This thread has been incredible - thank you all for sharing your experiences! I was literally losing sleep over my appointment next week but now I feel so much more prepared and confident. It's amazing how this community comes together to help each other out. I'm definitely going with the organized approach - printing my work search log, updating my resume, bringing a notebook for notes, and having backup tech plans ready. Really appreciate everyone taking the time to share what actually happens vs what your anxiety brain imagines might happen 😅. Going to pay it forward and update this thread after my appointment to help the next person who's stressing about it!

Wow, reading through all these responses has been so reassuring! I was absolutely terrified when I got my appointment notice - kept imagining it would be like some kind of audit where they'd find reasons to cut my benefits. But it sounds like they're genuinely there to help you succeed in your job search, not trip you up. I'm definitely going to follow everyone's advice about getting organized beforehand - the spreadsheet idea with screenshots is genius! Also love the tip about bringing a notebook to take notes. Shows you're engaged and helps you remember all the resources they share. This community is amazing - thank you all for taking the anxiety out of this whole process! 🙏

Are you sure you entered your direct deposit info correctly? Double check your routing and account numbers. I waited 3 weeks for payment only to realize I transposed two digits in my account number 🤦‍♂️

I'm going through the exact same nightmare right now! My waiting week processed on 9/15 and it's been radio silence ever since. I've certified every week like clockwork and my claim status shows active, but zero deposits. The most frustrating part is feeling completely in the dark about what's actually wrong. I tried calling yesterday for 4 hours straight and couldn't get past the busy signal. At this point I'm ready to try anything - even those calling services people are mentioning. It's insane that we have to jump through all these hoops just to get the benefits we're entitled to. Has anyone tried contacting their local unemployment office in person instead of calling the main number?

I'm dealing with this exact same situation and it's driving me insane! My claim has been "assigned to a worker" for almost 3 weeks now and I'm getting different answers every time I call. One rep told me it was just routine verification, another said there might be an issue with my employer information, and the last one couldn't see any notes at all. I've been certifying every week like you mentioned but it's so hard not knowing if I'm doing everything right or if there's some document I'm missing. The complaint system @Cole mentioned sounds like it might actually work - I had no idea that was even an option! Planning to try that if I hit the 4-week mark since the regular phone system clearly isn't designed to help us get real answers. This whole process feels designed to wear you down mentally and financially until you just give up. Thanks for starting this thread - at least now I know I'm not alone in this nightmare!

I'm dealing with this same nightmare right now - my claim has been "assigned to a worker" for exactly 2 weeks today and the uncertainty is killing me! I've called 4 times and gotten completely different answers each time. First rep said "routine processing," second said there might be a wage verification issue, third couldn't see any notes, and the fourth told me to just "keep waiting." Meanwhile my credit card bills are due next week and I have no idea if this will be resolved in days or months! The complaint system @Cole mentioned is totally new information to me - definitely bookmarking that for if I hit the 3-week mark. I've been certifying religiously every Sunday even though it feels pointless when nothing is moving. This thread is honestly the most helpful info I've gotten about this whole process - way more useful than anything the actual DOL reps have told me! It's both reassuring and terrifying to see how many of us are stuck in this same limbo. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences and timelines, it helps to know we're not alone in this mess!

I'm in week 3 of waiting for my NYS Department of Labor claim decision and wanted to share a resource that's been helpful. If you're struggling to get through on the phone like many of us, try calling right when they open at 8:00 AM - I had better luck getting through earlier in the day. Also, I discovered that you can check for any pending correspondence or requests for additional information by logging into your account and looking under the "Messages" or "Correspondence" section. Sometimes they'll request documents or clarification there without sending you an email notification. The waiting is absolutely nerve-wracking when you're counting on benefits, but from everything I've read here and elsewhere, most straightforward layoff claims do get approved - it's just a matter of patience. Keep doing those weekly certifications and stay on top of any communication from them. We're all in this together!

I'm dealing with this exact same situation right now - filed my claim about 2 weeks ago and still showing pending status. The uncertainty is definitely the hardest part, especially when you're trying to budget without knowing when benefits might start. I've been religiously doing my weekly certifications and checking my account daily (probably too often!). One thing that's helped me manage the anxiety is remembering that "pending" doesn't mean "denied" - it just means they're still processing. I also started keeping a simple log of when I filed, when I do my weekly claims, and any updates I see, just so I have a timeline if I ever need to reference it. Reading everyone's experiences here is really reassuring - it sounds like 2-4 weeks is pretty normal for straightforward layoffs, even though it feels like forever when you're living it. Hang in there, and thanks for asking this question because I think a lot of us are wondering the same thing!

Congrats to everyone who finally got approved! This thread has been super helpful - I'm dealing with the same issue and filed in early February. Still stuck on pending review. Going to try the UI-578E form today and also look into Claimyr. It's ridiculous that we have to jump through all these hoops just to get benefits we're entitled to, but at least there are some workarounds. Really appreciate everyone sharing what actually worked for them instead of just complaining. Fingers crossed I'll have good news to share soon too!

Just wanted to add my experience - I filed in mid-January and was stuck on pending for 7 weeks. What finally worked for me was a combination of things: submitted the UI-578E form, contacted my state assemblyman's office, AND used Claimyr to get through to an agent. The agent discovered my claim was flagged because I had worked in both NY and NJ in the past year, which triggered their multi-state verification process. She was able to clear it up immediately once we spoke. One thing I learned - don't just submit the UI-578E form and wait. Follow up with multiple approaches because sometimes these claims get stuck for really specific technical reasons that only a human can resolve. The whole process is frustrating but there ARE ways to get through it. Keep pushing and don't give up!