ugh the waiting is the WORST part!! I remember pacing around my apartment checking my bank account every few hours when I was waiting for my first payment. hang in there, it will come through

I went through this same exact situation last month! My claim was approved but I didn't see my first payment for about 2.5 weeks. What helped me was logging into my NY.gov account and checking the "Payment History" section - sometimes it shows as "processed" before it actually hits your bank account. Also make sure you're doing your weekly certifications on time because any delay there can push back your payments. The first payment usually includes backpay for all the weeks since you filed, so it should be a decent amount when it finally comes through. Definitely stressful waiting though!

I'm dealing with this exact same issue right now! Been trying to file my unemployment claim for the past 4 days and keep hitting that authorization error. So frustrating when you're already stressed about losing your job and then the system won't even let you apply for benefits. I've tried different browsers, clearing cache, incognito mode - nothing works. Might have to bite the bullet and try that claimyr service people are mentioning since calling directly seems impossible to get through. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences, at least I know I'm not the only one dealing with this mess! 😤

I'm having the exact same authorization error! Been trying for almost a week now and it's driving me crazy. What's even more frustrating is that I can access other parts of the NY.gov site just fine, but as soon as I try to get to the unemployment filing section, boom - authorization error. Has anyone tried using a different device entirely? Like maybe trying from a phone vs computer or vice versa? I'm wondering if it's somehow tied to device fingerprinting or something. Also saw someone mention trying the mobile app - does NY even have a mobile app for unemployment claims or is it all web-based? Really appreciate everyone sharing their workarounds. This system is clearly overwhelmed and needs serious fixing. Going to try the early morning approach and the labor.ny.gov navigation method mentioned above. Fingers crossed! 🤞

I'm new to this community and just received my audit letter yesterday. Reading through everyone's experiences here has been incredibly helpful and honestly a huge relief! My audit was likely triggered because I had some Uber driving income mixed with part-time warehouse work during my claim period. Even though I reported every single payment on my weekly certifications, the variable nature of the gig work means some weeks I earned $50 and others $300, which probably looked inconsistent to their automated systems. I'm gathering all my documents now - bank statements, Uber earnings summaries, W-2 from the warehouse job, and screenshots of all my weekly certifications. The timeline spreadsheet idea that so many of you have mentioned sounds like exactly what I need to create to show the clear connection between my work, payments, and reporting. It's definitely stressful, but seeing how many honest claimants here came through their audits successfully is giving me confidence. Thanks for creating such a supportive space to share these experiences - it makes this whole process feel much less scary when you know you're not alone!

I'm new to this community and just received my audit letter today - what a coincidence to find this thread right when I need it most! Reading through everyone's experiences has been incredibly reassuring. My situation involves some freelance graphic design work I did while claiming benefits, plus a brief return to my previous job for about 3 weeks before being laid off again. I reported everything on my weekly certifications, but now I'm worried about whether I calculated the partial benefit deductions correctly or if the timing of my job separation and return might look suspicious to auditors. From what I'm reading here, it sounds like multiple job separations and freelance income are both common audit triggers. I'm starting to gather all my documentation - contracts, invoices, bank statements, separation notices, and my weekly certification records. The timeline spreadsheet approach that so many of you have mentioned sounds like exactly what I need to organize everything clearly. It's definitely nerve-wracking, but seeing how many honest claimants came through successfully is giving me hope. Thanks for sharing your experiences - this community is exactly what I needed to find today!

I'm going through the exact same thing - filed in early January and still stuck on "pending" with no updates whatsoever. The most frustrating part is doing those weekly certifications knowing nothing is actually happening with the claim. After reading through all these responses, I'm convinced the assembly member route is the way to go since multiple people have had success with that approach. I'm also considering trying that Claimyr service @Zainab Omar mentioned since getting through the regular phone lines seems impossible. It's insane that we have to jump through all these hoops just to get basic information about our own claims. The 2-3 week processing time they advertise is clearly fictional at this point. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences - at least now I know I'm not alone in this mess and there might be some actual solutions to try.

I'm dealing with this exact same issue - filed my claim in mid-January and it's been stuck on "pending" for over 7 weeks now. What's driving me crazy is the complete silence from NYS DOL. No updates, no communication, just endless "pending" status while I keep doing weekly certifications that seem to go nowhere. Reading through everyone's experiences here, it's clear this isn't just bad luck - the system is fundamentally broken. I'm definitely going to try the assembly member route that @Aisha Rahman and @Dylan Cooper mentioned since that seems to be the only approach that's actually getting results. It's ridiculous that we have to involve elected officials just to get basic information about our own unemployment claims, but if that's what works then I'm willing to try it. The uncertainty is honestly worse than just being denied at this point - at least then you'd know where you stand. Thanks to everyone sharing their stories and potential solutions, it helps to know I'm not going through this alone.

This thread is incredibly helpful! I'm also dealing with a missing certification issue right now - certified on Tuesday but nothing showing in my payment history. After reading through everyone's experiences, especially @Aaron Boston's resolution, I'm feeling much more hopeful that this is just another one of those verification holds from the February system update rather than a major problem. It's so frustrating that the system creates these holds automatically but requires calling to fix them, and that there's no notification to let us know what's happening. Going to try calling tomorrow morning with all my info ready. Thanks to everyone for sharing their experiences - this community is such a lifesaver when the official resources leave us in the dark!

This thread has been incredibly reassuring to read! I'm also dealing with a certification that's not showing up in my payment history - certified on Wednesday and it's now Friday with nothing appearing. Reading about @Aaron Boston's experience and how it was just a verification hold that got resolved quickly once he reached an agent gives me so much hope. It's frustrating that these system issues from the February update are still causing problems months later, but at least now I know what to expect when I call. Planning to try first thing Monday morning with all my documentation ready. Thank you to everyone who shared their experiences - this is exactly the kind of practical advice that makes all the difference when you're stressed about missing payments!