This thread is absolutely incredible! As a newcomer to this community, I'm amazed by how everyone has come together to solve what should be a simple problem - finding out your account balance. Reading through all these experiences really shows how unnecessarily complicated the NY unemployment system is. What I find most valuable is how this discussion has evolved from Anderson's initial frustration into a comprehensive troubleshooting guide with multiple approaches: secure messaging, Claimyr, manual calculations, strategic calling times, and even warnings about hidden fees. It's like the community has created the user manual that NYSDOL should have provided! I'm currently not dealing with forfeit penalties myself, but I'm definitely bookmarking this thread for future reference. The problem-solving strategies and community support demonstrated here seem applicable to so many other bureaucratic challenges. Thanks to everyone for being so generous with sharing your real experiences - both successes and failures. This is exactly what makes online communities so powerful! Anderson, huge congratulations on finally getting your balance information sorted out. Your persistence and willingness to update everyone has helped create this amazing resource that will benefit so many others dealing with similar issues.

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!

I've been collecting unemployment from NYS Department of Labor for about 6 months now and have First Republic Bank (now part of JPMorgan Chase). My deposits consistently hit around 2:55 AM on Wednesday mornings - super reliable timing! What I learned is that even though the bank changed ownership, the ACH processing times stayed exactly the same. The key thing is checking your NYS unemployment account Tuesday evening to confirm "payment released" status - that's your signal the money is coming overnight. For bill planning, I always wait until I can actually see the deposit in my account Wednesday morning before making any payments, even though the timing has been consistent. One week there was a federal banking holiday that pushed everything back a day, so it's good to keep an eye on the calendar. The NYS Department of Labor has been really dependable with their payment schedule once you're established in the system. For anyone new to this, just remember that Tuesday evening "payment processed" means Wednesday early morning actual deposit!

I've been collecting unemployment from NYS Department of Labor for about 10 months now and have Credit Union of New Jersey. My deposits consistently hit around 2:30 AM on Wednesday mornings - it's been incredibly reliable! What I've noticed is that smaller credit unions often process ACH transfers even earlier than the big banks, which has been great for peace of mind. Like everyone else mentioned, the key is checking your NYS unemployment account Tuesday evening to make sure it shows "payment released" - that's your confirmation the money is on its way overnight. For bill planning, I learned the hard way to never schedule automatic payments before 6 AM Wednesday, even though my deposit almost always arrives by 2:45 AM. There was one week when their system had maintenance and it didn't come through until almost 8 AM! Having that buffer time saved me from overdraft fees. The NYS Department of Labor timing becomes very predictable once you understand that Tuesday evening "payment processed" means Wednesday early morning actual deposit. For anyone stressed about the timing like I was initially - it really does become routine once you get the pattern down!

I'm so sorry to hear about your company closing after 15 years - that must be such a shock for you and all your coworkers. You absolutely qualify for unemployment benefits! Business closure is considered involuntary separation through no fault of your own, which is exactly what UI is designed to cover. I'd recommend creating a folder (both physical and digital) to keep all your unemployment documents organized from day one. Make sure to collect: your final pay stubs, any official closure notices, contact information for your supervisor and HR team, and screenshots of company emails about the shutdown. You can file your claim online through my.ny.gov starting the week you actually stop working. One really important tip - ask your HR department for a brief letter on company letterhead confirming the business closure date and that all employees were laid off due to business closure (not performance issues). This simple document can significantly speed up your approval process since it clearly establishes the reason for separation. Also, if your company offers any severance package, make sure to report that when filing as it might affect when your benefits begin. Business closures are typically very straightforward cases for UI approval since there's no dispute about the separation reason. You're being smart by preparing ahead of time - that preparation will make the whole process much smoother. Best of luck during this transition!

I'm really sorry to hear about your company closing down after 15 years - that's such devastating news for you and all your coworkers. You absolutely qualify for unemployment benefits since this is a clear case of involuntary separation due to business closure, not any performance issues on your part. I went through a similar situation when my previous employer shut down operations unexpectedly, and while it's overwhelming at first, the process is actually quite manageable if you stay organized. Here's what I'd recommend: start gathering your documentation NOW while you still have access to everything. Get copies of recent pay stubs, any official closure announcements, your supervisor's contact info, and save screenshots of company emails about the shutdown. You can file your claim online at my.ny.gov starting the week you actually become unemployed (not before). One thing that really helped speed up my approval was asking HR for a brief letter on company letterhead confirming the closure date and that all employees were laid off due to business closure - this eliminates any questions about the separation reason. Also, if your company mentions severance pay, make sure to report that when filing as it might affect your benefit start date. Business closures are typically the most straightforward unemployment cases since there's no dispute about why you're filing. You're smart to start preparing early - that preparation will make everything go much smoother. Hang in there during this difficult transition!

Amy, I completely understand that panic feeling! I just went through something very similar about a month ago and it's absolutely nerve-wracking when you're depending on those payments. The "not authorized" error is unfortunately more common than it should be, but the good news is that it's almost always fixable once you get through to the right person. Based on what I learned from my experience and reading through this thread, the Claimyr service really does seem to be the most reliable way to actually reach an NYSDOL agent. I ended up using it too after spending literally hours on hold with their regular phone lines. Got connected in about 20 minutes and the agent was able to resolve my issue immediately - turned out to be a similar data entry mistake. One thing I'd recommend: when you do get through to an agent, have all your documents ready (ID, social security card, etc.) so they can verify your identity quickly. They'll likely ask you to confirm all your personal information to make sure it matches what's in their system exactly. Try not to stress too much (I know, easier said than done!) - this really is a common technical issue and not something you did wrong. Keep us posted on how the Claimyr service works out for you!

This thread has been such a goldmine of information! I'm relatively new to the NY unemployment system (just started collecting about 6 weeks ago) and honestly had no clue that something as simple as a typo could completely lock you out of your account. Reading through everyone's experiences here has been both educational and a bit scary - it really shows how fragile and sensitive their system is to even the tiniest mistakes. The Claimyr service that Max mentioned sounds like it's been a real game-changer for so many people here. I'm definitely bookmarking that since it seems like the regular NYSDOL phone system is basically unusable based on all the horror stories shared here. The tip about creating a copy/paste document with all your exact information is brilliant too - I'm setting that up immediately to avoid any potential errors during future certifications. Oliver, huge thanks for taking the time to follow up with your resolution! It's incredibly helpful to know that these terrifying lockouts can usually be fixed pretty quickly once you actually reach the right person. And Amy, I hope the Claimyr service works out for you - sounds like you have all your documents ready to go which should make the process smooth once you get connected. This community is absolutely amazing for sharing practical solutions and supporting each other through these stressful bureaucratic nightmares!

Just want to echo what others have said about keeping detailed records! I've been working part-time (about 18 hours over 3 days) while collecting UI for the past two months and it's been working great. The weekly certification is pretty straightforward once you get the hang of it - just answer honestly about days worked and total earnings. One thing that helped me was setting up a simple spreadsheet to track my hours and pay each week before I do my certification. Also, don't stress too much about the "fraud" concern - as long as you're reporting everything accurately, you're doing exactly what the system is designed for. The part-time work has actually been a confidence booster while I'm job hunting for full-time positions. Good luck with the new opportunity!

One thing I haven't seen mentioned yet is that you should also be aware of how your part-time earnings might affect your total benefit year amount. While the weekly calculations are important, NY also tracks your total benefits paid out over the year. If you're earning decent part-time income, you might extend how long your benefits last since you're drawing less each week. I've been doing freelance graphic design (usually 2-3 days a week) while on UI and it's actually helped me build up my portfolio for when I land a full-time position. Just make sure when you report your work that you're clear about whether it's W2 employment or 1099 contract work - they handle those slightly differently in terms of what documentation they might want later.