Did u have to give them ur ssn and birth date and stuff to use that service? kinda sketchy to give personal info to a third party just to make a phone call no?

Just as a follow-up for anyone reading this thread in the future: when payments show as "Released" but don't arrive within 3 business days, always check with KeyBank first (1-866-295-2955), then contact NYSDOL directly. System glitches like this have become more common since their platform update in 2025.

Just to be clear for anyone else reading this thread: When your benefit days reach zero but your benefit year is still active, you need to: 1. Determine if you qualify for any extensions (based on current economic indicators and your situation) 2. Speak directly with a claims specialist who can check your eligibility 3. Have them manually add the extension application to your portal if you qualify 4. Complete the extension application 5. Wait for approval (usually 1-2 weeks) The system won't automatically show extension options to everyone because eligibility varies based on multiple factors. And yes, getting through on the phone is unfortunately the most challenging part of this process.

Final update: I used Claimyr and finally got through to someone! The agent said my account needed a manual override because I qualified for Extended Benefits but the system hadn't triggered it properly due to a glitch. They fixed it and now I can see the extension application in my portal. Just submitted it and they said it should be processed within 5-7 business days. Such a relief! Thanks everyone for your help!

Just checking back - did you ever get through to them? I'm curious if any of these suggestions worked for you.

Congrats! Always nice to hear when someone actually gets through the system successfully lol. Fingers crossed your payment comes through quickly!

i was in your shoes 2 months ago. ended up doing gig work (doordash, uber) just to get by. not great money but at least its something while looking for real work. the unemployment system really leaves people hanging once benefits run out

After searching through all of this, it seems your options are: 1. Find work (even part-time) to establish new earnings for a potential new claim 2. Apply for other assistance programs (SNAP, HEAP, Medicaid, etc.) 3. Look into training programs through your local career center 4. Contact your assembly member for specialized help Unfortunately, there's no way to extend beyond the 26 weeks without new qualifying wages or a federal extension program. The system really does have a hard cutoff.

UPDATE: I finally got through to a representative! They explained that there was indeed a system error. Apparently, when I certified for those two weeks while working full-time, the system incorrectly processed them as if I had received benefits (even though I reported working 5 days and received $0). This caused my benefit balance to incorrectly show as exhausted. The rep fixed it on their end and my correct remaining balance is now showing. They advised that in the future, if I'm working more than 4 days consistently, I should stop certifying until I need benefits again.

I'm in a completely different situation but reading this thread made me realize I've been making a similar mistake! I've been working 3 days a week and certifying but I think I've been answering one of the questions wrong... now I'm worried I've messed up my claim. Has anyone had to do a backdated certification correction before?

This is a known issue happening today. According to the NYSDOL Twitter account (@NYSLabor), they're experiencing higher than normal traffic due to the quarterly tax filing deadline coinciding with regular certification activity. They've increased server capacity and expect the system to be fully operational by 6pm today. In the meantime, you can also try the automated phone certification system at 1-888-581-5812 which appears to be working normally.

FYI its working for me now just certified 5 mins ago

I got approved for tourism fund but it took FOREVER and the extra 13 weeks didn't start until my regular benefits ran out. Don't expect it to be quick. The whole process is stupid and feels designed to make people give up. Typical NY bureaucracy nightmare.

Thank you everyone for all the helpful information! I finally was able to get through to an agent using that Claimyr service (it really did work in just a few minutes). The agent confirmed I'm eligible since our hotel was in the Niagara tourism zone, and she helped me find the right forms in my account. Apparently I need both UI-TRF25 and the employer certification form. I've already contacted my former manager to fill out their part. The agent also mentioned that while my application is processing, my regular benefits will continue normally. Once approved, I'll get an extension of 13 weeks after my regular benefits end, plus access to some retraining programs if I want them. I really appreciate all the help from everyone here!

Update to my earlier advice: Make sure you track all of this carefully for tax purposes. Unemployment benefits are taxable income, and if you do get called back to work, you'll need to report all UI payments received. The NYSDOL issues Form 1099-G in January 2026 for all unemployment received in 2025.\n\nAlso, you might qualify for partial unemployment if they eventually bring you back with reduced hours. New York has a pretty generous partial unemployment system compared to many states.

Thanks for mentioning taxes - I hadn't even thought about that part. I'll make sure to set aside some of the unemployment money for taxes if I get approved. And that's good to know about partial unemployment too, in case they eventually bring us back but only part-time at first.

To properly cancel a UI fair hearing in New York, you have four options: 1. Call the Unemployment Insurance Appeal Board at 518-402-0205 2. Email your request to UIABOfficialMailbox@labor.ny.gov (include your hearing ID and contact info) 3. Fax a written request to 518-485-8621 4. Mail a written request to: NYS Unemployment Insurance Appeal Board, PO Box 15126, Albany, NY 12212-5126 The fastest is option 1 or 2. Make sure you include your full name, last four digits of your SSN, and your hearing case number in any correspondence. I recommend trying the email option since you've been having trouble getting through by phone.

UPDATE: I finally got through! For anyone who might need it in the future, the 518-402-0205 number worked. I had to wait on hold for about 25 minutes, but they were able to cancel my hearing. They also sent me an email confirmation of the cancellation. Thanks everyone for your help!

Quick update - I just saw your post and wanted to mention something important. If you do contact your state representative, make sure to highlight how long you've been trying to resolve this (almost 2 years). Representatives' offices prioritize cases based partly on urgency and time elapsed. Also, be prepared with your NY.gov ID number, the exact weeks you're missing payments for, and documentation of your attempts to contact DOL. The more organized your information is, the faster they can help you.

I had a similar issue but was missing payments from November 2023. What ended up working for me was sending a direct email to the Commissioner's Office (I found the email address on the NYSDOL website contact page). I didn't get a response to my email, but about 10 days later I got a call from someone at the DOL who said they were following up on my email to the Commissioner. They fixed my issue on that call and I got my missing payments the following week. I think sometimes you need to escalate beyond the regular channels. The regular phone lines and messaging system seem completely overwhelmed.