Hey Andre, I went through something really similar last year. One thing that helped me was looking into whether my employer was violating labor laws - like if they're cutting your hours without proper notice or creating an unsafe work environment, that could actually work in your favor for an unemployment claim. NYS Department of Labor has specific rules about "good cause" for leaving, and some things that seem like normal bad management are actually violations. You might want to file a complaint with the Department of Labor about the working conditions WHILE you're still employed - this creates a paper trail that shows you tried to address the issues before leaving. Even if you don't get the workplace issues resolved, having that complaint on file can really strengthen your case if you do end up having to quit and apply for benefits.

I was in a really similar situation a few months ago - toxic manager, unpredictable schedule changes, the whole nightmare. What I learned is that just walking away without notice is definitely risky for unemployment benefits, but there are some strategies that worked for me. First, I started documenting EVERYTHING - every time my hours got cut, every inappropriate comment from management, every policy violation I witnessed. Then I filed complaints with NYS Department of Labor about the scheduling issues and workplace environment while I was still employed. This created an official record that I was trying to address legitimate workplace problems. When I eventually had to leave (I gave two weeks notice citing the documented issues), my unemployment claim was approved because I had established a pattern of trying to resolve workplace violations before quitting. The key is building that paper trail that shows you didn't just abandon your job on a whim, but were responding to genuine workplace problems that your employer failed to address.

I'm going through this EXACT same nightmare and it's honestly such a relief to find this thread! Filed my claim in mid-February and have been stuck at $0 with 104 effective days for about 6 weeks now. Just like literally everyone else here, I also had multiple employers last year - worked at a pharmacy part-time while finishing college until July, then got a full-time position at a small marketing firm that laid me off in January due to budget cuts. The multiple employer pattern is so clear from everyone's experiences! It's obviously what triggers this review/adjudication hell where they won't tell you anything useful. I've called NYSDOL probably 22 times and always get that same infuriating "your claim is under review" script with absolutely no specifics about what they're reviewing or any realistic timeline. What really gets me is how they act like they're helping when they say it's "under review" but literally can't tell you WHAT they're reviewing or WHY it's taking so long! I've been religiously certifying every week because I'm terrified of losing backpay when this eventually gets resolved, but the financial stress is becoming overwhelming. This thread has been incredibly valuable - I had no idea about asking specifically for adjudication details or trying to reach a Tier 2 specialist. I'm definitely going to try the secure messaging approach through my account and use that specific language about adjudication when I call next. Thanks to everyone for sharing their experiences and advice - it's both comforting and maddening to know so many of us are dealing with this identical issue. At least we know it's a systemic problem with multiple employer cases and not something we individually did wrong!

I'm going through this EXACT same situation and it's honestly driving me insane! Filed my NY unemployment claim in late February and have been stuck at $0 with 104 effective days for about 5 weeks now. Just like literally everyone else in this thread, I also had multiple employers last year - worked at a clothing store until October, then got hired at a small logistics company that had to lay me off in January due to contract losses. The multiple employer pattern from everyone's comments is undeniable! It's clearly what's triggering these endless "reviews" with zero transparency about what's actually happening. I've called NYSDOL about 17 times and it's always that same maddening "your claim is under review" script with absolutely no specifics about what they're reviewing or any realistic timeline. This thread has been such a lifesaver - I was starting to panic that there was something uniquely wrong with my application until I saw how widespread this issue is. Based on all the great advice shared here, I'm definitely going to try sending a secure message through my account asking specifically about adjudication, and when I call next I'll push to get transferred to a Tier 2 specialist who can actually see my file details. It's both comforting and infuriating to know so many of us are dealing with this identical nightmare. The financial stress is becoming overwhelming but at least now I know this is a systemic problem with multiple employer cases and not something I did wrong. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences - hopefully we all get some movement on our claims soon!

I'm in a similar situation - been collecting for about 16 weeks now and getting anxious about the time limit. What I found helpful was logging into my NY.gov account and looking at the "Payment History" section. It actually shows you how many weeks you've claimed so far, which helps you do the math on how many you have left. Also, I started keeping a spreadsheet tracking my weekly claims just so I have a clear picture of where I stand. The job market is definitely tough right now, but at least knowing exactly where you are in the 26-week timeline helps with planning. Has anyone had luck with temp agencies or contract work to bridge the gap while still looking for permanent positions?

Yes, you can work part-time or do temp work while collecting unemployment in NY and still receive partial benefits! The key is reporting all your earnings when you file your weekly claim. NYS uses a formula where they subtract a portion of your earnings from your weekly benefit amount. As long as you earn less than your weekly benefit rate plus $50, you'll still get some unemployment benefits. Just make sure to report every penny you earn - even one day of temp work - or you could face penalties. I did some freelance work during my claim period and it actually helped stretch my benefits longer since I was getting partial payments instead of using up full weeks. The important thing is to keep looking for permanent full-time work and document those job search activities too.

So I was about to throw my phone after 3 hours on hold when I remembered my cousin said he used something called Claimyr. I tried it the next day and got through in about an hour. It's kinda genius - they just automate the annoying part (waiting forever on hold) then connect you when a human picks up. Game changer for real.

Giovanni, I totally feel your frustration - I was in the exact same boat about 6 months ago. My claim was stuck in pending hell for almost 3 months and I was about to lose my apartment. After reading through all these comments, I actually tried that Claimyr service that multiple people mentioned and it genuinely worked. I was super skeptical at first because it seemed too good to be true, but they literally just handle the waiting on hold part and connect you once someone picks up. Got through to an actual human in under 2 hours and had my whole mess sorted out in one call. Worth every penny when you're facing eviction. The other tip that helped me was having EVERYTHING ready beforehand - all my documents, dates, previous case numbers, etc. When you finally get someone on the line, you want to be super organized so they can help you quickly. Hang in there, the system is absolutely broken but there are ways to work around it!

UPDATE: Finally got this figured out! For anyone else with this problem - I ended up doing THREE things that worked: 1. Used the virtual card at Target for a small purchase and got $100 cash back (thanks for that suggestion!) 2. Found a newer Chase ATM with the contactless symbol and was able to withdraw $300 (had to tap my phone to the symbol, then enter PIN) 3. For the rest, I just waited 2 more days for the bank transfer to complete The most frustrating thing is that NONE of this was explained in any of the materials I got from unemployment. You'd think they'd make it easier to actually access our benefits! Thanks everyone for your help!

So glad you got it figured out! Your experience highlights exactly why this system is so frustrating for people who need their benefits. The lack of clear instructions from NYSDOL is really unacceptable - people shouldn't have to crowdsource solutions on forums just to access their own money. Your update will definitely help others who run into the same issues. It's crazy that something as basic as "here's how to actually use your benefits card" isn't explained properly in their official materials.