same thing happened to my cousin last year she never got her benefits either

I went through something similar about 8 months ago. Here's what I learned: even if you're past the 30-day appeal deadline, you can still request what's called a "reopening" of your case if you have new evidence or can show good cause for the delay. Since you mentioned being forced out due to impossible working conditions, that could potentially qualify as constructive discharge. Try calling the Telephone Claims Center early in the morning (like 8 AM sharp) - that's when I had the best luck getting through. Also, gather any evidence you can find now - emails, text messages, witness statements, anything that shows the hostile work environment. Don't give up - the system is frustrating but there are still options available to you.

The whole system is rigged anyway. These judges just rubber stamp whatever the employer wants most of the time. I wouldn't get your hopes up too much. Been fighting NYS Department of Labor for months on different issues and they always side with the companies.

Hey Keisha, I just went through this process a few months ago and wanted to share some practical tips. First, organize all your evidence chronologically - especially those safety complaint emails you mentioned. Print them out even if it's a phone hearing, so you can reference them easily. Second, practice explaining your side of the story out loud beforehand. I was so nervous I kept stumbling over my words at first. The judge will ask you specific questions about dates and what exactly happened, so having a clear timeline helps. Also, don't be intimidated if your employer brings their HR team - the judge knows they're professionals and won't be swayed just because they sound polished. Your authenticity and documentation matter more. You've got this! The safety retaliation angle is actually pretty strong legally.

I'm dealing with this exact same nightmare! Been calling the 888-209-8124 number for almost 2 weeks straight with my claim stuck in "pending review" and it's absolutely maddening. Either immediate busy signals, 2+ hour holds that end in disconnection, or that infuriating "call volume too high" message. This thread is incredibly helpful though - way more useful than anything on the DOL website! I'm definitely going to try the Spanish line transfer trick tomorrow at exactly 8:00 AM based on all the success stories here. Also planning to have all my documents ready and do the rapid callback method if I get busy signals. It's so encouraging to read that most of these issues are simple 5-minute fixes once you actually reach an agent. Makes the broken phone system even more frustrating, but at least gives me hope that resolution is possible! Has anyone noticed if certain days of the week work better? I've been trying mostly Mondays but maybe mid-week would have less volume. Also seriously considering that Claimyr service as backup since the stress of constant failed attempts is really getting to me. Thanks everyone for sharing real solutions instead of the useless official advice - this community support is keeping me sane through this nightmare!

I've been dealing with this same nightmare for over a month now! My claim has been stuck in "pending review" since late February and I've called that 888-209-8124 number probably 400+ times with absolutely no success. The system is completely broken. Reading through this entire thread has been both frustrating and hopeful - frustrating because it confirms how widespread this problem is, but hopeful because of all the real strategies people are sharing. I'm definitely going to try the Spanish line transfer trick tomorrow morning at exactly 8:00 AM. The success rate with that method seems much higher based on everyone's experiences. I also just submitted a request through my assembly member's office after seeing multiple people mention that route. Found a specific unemployment assistance form on their website and got an auto-reply saying they'll contact DOL within 2 business days. The most infuriating part is knowing these are usually simple 5-minute fixes once you reach someone. Three weeks of stress and hundreds of failed calls for what will probably be a basic system glitch. At this point I'm seriously considering the Claimyr service too - my mental health can't take much more of this phone system nightmare. Thank you to everyone sharing what actually works instead of the useless official advice. This community support is literally the only thing keeping me sane right now. Will definitely update with results from tomorrow's Spanish line attempt!

Just to add - when you file make sure you answer the questions about school employment honestly. NYS Department of Labor will verify with your district anyway so don't try to hide that you're a school employee. The determination will depend on whether you have reasonable assurance of work for the next school year.

Same boat here! Filed last week and still waiting to hear back from them. The uncertainty is killing me because I need to know if I should look for summer work or wait for unemployment to kick in.

Thanks for asking this question OP. I've been wondering the same thing since my cousin's wedding is coming up in Mexico. Sounds like I need to plan this more carefully.

I went through something similar when my mom was hospitalized in Ireland last year. The key is being proactive and honest with NYS DOL. I called ahead and explained the family emergency situation - they were actually pretty understanding and let me temporarily suspend my claim rather than filing weekly and getting denied. You don't lose your place in the benefit year, you just pause it. When I came back after 3 weeks, I resumed filing normally. The important thing is to contact them BEFORE you travel, not after. Don't try to file weekly claims while you're there because you'll be lying about availability for work in NY state. Document everything about the family emergency too in case they ask questions later.