Had the exact same problem last week! What finally worked for me was using a different device entirely - tried on my phone instead of laptop and it went through. Also make sure you're not using any browser extensions or ad blockers, they can mess with the site's javascript. If you're still stuck, definitely try the early morning trick @Lim Wong mentioned - got through at 6:30am on my second try. The system is trash but don't give up, you got this! 💪

Just went through this nightmare last month! The NY DOL website is absolutely broken. What ended up working for me was using my phone's mobile browser in incognito/private mode instead of my computer. Also had to disable all my browser extensions and turn off my VPN. Took like 6 tries but finally got through around 7am on a Tuesday. Pro tip: have all your employment info written down beforehand - dates, employer addresses, reason for separation, etc. That way if it crashes you can zip through the form faster on your next attempt. Don't let this system beat you, keep pushing! The benefits are worth the headache 💪 If all else fails, calling first thing Monday morning at 8am sharp gives you the best shot at getting through to a human who can help.

I'm currently going through this exact same situation! Got laid off in January with a 6-week severance package and my claim has been stuck in pending status. This thread is incredibly helpful - I had no idea I needed to keep certifying weekly during the severance waiting period. I've been so confused by the automated phone messages and the website doesn't explain it clearly at all. Does anyone know if there's a way to check exactly when your severance waiting period is calculated to end? I want to make sure I'm prepared for when benefits should actually start kicking in.

I'm going through something similar right now! Got laid off in March with a 10-week severance and my claim has been pending ever since. Reading through everyone's experiences here has been really eye-opening - I had no idea the severance essentially puts you in a "still employed" status for unemployment purposes. I've been faithfully doing my weekly certifications but was getting frustrated not seeing any movement on my claim. Now I understand I just need to wait out the full severance period. One question though - has anyone had experience with severance that includes health insurance continuation? My package includes COBRA payments for the severance period and I'm wondering if that affects the unemployment timeline at all, or if it's just the cash portion that matters for the waiting period calculation.

This is why the NY unemployment system needs a complete overhaul. How are regular people supposed to navigate this bureaucratic nightmare? Even honest mistakes become huge problems because the system is designed to be confusing and punitive. The whole thing needs to be simplified.

side note but anytime you need to talk to NY unemployment go with claimyr.com its the only thing that actually works. otherwise you'll waste days trying to get through

Congrats on getting it resolved! This thread is super helpful for anyone dealing with the same issue. I'm bookmarking this for future reference. It's crazy how much better the outcome is when you know the right terminology to use - "T42 verification exception" seems to be the magic phrase that gets you past the script-reading reps to someone who can actually help. For anyone else reading this, the key takeaways seem to be: 1. Don't wait the full 10 days if you can help it 2. Use specific terminology when calling back 3. Document everything 4. Consider using callback services if you're stuck in redial hell Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences - this community is a lifesaver when dealing with NYSDOL's confusing system!

This is exactly the kind of detailed, helpful thread that makes this community so valuable! I'm dealing with a similar IDme verification issue right now (different problem - address verification stuck in limbo) and seeing how @QuantumLeap got their email mismatch resolved gives me hope. The "T42 verification exception" terminology is going to be a game-changer - I had no idea there were specific internal terms that could help cut through the confusion. I've been getting the runaround for 5 days now with three different reps telling me three different things about what's needed to fix my address discrepancy. Going to try the Claimyr service today and use that exact phrase when I get through. Really appreciate everyone sharing their experiences and solutions here instead of just venting (though the venting is totally justified too!). This is why I love this community - real solutions from people who've actually been through it.

I just wanted to say thank you to everyone who has shared their experiences and strategies in this thread. As someone who's been dealing with a similar situation since early July, reading through all of these success stories and concrete tactics has been incredibly helpful and given me hope when I was starting to feel completely defeated by this system. The variety of approaches people have discovered is amazing - from the Spanish line workaround to the specific timing strategies, landline vs cell phone differences, career center visits, and even the area code theory. It really shows that persistence with multiple methods is key rather than just repeatedly trying the same approach. I'm planning to start with the Spanish line (1-888-209-8124) tomorrow morning at 8:01am, then work through the other strategies people have shared if that doesn't pan out. I've already uploaded additional documentation to my portal proactively based on Khalil's advice and found that "Contact Us" form Ruby mentioned. Diego, I really hope one of these methods breaks through for you soon. The housing pressure on top of the bureaucratic nightmare must be incredibly stressful. But seeing how many people in this thread have actually succeeded in getting through gives me confidence that it's possible - just requires finding the right combination of timing, phone line, and approach. This community support has been invaluable. It's so much better than feeling like you're fighting this broken system completely alone!

I've been dealing with this exact same nightmare since late June and this thread has been a lifesaver! After reading through everyone's strategies, I tried the Spanish line (1-888-209-8124) this morning at exactly 8:01am and got through on my first try - couldn't believe it! The bilingual agent was incredibly patient and helpful, even though my Spanish is terrible. What really made the difference was being completely prepared with all my documents ready (thanks to Jason's advice about having everything organized beforehand) and immediately mentioning the financial hardship situation. The agent was able to see that my claim had been stuck due to a missing identity verification document that never showed up in my online portal properly. She escalated my case for expedited review and said I should see movement within 5-7 business days. She also confirmed that all my weekly certifications will be honored for back payments once it's approved. Diego, definitely try the Spanish line first thing tomorrow morning - it seems like the call volume is much lower and the agents are just as capable of helping with English-speaking cases. This thread has been amazing and I'm so grateful for everyone sharing their experiences and strategies. Sometimes it really does take a village to beat these broken government systems!