One more tip - there's actually an internal guidance memo (Policy Directive 2025-07) that specifically addresses claims older than 6 weeks where the claimant is experiencing financial hardship. Many agents aren't familiar with it since it was only issued in March. You might want to directly reference this policy by name and number when you call. It explicitly states that claims over 6 weeks old can be expedited with documented hardship regardless of the standard 10-week backlog processing protocol.

UPDATE: I took everyone's advice and called again this morning. After trying for about an hour, I finally got through using the Claimyr service that @user3 recommended. It really did connect me with an agent in about 15 minutes! I specifically asked for a hardship exemption and mentioned Policy Directive 2025-07. The agent initially tried to tell me about the 10-week policy, but when I mentioned the directive specifically, she put me on hold to check with a supervisor. When she came back, she said they would expedite my claim due to my hardship circumstances! She said I should see payment within 3-5 business days, including all my back weeks. Thank you all SO MUCH for your help!!

I'm soooo confused about NY unemployment rules in general!! My friend got benefits while working part time but when I tried they denied me?? Maybe it depends on who you talk to during the interview?? The whole system seems totally random honestly.

my cousin did uber while on unemployment and didnt tell them and got caught they made him pay back like $8000! dont risk it

After trying everything myself, I used that Claimyr service I mentioned and got through in about 15 minutes. The agent told me there was a 'wage investigation' flag on my account even though they'd already sent the determination letter. Apparently the system can automatically send the letter but then put a separate hold on actual payments. Makes zero sense but that's how their broken system works. Definitely worth getting to a real person however you can.

One last important note: make sure you're still certifying for benefits every week while you wait for this to resolve. Many people stop certifying when they don't see payments, but you need those certifications to get backpay for all weeks once the issue is fixed. Set a calendar reminder to certify every Sunday without fail.

has anyone tried the online message system? sometimes u can get answers there faster than calling

UPDATE: I finally got through to someone at NYSDOL this morning! Called right at 7:30am and waited on hold for 1.5 hours. Turns out my account was flagged for a "quarterly review" like some of you mentioned AND because I had logged in from a different device (my tablet instead of my laptop). The agent cleared both flags and said all my pending payments should process within 3 business days. Will update again when/if I get paid. Thanks everyone for your help and suggestions!

same thing happened to my neighbor last year when she was in south america for a few months. pretty sure its because ur abroad, their system blocks foreign ips

UPDATE: I was able to get through to someone at NY unemployment! I used the Claimyr service that someone suggested earlier and got connected to an agent within 25 minutes (which is miraculous compared to my previous attempts). The agent confirmed they can mail my 1099-G to my parents' address in New York. They said it should arrive within 7-10 business days. Just wanted to update in case anyone else has a similar issue. Thanks everyone for your help!

i got denied after waiting 7 weeks. applying for a hearing now but thats another 2-3 month wait they said. this system is designed to make ppl give up istg

TIP: Call the TTY/TDD line instead of the regular number. It's 1-888-783-1370. Sometimes the wait is shorter there and they can still help regular claims. That's how I finally got through after two weeks of constant calling. The representative was able to see notes on my account and told me exactly what was holding things up.

this happened to my cousin too but she just submitted a new waiver to be safe. said she'd rather do extra paperwork than risk having to pay back $$.

Update from what I heard: NYSDOL is aware of the duplicate waiver emails and they're working on sending a clarification email to everyone affected. But don't wait for that email - if you're concerned, you should still call to verify your status. The new system migration has caused lots of headaches for both staff and claimants.

Great! Glad to hear it was resolved. This is a good reminder for everyone that sometimes what appears to be a benefit year ending can actually be a technical issue. Always best to speak with a representative before assuming you need to file a new claim.

Absolutely! And for anyone reading this later - it took me 3 hours of calling but I finally got through around 10:30am. Don't give up!

Sometimes what appears to be a password issue can actually be an account security flag on NYSDOL's end, especially if you've tried multiple reset attempts. Here's what I recommend based on helping several people through similar situations: 1. First, try accessing your account from a device connected to your home WiFi rather than cellular data or public WiFi, as NY's system sometimes flags logins from varying IP addresses. 2. If you have access to your email, request ONE password reset and wait up to 15 minutes for it to arrive (check spam folders too). 3. When you receive the reset email, don't click the link directly. Instead, copy and paste it into your browser's address bar. This sometimes resolves the "token expired" error. 4. If you still can't get in, call 800-833-3000, but use these specific menu options: Press 1 for English, then 1 for claims assistance, then 2 for existing claims, then 5 for "other questions" - this routes you to representatives who can handle technical issues despite not being the official tech support path. If nothing else works, you can request account reverification through their secure message system if you can access it through NY.gov (even if you can't access your unemployment account).

UPDATE: Success! I called the 800-833-3000 number at 8:05 this morning and followed the menu options that @UnemploymentHelper suggested. Only waited about 20 minutes and got through to someone who was actually helpful. They reset my password on their end and helped me set up a new one. Also got my account unlocked and was able to certify for this week AND last week (they gave me a retroactive certification due to the technical issues). Thank you everyone for your help!!

Unfortunately, you generally need to certify for each week you're claiming benefits, even during an appeal or review process. However, you can request retroactive certification for those weeks when you speak to an agent. Explain that you didn't understand you needed to continue certifying after the initial denial. They can often make exceptions for this, especially in cases where there was confusion about eligibility. Make sure to compile a list of all the weeks you were unemployed and available for work since January. The agent may ask you to verify your availability and job search activities for each of those weeks, so be prepared with that information.

I've seen the retroactive certification work out for people in similar situations. Just be honest about why you stopped certifying (the denial letter made you think you weren't eligible) and they're usually understanding. Good luck - please update us when you get it resolved!