I'm currently going through this same situation right now - 4 months pregnant and just started collecting unemployment after my restaurant job closed down. The application process was honestly pretty straightforward, and being pregnant never came up as an issue with NYS Department of Labor. The weekly certification is just the standard questions about being able to work and looking for jobs. I've been approved for 8 weeks so far without any problems. The job search part is definitely harder though - I'm starting to show and some employers seem hesitant during interviews, but that's their problem, not the state's. Just be honest about your ability to work and keep detailed records of your job applications. You'll be fine!

I just wanted to add my experience as someone who collected unemployment while pregnant in NY about 6 months ago. The process was really smooth - I filed online and never had to mention my pregnancy status anywhere in the application. The key thing is just being honest about your ability and availability to work on the weekly certifications. I was able to collect benefits for about 4 months while job searching, and NYS Department of Labor never questioned anything pregnancy-related. The hardest part was definitely dealing with employer bias during interviews once I started showing, but that's a separate issue from getting your benefits approved. Keep good records of your job search activities and you should be all set. Wishing you the best with everything!

I'm in a similar boat - filed my claim about 10 days ago and the waiting is killing me! One thing that's helped me stay somewhat sane is checking the NY Department of Labor website regularly for any updates on processing times or system issues. Sometimes they post notices about delays or maintenance that can explain why things are taking longer. Also, make sure you save copies of everything - your confirmation numbers, weekly certification receipts, any correspondence. I learned this tip from a friend who had to resubmit some stuff later because the system glitched. The uncertainty is the worst part but from what I'm reading here it sounds like 2-3 weeks is pretty normal for straightforward cases. We just have to hang in there!

I'm in week 2 of waiting after filing my claim and this thread is so helpful! I had no idea about the waiting week or that you should keep certifying even before getting approved. One thing I wanted to add - if you're really struggling with bills while waiting, check if your local social services office has emergency assistance programs. Some counties in NY have short-term help for rent/utilities while you're waiting for unemployment to kick in. Also, I've been keeping a little notebook tracking when I file my weekly claims and any confirmation numbers, which has helped me feel more organized during this stressful time. The uncertainty is brutal but it sounds like most people do eventually get through the process!

hang in there OP. i was in your EXACT situation last year. took 13 weeks (!!!) but i eventually got every penny. the system is awful but don't give up

I'm so sorry you're going through this nightmare. The stress of waiting months without any income while bills pile up is absolutely crushing. I've been reading through all these responses and it seems like the key is getting to an actual human who can look at your specific case. The automated system and general reps just give you the runaround. Have you tried that specific phone number sequence that @Yara Elias shared? Also, the suggestion about contacting your state senator (not just representative) seems to have worked for multiple people here. Document everything like @Miguel Castro suggested - dates, times, names, what they told you. That paper trail becomes crucial if you need to escalate further. Don't lose hope - I know it feels impossible right now but people ARE getting through this broken system and getting their back pay. You've already made it this far, you can push through a little longer. 💪

The worst part about this whole thing is it's IMPOSSIBLE to get anyone on the phone at ny unemployment 😤 I spent literal days trying before I found a workaround. Use claimyr.com - they'll get you a callback from an actual agent instead of waiting on hold forever. Saved me so much stress when I was dealing with fraud on my account.

This is absolutely terrifying and I'm so sorry you're going through this! The combination of fraudulent unemployment claims AND suspicious IRS activity sounds like a major identity theft ring got hold of your information. A few things that stood out to me from your IRS transcript - those multiple refunds and credits from 2020-2021 are definitely red flags, especially the amended return you don't remember filing. The scammers might have been using your identity for tax fraud too, which could explain how they had enough info to file the unemployment claim. One thing I haven't seen mentioned yet - make sure to contact your state's Attorney General's office about this. They often have special identity theft units and can sometimes expedite cases with DOL. Also, consider signing up for the IRS Identity Protection PIN program if you haven't already - it adds an extra layer of security for future tax filings. The fact that you caught this so quickly is actually really good. Document everything with timestamps and keep pushing to get through to someone at DOL. Don't give up even if it takes multiple attempts. Your quick action could prevent this from getting much worse. Stay strong - you're doing all the right things! 💪

It's working now! Just logged in successfully. Must have been fixed in the last hour.

Glad to see it's working again! I was having the same issue earlier today and was getting really stressed about missing my certification. For future reference, does anyone know if there's a way to get notifications when the site goes down? It would be helpful to know about outages instead of spending hours thinking it's just my computer acting up.