just pay the taxes its not that hard lol. i've been doing payroll for 15 years and employers always overthink this stuff

One thing to watch out for - make sure you're classifying workers correctly as employees vs contractors. I got audited by NYS Department of Labor because they thought I was misclassifying people to avoid paying unemployment taxes. Cost me way more in penalties than I would have paid in the first place. When in doubt, classify them as employees.

I had this exact same issue! Turns out the problem was that I had entered my mother's name with a middle initial on my original application, but when I was trying to update my direct deposit info, I was only entering her first and last name. Once I included the middle initial exactly as it appeared on my original application, it worked perfectly. Also, make sure there are no extra spaces before or after the name - the system is super picky about that stuff. If you can't remember exactly how you entered it originally, you might need to call and have them read it back to you so you can match it exactly. Hope this helps! The NY unemployment system is definitely frustrating but usually these verification issues are just formatting problems.

I just went through this exact same nightmare last month! The NY unemployment system is absolutely brutal with these mother's name verification issues. After weeks of frustration, I finally figured out my problem - I had used a completely different format back in 2020 than what I was trying now. Here's what worked for me: I found an old confirmation email from when I first applied that showed I had entered my mom's name as "Patricia A. Johnson" (with the middle initial), but I had been trying to enter just "Patricia Johnson" when updating my direct deposit. The system wanted that EXACT match including the middle initial! My advice: definitely dig through your old emails first - search for anything from "nys.gov" or with "unemployment" in the subject line. Also try these variations systematically: - Maiden vs married name - With/without middle name or initial - Full legal name vs any nicknames you might have used - Check for extra spaces or typos - Try different spellings if applicable (Catherine vs Katherine, etc.) Use the desktop website instead of mobile - it seems to handle the formatting better. And don't worry about getting locked out, I tried probably 15+ variations over several days with no issues. This problem is definitely solvable! Once you find that exact match, everything will work perfectly. The system is ridiculously picky but at least it's consistent. Good luck! 🤞

Anyone else notice that the system always seems to "crash" right when you finally get through? I swear they do it on purpose 🤬

I'm dealing with the exact same thing right now - going on 6 weeks pending with zero explanation. The most frustrating part is how the system just leaves you completely in the dark. I've been following some of the advice here and wanted to add that I found success using the "Contact Us" form on the NYDOL website multiple times. I submitted the same inquiry every few days with slightly different wording, and eventually got a response that my case was escalated for review. Still waiting, but at least I know someone is supposedly looking at it now. Also, if you have any part-time work or gig income you reported, double-check those dates and amounts - apparently even tiny discrepancies can flag your account for manual review. This whole system is a nightmare but don't give up!

I'm in a similar boat - filed 10 days ago and still in adjudication. From what I've read online, the 10 business day deadline for employers is pretty standard across most states. What's frustrating is that there's no way to know if your employer even received the notice or if they're just ignoring it. I called the claims center twice but could never get through to an actual person. Hoping mine resolves soon too since I'm also dealing with bills piling up.

Just wanted to add that I went through this same situation about a year ago. My employer never responded and my claim was approved after exactly 15 business days (3 weeks). The NYS Department of Labor will send a final determination letter once they make their decision. One thing that helped me stay sane during the wait was setting up text alerts through the NY.gov website so I got notified immediately when my claim status changed. Also, if you're really stressed about rent, some local organizations have emergency assistance programs that can help bridge the gap while you're waiting for unemployment to kick in. Check with 211 (dial 2-1-1) for resources in your area.

Just wanted to add that you can actually apply for SNAP online through the ACCESS HRA website or myBenefits.ny.gov which makes the process pretty straightforward. When you get to the income section, just include your weekly unemployment benefit amount. The system will calculate everything for you. I found it helpful to have my most recent UI payment stub or screenshot ready when filling out the application. Good luck!

I was in a similar situation earlier this year and can confirm what others have said - you can absolutely receive both benefits without any issues! I was initially hesitant to apply for SNAP because I thought it might somehow jeopardize my unemployment, but they really are completely separate systems. The SNAP application process was actually pretty smooth through the myBenefits.ny.gov website that someone mentioned. Just make sure you have your unemployment benefit amount handy when you're filling out the income section. It's been a huge help with grocery costs while I'm job searching. Don't let worry about potential conflicts stop you from getting the food assistance you need - there's no interaction between the two programs at all.