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!

I work at a local community center and see people dealing with this all the time! From what I've observed helping folks navigate the system, late questionnaire submissions are super common and they definitely don't automatically deny for it. The DOL knows people have busy lives and things happen. What usually matters more is that you submitted it and can explain why it was late if they ask. I've seen people submit questionnaires weeks late and still get approved - it just takes a bit longer for them to process. The key is staying responsive to any follow-up requests they might have. You did the right thing by submitting it as soon as you remembered. Try not to stress too much about it!

I'm going through the exact same anxiety right now! Submitted mine about a week late and have been checking my account obsessively. Reading all these responses is making me feel so much better though - seems like this happens to way more people than I thought and the DOL is generally understanding about it. Going to try calling them tomorrow to give them a heads up about the late submission. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences, this thread is a lifesaver for those of us stressing about this! 🙏

Yeah this happened to my brother too! He hurt his shoulder at his job and couldn't do heavy lifting anymore but his company just laid him off instead of finding him different work. He ended up getting unemployment but had to prove he was looking for office jobs and stuff he could actually do with his injury. Took forever to get approved though.

I went through something similar when I had surgery and couldn't return to my retail job that required standing for long periods. The key thing NYS Department of Labor looks at is whether you're "able and available" for SOME type of work, not necessarily your previous job. Since your doctor cleared you for non-physical work, you should be able to qualify. When you file, be honest about your restrictions but emphasize what you CAN do. Document your job search efforts for positions that fit your medical limitations - remote work, desk jobs, customer service roles, etc. Also definitely look into workers compensation since this was a workplace injury. You might be eligible for both depending on timing and circumstances. The approval process can take a while when there are medical restrictions involved, so file as soon as possible.

Just report everything honestly when you do your weekly claim. The online system will calculate your reduced benefit automatically once you enter your work hours and gross pay. It's actually pretty straightforward once you get used to it.

@Andre Lefebvre - You're smart to ask about this upfront! I went through the exact same situation a few months ago. When you do your weekly certification on the NYS Department of Labor website, there's a specific section where they ask if you worked and how much you earned. Just enter your gross earnings for that week (before taxes). The system automatically calculates your reduced benefit. In your case with $270 weekly earnings, you'll still get a decent portion of your $504 benefit. The key is being consistent about reporting it every single week - don't skip even one week thinking "it's just part-time." That's where people get into trouble with overpayments later.