the whole system is designed to make it as difficult as possible to get benefits. they hope you'll just give up and find a job before they have to pay you anything. but stick with it, you paid into this system and you deserve the benefits

Just wanted to add that if you're filing online (which I highly recommend), make sure to do it during off-peak hours like early morning or late evening. The NYS DOL website tends to crash or run really slowly during business hours when everyone is trying to access it. I learned this the hard way when I kept getting timed out halfway through my application. Also, save your progress frequently if the system allows it - nothing worse than having to start over because the site kicked you off. The online system is available 24/7 so there's no rush to do it during the busiest times.

Don't panic yet! A week is pretty normal for processing. I got laid off from my restaurant job in March and it took about 10 days before I saw 'approved' in my account. Then I had to wait for the debit card to arrive before I could access any money. Make sure you're filing your weekly claims even while waiting for approval - you can backdate them but it's easier to stay current.

I'm in a similar situation - filed my claim about 8 days ago and still seeing "claim processing" status. From what I've read on the NYS DOL website, initial claims can take up to 3 weeks to process depending on their current volume. The key thing is to keep checking your my.ny.gov account and make sure you're certified for benefits each week even while waiting for approval. I've also heard that if they need any additional documentation, they'll request it through your online account rather than calling, so definitely check for any messages or requests in there. Trying to stay patient but it's definitely nerve-wracking when you're counting on that income!

Just wanted to add my experience here - I had the same mobile login nightmare for about a month! What finally worked for me was using Firefox mobile with these specific steps: 1) Clear all site data for labor.ny.gov, 2) Enable desktop mode in Firefox settings, 3) Turn off any VPN if you're using one, 4) Make sure you're on a stable connection, and 5) Try logging in during early morning hours (like 6-7 AM) when server load is lighter. The mobile site is absolutely broken but this combo has been working consistently for me for the past few weeks. Also pro tip - bookmark the direct login page once you get in because navigating through their homepage on mobile is another nightmare entirely! Hope this helps someone avoid the frustration I went through 🤞

Just wanted to share what's been working for me after struggling with this for months! I've been using Microsoft Edge mobile with these specific steps: 1) Force stop the app completely and clear all Edge data, 2) Open Edge and immediately go to settings to enable "Request desktop site" before navigating anywhere, 3) Turn off WiFi and use cellular data (seems to work way better with their servers), 4) Navigate directly to labor.ny.gov/signin rather than going through the homepage, and 5) Log in during non-peak hours (I've had best success between 5-7 AM). The key thing I discovered is to NEVER switch between desktop/mobile modes once you're on the site - their session management is completely broken and will lock you out. Also if you get any kind of error, don't try to refresh or go back - just close Edge entirely and start the whole process over. It's absolutely insane that we need these elaborate rituals just to access unemployment benefits in 2025, but this method has gotten me through consistently for the past 3 weeks. Hope it helps someone else avoid the endless login loop nightmare! 🤞

I went through this exact nightmare last year. Got the "assigned to a worker" update in June and didn't see a penny until September - 3 full months. What finally worked for me was a combination approach: I contacted my state senator's office (they have constituent services specifically for this), kept calling DOL every other day, AND used that Claimyr service people mentioned to actually get through to supervisors. The state senator's office was honestly the game changer - they have direct contacts at DOL and can flag urgent cases. Don't give up, the backpay when it finally comes through will cover everything you're owed. I know it doesn't help with bills right now, but also look into local food banks and emergency assistance programs while you wait. This system is absolutely broken but persistence does eventually pay off.

I'm going through this exact situation right now too! Filed in January, got the "assigned to a worker" update about 3 weeks ago, and still nothing. The financial stress is absolutely killing me - I'm behind on everything and my credit is starting to tank. Reading through everyone's experiences here is both reassuring and terrifying at the same time. Sounds like it could be anywhere from a few more weeks to several more months. I'm definitely going to try contacting my state representative's office based on all the success stories here - seems like that's the most consistent way to actually get results. Also probably going to bite the bullet and try that Claimyr service since I'm spending hours every day trying to get through anyway. This whole system is just designed to wear people down until they give up. Hang in there Aaron, we're all in this nightmare together! 💪

I'm going through something similar right now and it's incredibly frustrating. One thing that helped me was using the "Contact Us" form on the my.ny.gov website and selecting "Technical Issues" as the category - even though it's not really technical, I got a response faster than when I selected "General Inquiry." Also, try calling the Trade Adjustment Assistance line at 1-888-469-7365 - they sometimes can transfer you to the right department or at least give you better guidance on documentation needed for construction layoffs. Keep detailed records of every attempt to contact them with dates and times - this will help if you need to escalate later. Don't give up, the system is broken but there are people who do want to help once you can reach them.

I went through almost the exact same thing last month with a construction layoff showing up as voluntary quit in the system. What finally worked for me was filing an appeal online through the my.ny.gov portal - there's a section called "Appeal a Determination" under the unemployment services. Even though it sounds scary, the appeal process actually got me connected with someone who could review my case properly. I attached my layoff notice, final paycheck showing "end of project" as the reason, and a brief letter explaining the situation. Got a response within 10 business days and they corrected the issue. In the meantime, keep filing your weekly certifications even if they're getting denied - you can get backpay once it's fixed. Also document every single phone call attempt with date/time - I kept a simple note on my phone and it helped show I was trying to resolve this properly. Don't panic about rent yet, there are emergency assistance programs through 211 if you call them. You've got this!