my brother works in the ny unemployment office (not IT but adjacent) and he says they're well aware of the work search form issues. internal memo went out months ago but fixing it is "not priority" because it doesn't affect their metrics 🙄 classic government efficiency at work

Just went through this nightmare myself last month! The form glitch cost me 3 weeks of benefits because they said I wasn't meeting work search requirements. What finally worked for me was doing exactly what @Natasha Kuznetsova suggested - fill everything EXCEPT company name/website, save, then go back and edit to add those fields. Also learned the hard way to always log your activities in multiple places. I keep a Google Sheet backup now with timestamps and screenshots. The system is clearly broken but at least there are workarounds. Thanks everyone for sharing your solutions - this thread should be pinned for other people dealing with this mess!

The whole nonmon determination process is just another way for NYS Department of Labor to make things confusing and stressful. They send these vague letters that nobody understands then make you jump through hoops to get answers. Classic bureaucracy BS.

I went through something similar last month. The "able and available" determinations can be tricky - sometimes they flag you if there's any inconsistency in your weekly certifications or if something in your profile suggests limited availability. Since yours is unfavorable, definitely appeal it within the 30-day deadline like Grace mentioned. When you appeal, be very specific about your availability - include your work schedule preferences, transportation, childcare arrangements if applicable, and emphasize that you're seeking full-time work. Document everything and keep copies. The appeal process can take a while but it's worth fighting if you truly are available for work.

This whole thread is so helpful - I'm dealing with the exact same issue right now! Been pending for 2 weeks and was starting to panic. Really glad to see Miguel got his sorted out. The fact that there was an identity verification flag with no notification is ridiculous though. How are we supposed to know there's an issue if they don't tell us? Going to try that Claimyr service tomorrow morning. Has anyone else used it recently or found other ways to actually get through to a human?

This is such a helpful thread - I'm dealing with almost the exact same situation right now! Filed in early June, first few payments came through fine, but now I've been stuck on pending for 2 weeks with zero communication from NYSDOL. It's so frustrating how the burden is completely on us to figure out what's wrong when they have all our contact information. Reading about Miguel's identity verification flag that never triggered a notification is both relieving (there might be a fixable issue) and infuriating (how are we supposed to know?). Definitely going to try the Claimyr service - at this point $20 to actually talk to a human seems like a bargain compared to the stress of calling 50+ times. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences, it really helps to know we're not alone in this mess!

I've been through a work search audit and here's what saved me: I created a simple Google Doc with columns for Date, Company, Position, Method (Indeed, LinkedIn, etc.), and Notes. For online applications, I screenshot the confirmation page immediately after submitting. For networking events, I take a photo of the event flyer/sign and write down 2-3 company names I spoke with. The auditor told me they mainly want to see you're making genuine efforts - they're not trying to trip you up, but you do need to show your work. Digital records are fine, you don't need to print everything. Just be consistent with your documentation from now on.

As someone who just started collecting unemployment benefits last month, this thread has been incredibly helpful! I was doing the bare minimum with my work search documentation and now I realize I need to step up my game. I've been mostly just applying through job boards without keeping proper records - definitely going to implement that Google Doc system and start taking screenshots of confirmation pages. One question though - does anyone know if using the NYS Department of Labor's job search website (jobs.labor.ny.gov) counts the same as using Indeed or LinkedIn? I want to make sure I'm diversifying my search methods properly. Also wondering if anyone has experience with whether informational interviews count toward the 3 weekly activities? Thanks everyone for sharing your real experiences - this is way more useful than trying to decipher the official guidelines!

did u ever get any letters in the mail from them? sometimes they send important stuff thru regular mail but not online for some weird reason

Final update: The money came through! All 11 weeks of backpay hit my account this morning. Such a massive relief. For anyone else stuck in pending status for months, don't give up. Finding a way to actually speak with a real person was the key for me. Thanks again to everyone for your advice and support!