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Update: I finally got through to unemployment today! I mentioned the hardship review for back pay like someone suggested here, and they transferred me to a specialist. The agent said my back pay was stuck in the system because my employer contested my initial weeks (even though they approved the later ones?). They're expediting the review now and said I should see the money within 5-7 business days. Fingers crossed!
Final update: The back pay finally hit my account this morning! All 3 weeks at once. Such a relief. For anyone else dealing with this - being persistent and specifically asking for a hardship review with a Tier 2 specialist seemed to make the difference. Thanks everyone for your help!
Yes! I finally got through to someone on the phone yesterday! They confirmed my claim is under review because of the voluntary quit, but said now that I've submitted the questionnaire and uploaded my medical documentation, it should be processed within 10 business days. The agent also put a note on my account to expedite the review. So relieved to finally have some clarity! Thank you everyone for your help.
One more thing to try: sometimes the NYSDOL regional offices have better response times than the main call center. If you search for your county's NYSDOL office, they might have a direct line that's less swamped than the main number.
Did you ever get through to someone? My claim got approved yesterday after 4 weeks of pending. Turned out there was a flag on my account because I had worked in another state last year. But nobody bothered to TELL ME that was the issue until I finally got through to a person!
did u ever get any letters in the mail from them? sometimes they send important stuff thru regular mail but not online for some weird reason
Final update: The money came through! All 11 weeks of backpay hit my account this morning. Such a massive relief. For anyone else stuck in pending status for months, don't give up. Finding a way to actually speak with a real person was the key for me. Thanks again to everyone for your advice and support!
Mei-Ling Chen
The whole thing is RIDICULOUS!! We shouldn't have to jump through all these hoops to get benefits we paid into with our taxes!!! All this paperwork and waiting and appealing while bills are piling up. The system is designed to make us give up!!!
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Aiden O'Connor
•preach! i waited 12 weeks for my first payment last year after getting denied twice for stupid reasons
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Lena Kowalski
I want to thank everyone for the amazing advice. I've decided to do the following: 1. Create a detailed timeline of my job search from November to January 2. Gather all my job application confirmations and interview emails 3. Write a clear statement explaining why I misunderstood when to apply 4. Request a hearing specifically in my appeal 5. Try calling again tomorrow to speak with a representative 6. If I can't get through after a couple more tries, I'll check out that Claimyr service I'll update this thread once I have news about my appeal. Fingers crossed I can get those backdated benefits!
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DeShawn Washington
•That sounds like a solid plan! One last tip: when writing your statement, focus on facts rather than emotions. Include dates, specific actions you took, and concrete examples. Good luck, and yes, please update us on how it goes!
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Fatima Al-Rashid
•Good luck! Your plan sounds really thorough. The timeline especially helped in my case.
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