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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!!!
While delays are frustrating, they're typically not intentional. The NYSDOL processes thousands of claims daily, and occasional system issues or verification delays can affect payment timing. If you experience a delay longer than 7 days, you should always contact them directly as it could indicate a specific issue with your claim that needs addressing.
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
This is accurate in some cases. If you filed your taxes before the unemployment tax exclusion was implemented for the tax year, you might need to file an amended return. However, for 2025 taxes, the exclusion was already in place when filing began in January, so amended returns should only be necessary in special circumstances or if there was an error in how your unemployment income was reported.
My tax person told me that they're STILL processing some of these refunds from last year! The IRS is so backed up it's ridiculous. I filed in February 2024 and didn't get my unemployment tax adjustment until November! You might still be in their system waiting to be processed.
Just to clarify one thing - the refund being discussed was for unemployment benefits received in 2024, not the refund itself. The American Rescue Plan excluded a portion of unemployment benefits from taxation for that tax year only. If you received unemployment in 2024 and had federal taxes withheld (or paid estimated taxes on it), and your AGI was under $150,000, you should have qualified. The IRS was supposed to automatically recalculate and issue refunds, but many people fell through the cracks. Definitely check your tax transcript first before taking any other steps.
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.
I finally got through using that Claimyr service someone recommended! The agent found that there was an employer response issue AND a random flag for additional review on my account. She cleared both and said I should see all my backpay within 3 business days. I'm so relieved! I'll update once the money actually hits my account.
Zara Ahmed
Has anyone gotten through today? I'm trying right now (1:30pm) and still getting error messages when I try to certify. Getting really worried as I'm already behind one week because of ID verification issues.
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AstroAce
•I just checked again and the system seems to be working fine now. Try completely closing your browser (not just the tab) and restarting your computer before trying again. Sometimes the system gets stuck with cached information from previous attempts.
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Omar Zaki
Update: Finally got through! For anyone else having issues, what worked for me was using Chrome in incognito mode. All my benefits are now certified for the week. Thanks everyone for the help!
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Anastasia Sokolov
•thanks for the update! i'm going to try the incognito mode trick next time i have problems
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