One thing no one mentioned - you should also file for SNAP benefits (food assistance) at the same time if your income has dropped significantly. Many people qualify during unemployment but don't realize it. The application can be done online through NY's myBenefits website and it's completely separate from unemployment.

Make sure when you certify weekly you're answering EXACTLY correctly or they'll flag your account for review and freeze payments! Be hyper-literal with their questions. If you did ANY work, even an hour, report it. If you were 'unavailable' for work any day (like had a doctor's appointment) they count that too. The system is designed to catch people in tiny inconsistencies!

did u try calling from a different phone? my friend said sometimes ur number gets flagged as spam if u call too many times and they auto-reject it. tried from my mom's phone and got thru after like 30 tries instead of never

Just wanted to check in - were you able to get this resolved? If you're still having trouble, make sure you're using the right number: 1-888-209-8124 for regular UI claims. Also, once you do get through, ask them to put a note on your account about the payment delay so there's a record of your attempt to resolve it.

Back in 2023 I never got my 1099-G in the mail for some reason but it was in my online account the whole time! Check there first. Also make sure you're looking in the right section - it's not super obvious where they put it. Go to Unemployment Services and look for "1099-G Tax Forms" in the menu. Took me forever to find it the first time.

UPDATE: Mine just appeared in my online account! For anyone still waiting, definitely keep checking your NY.gov account. Under Unemployment Services there's a section specifically for tax forms. I never got an email notification that it was ready, just happened to check and it's there now. Thanks everyone for your help!

my brother just went thru this whole mess and it turned out the employer reported his wages for the wrong quarter which is what triggered the whole overpayment thing. make sure your friend checks what quarters they're claiming he was overpaid for and compare with his actual work history

One last important thing your friend should know: if the overpayment determination is upheld after fact-finding, he can still request a waiver of the overpayment if it would cause financial hardship AND the overpayment wasn't his fault. NY unemployment has become more lenient with these waivers since the 2025 policy updates. The waiver form asks for detailed financial information to demonstrate that repayment would cause significant hardship. Success rates for these waivers increased to about 65% this year, up from around 30% in previous years. Even if the overpayment is determined to be valid, there are still options available to him.

Just so everyone is clear: When the phone system goes silent after saying "do not hang up," your certification is NOT being processed. This is a system error. You need to either: 1. Use the NY.gov website to certify (preferred method) 2. Try the phone system during off-peak hours 3. Try the workaround mentioned above (waiting 2 minutes then pressing 1) 4. Call the main customer service line to speak with an agent The NYSDOL has confirmed this is a technical issue they're working to resolve. Make sure you get your certification completed by your deadline to avoid payment delays. If you miss your regular certification period due to this issue, you'll need to speak with an agent to file for back weeks.

Update: Just wanted to let everyone know that I started using the website for certification and it's been working perfectly. Much easier than dealing with the phone system! My payments have been processing normally. Thanks to everyone who helped with suggestions!