That's definitely the right move. When you call, make sure you have your tax return, NY-1099G form, and filing confirmation number ready. Ask specifically about the unemployment tax exclusion status, not just the general refund status. Sometimes the representatives only check the main refund system unless you ask about the unemployment portion specifically.

last year my buddy had to file an admended return to get his unemployment tax back... might be worth asking about that too when u call

Just wanted to add one more thing - if your landlord is threatening eviction due to late rent, make sure to get documentation from NYSDOL about your pending payments. New York has temporary protection if you can prove you're waiting on unemployment funds. Ask the agent for a "Notice of Pending Unemployment Benefits" when you speak with them. You can present this to your landlord to potentially get more time.

UPDATE: I finally got through this morning! Called right at 8:00am like suggested and asked for a Tier 2 payment specialist. Had to wait about 25 minutes, but finally spoke to someone helpful. Turns out my account was flagged for "quarterly review" which they're doing to random accounts. The agent cleared the hold while I was on the phone and said I should see all three payments in my account within 2-3 business days. She also sent me the benefits notice documentation to show my landlord. Thanks everyone for your help!

Update: just got mine!! check ur accounts people, finally showed up this morning

This happens literally EVERY THREE MONTHS like clockwork. I've been on NY unemployment since last May and I swear they do this on purpose to mess with people. One time my payment was delayed TWO WEEKS and I had to borrow money from my parents to pay rent. Then when I finally got through to someone they acted like it was no big deal and couldn't tell me why it happened. The whole system is designed to frustrate people into giving up on benefits they deserve!!!

When I was waiting for my waiver decision, I finally called and learned there was a problem they never notified me about. After struggling to get through on the phones, I used Claimyr to get connected to an agent in about 20 minutes. The agent discovered my application was missing a signature on page 3 (which I had no idea about). I resubmitted that day and had my approval within a week. Sometimes calling is the only way to find out what's really happening with your case. Check out their demo at https://youtu.be/Rdqa1gKtxuE to see how it works.

One final tip: if you do call, make sure to request that the agent documents the call in your case notes. This creates a paper trail showing you're actively following up. If you reach the 12-week mark with no resolution, you can escalate to a supervisor and reference your previous inquiries, which strengthens your case for expedited review.

I had this exact situation back in February. After weeks of trying to call with no success, I tried using Claimyr (the service someone mentioned above), and it actually worked. Got through to someone who told me my claim had a "pending review" status due to my former employer contesting the reason for separation. Once I talked to the agent, they removed the hold and I received all my backpay within 3 days. Definitely try to get through to a human - either through persistent calling, your state rep, or a service like that.

Just wanted to check back - were you able to make any progress with your claim? Sometimes if your work history includes multiple employers in your base period, that can also cause delays as they verify information with each one.