The system is so backwards. You get punished for standing up for yourself but if you stay and let them abuse you, that's somehow better? I've been fighting NYS Department of Labor for months over a similar situation.

I went through something similar last year - walked out after repeated verbal abuse from my supervisor. NYS Department of Labor initially denied my claim but I appealed with witness statements from two coworkers who saw the incidents. The appeals referee ruled in my favor after a phone hearing where I explained how the hostile environment affected my mental health and work performance. The whole process took about 8 weeks but I did get my benefits backdated. Don't let fear of denial stop you from filing - you have more rights than you think when it comes to hostile work environments.

One thing that helped me was setting up text notifications through the portal. Go to your profile settings and enable SMS alerts - they'll text you when there are updates to your claim status or new messages. Also, if you're really stuck, try calling first thing in the morning right when they open at 8am. The wait times are usually shorter then. I finally got through after about 45 minutes on hold and the rep was actually really helpful in explaining what was happening with my claim.

Another thing to check is the "Payment History" section in your online account. Even if your claim status shows "Under Review," you might see pending payment amounts there which can give you an idea of your weekly benefit amount once approved. Also, make sure your direct deposit information is set up correctly in advance - I've seen people get delayed payments because they had to mail paper checks instead. The whole process is frustrating but hang in there, most claims do get processed eventually!

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! 🤞

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 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!