Just a quick update check - were you able to get through to anyone? Did any of the suggestions help? The interstate claims idea sounds most promising given your situation.

Just wanted to follow up - any luck? The interstate claims issue definitely sounds like what's happening. When I used Claimyr, the agent told me interstate claims are taking forever right now because some states are slow to verify employment.

New York's unemployment benefit amount is not affected by how many dependents you have. Some states do provide dependent allowances, but NY isn't one of them. Your weekly benefit amount is calculated based on your earnings during your base period (roughly the first four of the last five completed calendar quarters before you filed your claim).

Hey Aurora! I went through this exact same anxiety when I was approaching my 26-week limit last year. Just wanted to add that while you're waiting to hear back from the career center, you might also want to look into SNAP benefits if you haven't already - they can help bridge the gap with food costs if your unemployment does run out. Also, some local churches and community organizations have emergency assistance programs that can help with utilities or rent for a month or two while you're job searching. It's not ideal, but having a backup plan really helped ease my stress during those final weeks. Good luck with everything!

This thread has been incredibly eye-opening! I'm dealing with a similar situation - my claim has been under "further investigation" for about 8 weeks now and I was starting to panic thinking I was doing something wrong. Reading everyone's strategies gives me so much hope. The fact that @Alice Pierce got a reference number and escalation just from using the right language and calling at the right time is huge! And @Melissa Lin's story about the automated fraud flag for having multiple W-2s is exactly the kind of bureaucratic nonsense that makes this whole system so maddening. I'm definitely going to try the 7:57am calling strategy tomorrow - it makes perfect sense that the reps would be less burned out early in the day. Also planning to download Form UF-5.2 and reach out to my state senator's office based on the success stories here. One quick question for those who have contacted their elected officials - did you call or email first? I want to make sure I approach this the right way to get the best response. Thank you all for sharing your experiences and creating such a helpful resource. It's awful that we all have to go through this, but at least we can help each other navigate the broken system!

I just want to say how incredibly grateful I am for this thread! I stumbled across it while desperately searching for solutions to my own unemployment nightmare. My claim has been stuck in "further investigation" for 6 weeks and I was starting to feel completely hopeless. Reading everyone's experiences and strategies has given me the first real hope I've had in months. The combination of practical tips (like the 7:57am calling trick and Form UF-5.2) with actual success stories shows that there really are ways to break through this bureaucratic wall. What strikes me most is how many of these delays seem to be caused by simple administrative issues that could be resolved quickly if anyone actually looked at the cases. @Melissa Lin's story about being flagged for "fraud" just for having two W-2s is infuriating but also shows how arbitrary these delays can be. I'm planning to implement a multi-pronged approach based on all the advice here: early morning calls asking specifically for claims examiners, submitting the UF-5.2 form, contacting both my assembly member and state senator, and being very specific about financial hardship language. Thank you all for turning what felt like an impossible situation into something with concrete action steps. I'll definitely update with my results and hopefully add another success story to help the next person who finds this thread!

Also worth noting - if you worked any part-time or temporary jobs while collecting unemployment, make sure those are all properly reported before you stop filing. I forgot to report a one-day gig I did and it came back to bite me during an audit six months later. NYS DOL cross-references with employers so they'll eventually find unreported work. Clean slate is always better when transitioning off benefits.

One thing I learned the hard way - even though your account goes dormant when you stop filing, make sure you update your contact info if you move or change phone numbers while your benefit year is still active. I moved a few months after going back to work and when NYS DOL tried to send me some routine correspondence about my closed claim, it went to my old address. Took forever to sort out because they couldn't reach me at the old contact info. Just log into your account periodically to keep everything current even if you're not actively filing.

I'm in a very similar situation right now - got fired for what my employer is calling "insubordination" but I genuinely believed I was raising legitimate safety concerns. Reading through all these responses is really helpful, especially hearing that NYS Department of Labor actually looks at the specific circumstances rather than just automatically denying claims for insubordination. I'm planning to file my claim this week and I feel much more confident after seeing @Oliver Zimmermann's experience and others who went through the adjudication process successfully. It's reassuring to know that standing up for workplace safety doesn't automatically disqualify you from benefits. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences - this community has been incredibly valuable during a really stressful time.

I've been following this discussion and wanted to add my perspective as someone who works in HR. What many people don't realize is that NYS Department of Labor specifically looks for "willful misconduct" - which means deliberate violation of reasonable workplace rules. Raising genuine safety concerns, even if your employer disagrees with you, typically doesn't meet that standard. The fact that you questioned the policy first before refusing shows you were acting in good faith. I'd recommend filing your claim immediately and being very clear about the safety aspect when you explain what happened. Document everything you can remember about the unsafe conditions and your attempts to address them through proper channels. The worst thing that can happen is they deny your initial claim, but then you can appeal with additional documentation. Don't let your employer's characterization of it as "insubordination" discourage you from applying for benefits you may legitimately deserve.