I had this same problem a few months back! What saved me was finding the "My Account Settings" section after logging into ny.gov with any method that works (even if it's not your main account). Sometimes you can access account recovery tools from there that aren't visible on the main login page. Also, if you have any old emails from when you first set up unemployment, they sometimes contain hints about what information you used. I found an old confirmation email that reminded me I had used my mom's maiden name with her middle initial included, which I had completely forgotten about. Worth checking your email archives before trying the more complex solutions!

I'm going through this exact same frustration right now! I've been locked out for over a week and it's causing so much stress since I need to file my weekly certification. Reading through all these solutions gives me hope though - I had no idea there were so many different approaches to try. I'm planning to start with the identity proofing method since that seems to have worked for several people, and if that fails I'll try the early morning chat option. It's really reassuring to know I'm not the only one who made this mistake with the mother's maiden name question. The whole system seems designed to lock people out rather than help them access their benefits when they need them most. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences - this thread is more helpful than anything I found on the official DOL website!

Omar, I just want to say how impressed I am by how you're handling this stressful situation - asking for help, organizing all the advice you've received, and creating an action plan shows real resilience. I went through something similar a few years ago and one additional tip I'd add: when you do get connected with these various assistance programs, ask each one if they know of other programs you might qualify for. Case workers and program coordinators often have insider knowledge about resources that aren't widely publicized and they're usually happy to point you toward additional help. Also, keep a simple spreadsheet or note on your phone tracking what you've applied for, when, and who to follow up with - it gets overwhelming fast when you're applying to multiple programs. You've got such a solid plan now and with that job starting in 3 weeks, you're going to look back on this as just a temporary rough patch. The community response here has been amazing and really shows that people understand how scary that gap between benefits and employment can be. You've got this!

Omar, I've been reading through this entire thread and I'm blown away by how many resources everyone has shared! As someone who works in social services, I wanted to add one more option that hasn't been mentioned yet - check if your county has a "HEAP" (Home Energy Assistance Program) emergency component. It's not just for winter heating bills - many counties have year-round emergency utility assistance that can help with electric, gas, or even help prevent service shutoffs. Also, since you mentioned you have accounting skills, consider reaching out to small businesses in your area - many need help with bookkeeping during tax season or end-of-quarter work and are willing to pay cash for short-term help. Local Facebook business groups are great for finding these opportunities. You've created such a solid action plan from everyone's suggestions - that level of organization is exactly what's going to get you through this successfully. Three weeks will fly by and you'll have that steady paycheck before you know it!

I'm about 12 days into "assigned to a worker" status and this thread has been a lifesaver! Reading everyone's experiences is helping me realize this is just how broken the system is right now, not something I did wrong. The complaint system that @Cole mentioned is totally new to me - I had no idea there was a separate process beyond just calling the regular number over and over. Definitely planning to try that if I hit the 3-week mark with no movement. I've been certifying every Sunday religiously after seeing everyone's advice here, even though it feels completely pointless when my balance stays at zero. But knowing it's crucial for backpay once this mess gets sorted out makes me feel like I'm at least doing something productive. The financial stress is real but honestly the uncertainty is what's killing me - I keep checking my account multiple times a day hoping for any kind of update or movement. Thanks to everyone for sharing actual timelines and strategies. This community has given me more useful information in one thread than I've gotten from multiple calls to DOL. Will definitely update if I learn anything new or if the complaint route ends up working for me. Hang in there everyone - at least we're not suffering through this nightmare alone!

I'm currently on day 4 of having my claim "assigned to a worker" and honestly this thread is both a blessing and a curse! It's SO helpful to see everyone's actual experiences and timelines, but also terrifying to realize I could be waiting anywhere from 2-8 weeks with zero income. I called yesterday and got the usual "it's under review" with no other details - so frustrating when you're trying to figure out if you did something wrong or if there's a document missing. The complaint system that @Cole mentioned is completely new information to me and honestly gives me the first real hope I've had since this started. I had no idea there was a way to escalate beyond just calling the same phone number repeatedly! Definitely bookmarking that for if I hit the 2-3 week mark with no progress. I started certifying weekly after reading everyone's advice here even though my account balance is still showing zero. At least it makes me feel like I'm doing SOMETHING productive while everything else is stuck in limbo. The uncertainty is definitely the hardest part - I could mentally prepare for "it takes 6 weeks" but this open-ended waiting while bills pile up is brutal for my anxiety. Thanks to everyone for sharing your real experiences and actual strategies that work. This community has already been more helpful than any official DOL communication I've received! Will definitely keep everyone posted on my progress and any new info I learn along the way.

I was in a similar situation last year! I'm also on SSDI and was able to get unemployment benefits while looking for part-time work that accommodated my limitations. The key thing is being completely transparent with both agencies. When I applied for unemployment, I had to provide detailed medical documentation about what types of work I could do despite my disability. NYS DOL was actually pretty reasonable once I explained my situation properly. Yes, there's always a risk of triggering a disability review, but as long as you're honest about your capabilities and limitations, you should be okay. The Ticket to Work program that someone mentioned is definitely worth looking into too - it provides some protection while you transition back to work. Don't let fear stop you from trying to improve your situation!

I've been following this thread and wanted to add my perspective as someone who works with disability advocacy. The confusion about unemployment and disability eligibility is really common, and it stems from the fact that these programs use different definitions of "disability" and "ability to work." For SSDI, you're considered disabled if you can't perform substantial gainful activity at the level you did before. But for unemployment, you just need to be able and available for some type of work, even if it's different from your previous job or has accommodations. The key is having clear medical documentation that outlines exactly what you CAN do, not just what you can't do. I'd recommend getting a functional capacity evaluation from your doctor that specifies things like "can sit for 4 hours with breaks" or "can lift up to 10 pounds" rather than just "has back problems." This gives both agencies concrete information to work with and helps avoid the appearance of contradiction between being "disabled" and "able to work.

I'm so sorry you're dealing with this - I can really feel the stress and desperation in your post! I went through almost the exact same situation about 8 months ago where my benefits suddenly stopped and I couldn't get through to anyone no matter what I tried. The automated system would just hang up on me constantly and I was literally calling 15-20 times per day. What finally worked for me was using Claimyr (claimyr.com) - I know it sounds sketchy at first because who wants to pay someone else just to access your own benefits, right? But I was getting desperate and figured $30 was worth it if it could save me from potential eviction. They basically keep calling the unemployment line over and over until they get through to a real person, then connect the call to you. I got connected within about 3 hours and my issue was resolved in literally 8 minutes - turned out to be some simple verification thing that was blocking my account. I also tried calling at really random times like 2:23pm on a Wednesday instead of the usual peak hours, and that seemed to help too. The system is just completely overwhelmed during normal business hours. Don't give up - your benefits are rightfully yours and the money is there waiting for you! The system is designed to be frustrating so people give up, but persistence really does pay off. Hang in there and try everything you can think of. We're all rooting for you!

I'm so sorry you're going through this - I know exactly how stressful and overwhelming it is when your benefits just stop with no real explanation! I've been reading through all these comments and I'm honestly amazed at how many of us are dealing with the identical situation. It's both comforting and infuriating to know the system is this broken for everyone. I'm in a similar boat - my payments stopped about 3 weeks ago with that same vague "call to resolve" message and I've been calling constantly with zero success. Just endless busy signals and that automated hangup message that makes you want to scream! After reading everyone's experiences here, I'm seriously considering trying Claimyr. I'll admit I was super skeptical at first because it sounds like one of those "too good to be true" services, but seeing so many different people across all these comments saying it actually worked for them is pretty convincing. When you're facing eviction and bills are piling up, you kind of have to try everything, right? I'm also going to test out some of those off-peak calling strategies people mentioned - like calling at random times on Tuesday or Wednesday afternoons instead of the usual peak hours. It's absolutely ridiculous that we have to jump through all these hoops and even consider paying a third party just to access benefits we're entitled to, but the system is clearly designed to wear us down. Don't let them win! Your benefits are rightfully yours. Hang in there - based on everyone's stories here, persistence really does seem to pay off eventually. We're all in this together!