I'm about 7 weeks into my own review process and this thread is both terrifying and incredibly helpful. Reading about @Jamal Thompson's 6-month wait makes me realize I need to be more proactive now rather than just hoping it resolves itself. The fact that it turned out to be something as fixable as an unresponsive employer after all that time is mind-blowing - the system should have flagged that for you months ago! I'm definitely going to try the Claimyr service this week and also send that formal determination letter. @Giovanni Gallo thank you for those detailed steps - having that specific address and knowing exactly what to include is so helpful. It's sad that we have to become experts in navigating bureaucracy just to get our own benefits, but at least this community is sharing the knowledge. For anyone else in early stages of waiting - start documenting everything now and don't wait as long as I did to take action!

I'm new here but have been lurking and following this thread closely as I'm currently 3 months into my own review nightmare. @Jamal Thompson your persistence and willingness to share updates is really inspiring - 6 months is absolutely unacceptable but I'm so relieved you finally got some answers! The employer verification issue seems to be incredibly common based on what I'm reading here. I tried calling the regular NYSDOL line again yesterday and got the usual runaround, so I'm definitely going to try that Claimyr service that @Mei Chen mentioned. Has anyone had success with contacting their state representatives like @Giovanni Gallo suggested? I'm in Queens and wondering if reaching out to my local assembly member might actually help move things along. This community has been more helpful than any official resource I've found - thank you all for sharing your experiences and strategies. It's awful that so many of us are dealing with this, but at least we're helping each other navigate the system!

I've been following this thread and wanted to share some additional perspective. You're absolutely right to be concerned about the financial implications of quitting - unemployment benefits can be the difference between being able to take time to find the right job versus having to grab the first thing that comes along. One thing I haven't seen mentioned yet is that if you do decide to quit, make sure you understand the timing. Even if you eventually get approved for benefits after proving good cause, there's often a waiting period where you won't receive payments while they investigate your case. This could be weeks or even months. Also, consider whether there's any way to negotiate a mutual separation agreement with your employer - sometimes companies would rather avoid the hassle of a hostile work environment claim and might be willing to structure your departure as a layoff instead. It's worth having that conversation with HR or your manager's boss before you make the decision to resign outright. The job market is tough enough without having to worry about whether you'll qualify for the safety net you've been paying into.

I'm really sorry you're going through this - having been in a similar toxic work situation, I know how mentally and physically exhausting it can be. The advice everyone's given about documentation is spot on, but I wanted to add something practical: if you do decide to pursue the "good cause" route, keep in mind that NYS Department of Labor will also look at whether you made reasonable efforts to address the situation internally before quitting. This means not just documenting problems, but also showing you tried to get help. Even if HR is useless (which unfortunately they often are), having those email trails where you reached out shows you didn't just walk away without trying. Also, the fact that you've been there 8 years could actually work in your favor - it demonstrates you're not someone who quits lightly. One more thing: if you're dealing with what sounds like constructive dismissal (being forced to do work significantly different from your original job description), you might want to review your original offer letter or job description to show how dramatically things have changed. That kind of concrete comparison can be really powerful evidence that your working conditions became untenable through no fault of your own.

One thing to keep in mind is that even if the person gets approved for benefits, it doesn't necessarily mean you did anything wrong as an employer. The unemployment system is designed to provide a safety net for workers between jobs. Focus on providing accurate information about the separation and let NYS Department of Labor make their determination based on the facts. Keep copies of everything you submit for your records too.

Just went through this process myself last month. One tip that really helped - when you get that UC-309 form, read it carefully because it will tell you exactly what information NYS Department of Labor is looking for. They usually want the last day worked, reason for separation, and any relevant dates. If you have an employee handbook or written policies that were violated, include copies of those too. The key is being factual and specific rather than vague. And definitely don't miss that 10-day deadline - I learned the hard way that extensions are really rare.

I went through a similar situation last month! NYS DOL called me after about 2.5 weeks of pending adjudication. They left a detailed voicemail with a case number and asked me to call back within 72 hours for a phone interview. The interview lasted about 15 minutes and covered questions about my work history and reason for separation. What really helped me was keeping my phone volume up and checking voicemails twice daily. They also sent a message through the online portal the same day they called, so definitely keep monitoring both. If your phone has been acting up, maybe consider temporarily forwarding calls to a reliable backup number if possible. The waiting is nerve-wracking but they will reach out when they need additional information from you.

Yes, they absolutely do call! I just went through this process last month. NYS DOL called me after 18 days of pending adjudication status. They left a voicemail with my claim number and a direct callback number, giving me 48 hours to respond. The interview was about 25 minutes and they asked detailed questions about my separation from my previous employer and work search efforts. What really saved me was setting up a specific ringtone for unknown numbers so I wouldn't miss the call. They also sent a correspondence through my online account the same day they left the voicemail, so definitely keep checking both. The rep told me that phone interviews are pretty standard for most adjudication cases, especially if there are any questions about eligibility or separation circumstances. My claim was resolved within 5 business days after the phone interview. Keep your phone charged and volume up - you don't want to miss it!

Wow, this thread has been incredibly eye-opening and helpful! I'm new to this community and dealing with my own NYSDOL nightmare - been waiting 4 weeks with my account stuck on "pending review" and getting absolutely nowhere with the regular phone lines. Reading everyone's experiences here has made me realize this is clearly a massive systemic problem affecting tons of people, especially those with claims from February 2025. The timing tips for that technical support line (888-209-8124, press 1 then 6) are gold - calling at exactly 8:00 AM seems to be the key based on what Amelia and Lucas shared. I'm definitely going to try that tomorrow morning. It's both reassuring and infuriating to see that there ARE actual solutions (like Claimyr, the assembly rep contact, and that technical line), but we have to discover them through community forums instead of being told by NYSDOL directly. Thank you to everyone who's shared their strategies and success stories - this gives me actual hope that I can get through this mess. I'll update if I have any luck with these methods!

This thread has been a lifesaver! I've been dealing with the exact same issue - my NY unemployment benefits stopped coming in February and I've been stuck with a "pending review" status for over 6 weeks now. Like so many others here, I've tried calling the main line dozens of times with no luck. After reading through all these experiences, I'm amazed at how widespread this problem is, especially for February 2025 claims. It's both validating and infuriating to know I'm not alone in this mess. The technical support line tip (888-209-8124, press 1 then 6) that Yuki shared and the 8:00 AM sharp timing strategy from Amelia are exactly what I needed. Lucas's success story gives me real hope that this might actually work. I'm going to set multiple alarms tomorrow morning and try that technical support line right at 8 AM. If that doesn't work, I'll definitely look into Claimyr and contacting my assembly rep like others suggested. It's absolutely ridiculous that we have to become detective investigators just to get benefits we've paid into, but this community has provided more useful information than weeks of trying to navigate NYSDOL on my own. Thank you everyone for sharing your strategies and experiences - I'll report back with any updates!