I'm currently dealing with the same exact situation - week 4 of pending status and getting absolutely nowhere with the regular NYSDOL channels! This thread has been incredibly helpful in showing there are actual solutions beyond the endless automated phone loops. @Sean Kelly congratulations on finally getting your backpay - the employer verification issue explanation is really eye-opening since my former employer has also been slow to respond to documentation requests. @Emma Wilson the Office of Special Investigations complaint option is something I never would have found on my own - definitely adding that to my backup plan! @Giovanni Mancini your point about systematic documentation is spot on, I've been loosely tracking my failed calls but need to start recording reference numbers and dates more carefully. It's both frustrating and reassuring to know so many others are stuck in identical situations - really highlights how broken this system is. Based on all the success stories shared here, I'm planning to contact my assembly person first thing tomorrow morning. This community has provided more actionable advice in one thread than weeks of trying to navigate official channels. Will definitely update with my results - thank you everyone for sharing what actually works instead of the usual "keep calling" advice that goes nowhere!

I'm currently on week 3 of pending status and this thread has been a lifesaver! Reading everyone's experiences has given me hope that there's actually a way out of this nightmare. @Sean Kelly so glad you finally got your backpay - the employer verification issue makes perfect sense since my previous company has been dragging their feet on everything post-termination. @Emma Wilson I had no clue about the Office of Special Investigations complaint option, that's definitely going on my list of backup strategies! @Giovanni Mancini your documentation advice is gold - I've been casually tracking my failed calls but clearly need to get more systematic about recording reference numbers and dates. It's incredible how this community has figured out what actually works while the official system just leaves you hanging in limbo. I'm calling my assembly person's office first thing Monday based on all these success stories. The fact that so many of us are dealing with identical situations really shows how fundamentally broken this system is, but at least we're helping each other find real solutions! Will definitely report back with my progress. Thank you everyone for sharing actionable advice instead of the useless "keep trying" responses you get from official channels.

THE WHOLE SYSTEM IS DESIGNED TO KEEP PEOPLE DOWN! How are you supposed to get back on your feet if they take more than half your unemployment? And don't even get me started on how impossible it is to reach anyone at NYS Department of Labor to ask questions about this stuff.

I went through this same situation a couple years ago. The garnishment typically starts automatically once the child support office gets notified by NYS DOL that you're receiving benefits - you don't need to tell them yourself. In my case, they took about 58% of my weekly benefit amount since I had arrears. One thing that helped me was calling the child support enforcement office directly to set up a payment plan that worked better with my reduced income. They were actually more reasonable than I expected and we worked out a temporary modification while I was unemployed. Also keep all your documentation showing the garnishment amounts in case you need to dispute anything later.

Also wanted to add - if you're really stuck without any device, some community centers and workforce development offices have computers you can use for government stuff like this. Call 211 and they can help you find locations near you. Don't let them suspend your benefits over something like this!

Just went through this same situation last month! If you have a smartphone, that's totally fine to use. Download the Teams app and test it beforehand to make sure your camera/mic work. Also heads up - they might ask you to show your ID on camera, so have that ready. The whole thing was way less stressful than I thought it would be. Good luck! 🤞

I've been collecting unemployment benefits in NY for about 7 months now and can definitely confirm what everyone else is saying - holidays are treated exactly the same as any other week! No extra pay, no special procedures, just file your weekly claim by Sunday like always. The one thing I'd add is that I actually found holiday weeks to be less stressful for job searching because there's less pressure when you know most companies aren't actively reviewing applications. I used Christmas week last year to update my resume, clean up my LinkedIn profile, and research companies I wanted to target in the new year. All of that counts toward your work search requirements and honestly felt more productive than getting frustrated by lack of responses to applications. Don't overthink it - the system is designed to handle holidays automatically, and the NYS DOL understands that hiring slows down during major holidays. Just keep doing what you've been doing and you'll be fine!

I've been on unemployment in NY for about 3 months now and went through this exact same confusion during Thanksgiving week! Everyone here is giving you solid advice - holidays really don't change anything about your weekly certification process. You still file by your normal Sunday deadline, complete your work search activities, and report any income as usual. No extra holiday pay, but also no special complications. The only thing that might be different is if your direct deposit normally comes on Christmas Day itself, it could be delayed by one business day due to bank processing, but that's just a timing thing with your bank, not an issue with your benefits. I was so worried about messing something up during my first holiday week, but it ended up being exactly the same as any other week. Just stick to your normal routine and don't overthink it!

Same boat here! Started collecting in January and wasn't sure about the job search thing either. Glad someone asked this question because I was worried I was missing something important.

Just to add some clarity on what counts as valid work search activities - I went through this last year. Besides job applications, you can also count things like attending virtual career workshops, registering with temp agencies, creating profiles on job boards like Indeed or ZipRecruiter, and even informational interviews. The key is to keep good records with dates and details. I use a simple spreadsheet to track everything. Also, if you're having trouble finding 3 activities per week in your specific field, you can broaden your search to related fields or consider remote opportunities. The DOL understands that some industries have limited openings, but they want to see genuine effort.