealing with my own forfeit penalty situation and was feeling completely overwhelmed before finding this thread. Based on everyone's advice, I'm planning to start with the secure messaging approach and make sure to ask for written documentation of my balance. It's so helpful to know there are multiple backup options if that doesn't work out. Thanks to everyone for being so generous with sharing your knowledge and turning what could have been individual struggles into a collective resource. This is exactly what community support should look like!

Welcome to the community, Fatima! You're absolutely right that this thread has become an incredible resource for anyone dealing with forfeit penalty issues. As someone who also recently joined this community, I'm continually amazed by how willing everyone is to share their real experiences and help others navigate these confusing systems. Your plan to start with the secure messaging approach sounds solid based on all the success stories shared here. Even though it might take a week or two to get a response, it seems to be one of the more reliable methods for getting accurate information. And definitely follow everyone's advice about asking for written documentation - having that paper trail seems crucial for avoiding future confusion. It's really encouraging to see how Anderson's initial frustration has evolved into this comprehensive troubleshooting guide that continues to help new people months later. The fact that we need to crowdsource solutions for basic account functions is frustrating, but at least we have each other's knowledge to rely on. Good luck with your forfeit penalty situation, and don't hesitate to update us on how the secure messaging approach works out for you!

I went through almost the exact same situation a few months ago when I was stuck in Europe dealing with a family emergency! The geoblocking is definitely real - their system automatically flags overseas IP addresses and blocks access. Here's what finally worked for me: I combined the VPN approach (used Surfshark with a New York server specifically) to access my online account, AND used the Spanish option phone trick to actually speak with someone. The key is calling at exactly 7:59 AM Eastern - I'd dial from my hotel room at 1:59 AM local time, which was painful but worth it. When I got through via the Spanish line, the agent was super understanding about the overseas situation and actually gave me their direct email for urgent cases: urgentclaims@labor.ny.gov (this might be different from the general documents email others mentioned). One thing that really helped was having my claim number, SSN, and the exact date/time I sent the original fax ready to go. The agent was able to look everything up immediately and confirm receipt. Also - and this is important - make sure you're checking your online account regularly even if you can't log in easily. Sometimes they update your case status or request additional info without calling you first, especially for overseas claimants. Hope this helps! The system is absolutely terrible but there are ways through if you're persistent. Good luck! 🍀

Hey @a1978de8d17d - saw your update that you got through using the Spanish option! That's amazing and gives me so much hope. I'm actually in a very similar situation right now - stuck overseas dealing with a family emergency and NY unemployment is claiming they never received documents I faxed weeks ago. I've been reading through all the suggestions in this thread and it's honestly been more helpful than anything I've found on their official website. The combination of tips here (Spanish option, specific timing, VPN for login issues) seems like my best shot at finally resolving this. Quick question - when you got through, did they give you any kind of confirmation number or reference for your call? I want to make sure I get some kind of documentation that I actually spoke with someone, since they seem to have a habit of "losing" things. Also, for anyone else following this thread, I just tried the NordVPN Buffalo server suggestion and was actually able to log into my account for the first time in weeks! Still shows my documents as "pending review" but at least I can see the status now. Thanks to everyone who's shared their experiences - this community support is incredible! 🙏

Update: You guys were right, no deposit today (Wednesday). I checked my payment history on the website and it shows the payment is scheduled for tomorrow. Lesson learned about claiming on time! Thanks for all the help.

Same thing happened to me last month! I was panicking about rent too. One thing that might help for the future - you can actually start the certification process earlier in the day and save it as a draft if you get interrupted by family stuff. Then you can come back and submit it before the 7pm cutoff. I learned this the hard way after missing the deadline twice. Also, if you're really in a bind with rent, some landlords will accept a screenshot of your pending payment from the NYSDOL website as proof that it's coming the next day.