Just wanted to add another confirmation that 888-581-5812 is definitely legitimate! I got a call from this exact number about 6 weeks ago when my claim was stuck. I was super skeptical at first too, especially since they didn't leave a voicemail, but it turned out they needed to verify some information about my previous employer. What really helped me feel confident it was real was that when I answered their second call, the representative knew specific details from my application that a scammer wouldn't have access to - like my exact filing date and the employer names I had listed. Since you've been pending for 3 weeks, there's definitely something they need from you. I'd strongly recommend calling the main line (888-209-8124) tomorrow morning and mentioning you missed a call from their verification team. When I did this in a similar situation, they were able to see the notes in my file immediately and got me connected to the right department. Don't worry too much about missing one call - they really do try multiple times. But being proactive will definitely help speed things up. The whole verification process for me took less than 15 minutes once I actually talked to someone, and my payment came through within a week. Hang in there!

I've been dealing with NY unemployment for a few months now and can confirm that 888-581-5812 is absolutely a legitimate NYSDOL outbound number! I got several calls from this exact number when my claim was pending, and each time it was because they needed to verify something specific about my employment history or eligibility. The fact that they didn't leave a voicemail is actually pretty typical for them - I noticed they rarely leave messages, which definitely adds to the confusion about whether it's legitimate or not. But given that your claim has been pending for 3 weeks, this is almost certainly them trying to resolve whatever issue is holding up your claim. My advice: call the main claims line (888-209-8124) first thing tomorrow morning and tell them you missed a call from their verification department. They'll be able to see in your file what they were trying to reach you about and either handle it right then or schedule a callback. Don't wait for them to call again - being proactive will definitely speed up your claim processing. When they do contact you (either by calling back or when you call them), they should only ask for partial information to verify your identity - things like last 4 digits of SSN or your birth date. They won't ask for full banking details or passwords. That's how you know it's legitimate. The waiting is incredibly stressful, but this is actually good news - it means your claim is actively being worked on, not just sitting in limbo!

Whatever you do don't lie about it! My cousin tried to hide that he was in school and when they found out during an audit he had to pay back thousands in overpayment. NYS Department of Labor takes fraud seriously so just be upfront about everything

I'm actually dealing with something similar right now. From what I've learned, NYS Department of Labor has a specific approval process for training programs while on unemployment called the 599 Training Program. If your community college program is job-related and leads to better employment prospects, you might be able to get it approved. This would protect you from the usual "available for work" requirements during class hours. I'd suggest looking into this option before you start classes - it could give you more security than just hoping your part-time schedule works out. You can find more info on their website under training opportunities for unemployment recipients.

I can confirm what everyone else is saying - unemployment benefits are definitely earned income, not public assistance. I went through this exact same confusion when I was apartment hunting last year while on unemployment. The key distinction is that you paid into the unemployment insurance system through your previous job, so these are benefits you earned. Public assistance refers to need-based programs like SNAP or TANF that don't require prior contributions. I'd recommend getting a copy of your monetary determination letter from NYS Department of Labor to include with your application - it shows the official benefit amount and helps legitimize it as income in landlords' eyes. Most reasonable landlords understand unemployment is temporary and that you're actively job searching.

I'm a housing counselor and deal with this question frequently. Unemployment insurance is absolutely NOT public assistance in NY - it's earned income that you contributed to while working. When filling out rental applications, list it under income but not under public assistance. Pro tip: many landlords prefer seeing a co-signer or guarantor when unemployment is your primary income source, not because it's inadequate income, but because they know it's temporary. Also keep copies of your weekly certification emails from NYS Department of Labor as additional proof of ongoing benefits. Don't let this discourage you from applying - you have legitimate income and rights as a tenant!

File immediately! Even if there's going to be an investigation, you want to get your claim date established. I waited too long when I got fired and lost out on like $800 because the benefits don't backdate to before you actually file.

Don't let the "performance issues" label scare you away from filing. I work in HR and see this all the time - employers often use vague terms like that to avoid unemployment liability, but it rarely holds up with the Department of Labor unless there's documented willful misconduct. The fact that you were caring for a sick child and had no prior written warnings actually works in your favor. NY has strong protections for family care situations. File your claim today and be honest about everything - both the performance issues they cited AND the family care absences. The DOL investigators are pretty good at seeing through employer BS when there's no real documentation of misconduct.

ugh the whole system is still a mess from covid honestly. they act like everything is back to normal but clearly its not if people are still waiting weeks for simple claim reviews

I was actually working for the state during that period and can confirm those numbers - April 2020 was absolutely chaotic. We went from processing maybe 50,000 claims per week to over 300,000 in a single week. The system literally couldn't handle it and we had to bring in temporary staff and work around the clock just to keep things from completely falling apart. A lot of the verification steps that are causing delays now were implemented because we had massive fraud issues during the emergency period when we had to fast-track everything.