This thread is incredibly helpful! I'm dealing with a similar situation right now - been waiting 3 weeks for my NY unemployment claim to move from "pending review" status. Reading through everyone's experiences here gives me hope that it's normal (even if frustrating) and that there are actual solutions like the Claimyr service. It's reassuring to see that @Jibriel Kohn got their full back pay once everything was resolved. Going to try calling at 8am again tomorrow, but if that doesn't work I'll definitely look into that calling service. Thanks for documenting the whole process - this is exactly the kind of real-world info that's hard to find elsewhere!

Just wanted to add my recent experience to help others! I filed my NY unemployment claim in early February and it took exactly 5 weeks to get approved. Like @Jibriel Kohn, mine was stuck on "review in progress" with no additional messages or alerts in my account. I tried calling the regular NYSDOL line dozens of times with no luck - always got disconnected or busy signals. Finally broke down and used the Claimyr service everyone mentioned here, and it was honestly worth every penny. Got through to an agent in about 15 minutes who found that my claim was flagged because my previous employer took the full 10 business days to respond (even though they didn't contest it). Once the agent noted that in my file, I was approved within 2 business days and got all my back pay. The waiting is absolutely brutal when you're stressed about money, but it really does seem like most of these delays are just system backlogs rather than actual issues with people's claims. Keep certifying weekly no matter what - you'll get paid for all those weeks once it goes through!

New to this community and currently facing this exact same phone system nightmare! I've been trying to file my weekly claim for the past 5 days with no luck - getting either busy signals, disconnects after long holds, or PIN error messages even though I know I'm entering it correctly. Reading through all these incredible strategies has given me so much hope! I'm planning to try the Tuesday 8 AM landline approach with the slow PIN entry technique tomorrow morning. It's absolutely mind-boggling that filing a simple weekly unemployment claim has become this complex, but I'm so grateful for everyone who has shared their hard-won workarounds. This thread should honestly be pinned as the official "How to Actually Reach NYS Department of Labor" guide! Will definitely report back with my results and any new discoveries. Thank you all for creating such a supportive resource for navigating this broken system!

New community member here and wow, this thread is absolutely incredible! I've been banging my head against the wall trying to file my weekly claim for the past week - getting the same PIN errors, busy signals, and endless holds that everyone else is describing. Reading through all these detailed strategies has been like finding a treasure map for navigating this nightmare system. I'm amazed by how this community has collectively reverse-engineered solutions to what should be a simple government service. Planning to arm myself with a landline tomorrow morning and try the Tuesday 8 AM approach with ultra-slow PIN entry. It's honestly shocking that we need to become phone system specialists just to file basic unemployment claims, but I'm so grateful for everyone who has shared their hard-fought wisdom here. This should definitely be the official unofficial guide to actually reaching NYS Department of Labor! Will absolutely report back with my experience and any new tricks I discover. Thank you all for turning an impossible situation into something manageable with the right strategy!

Just want to echo what everyone else has said - you're absolutely eligible for unemployment when a temp assignment ends! I went through this same situation about 8 months ago when my temp job at a logistics company ended after 4 months. The process was actually much smoother than I expected. Make sure you have all your pay stubs from the staffing agency and apply online at labor.ny.gov right away. The waiting week starts from when you file, not when you lost work, so don't delay. Also, keep in touch with your staffing agency while collecting benefits - they might have new assignments pop up and you'll need to document those contacts for your weekly job search requirements anyway. The NY unemployment system really does understand temp work situations, so don't stress too much about it!

Just wanted to jump in as someone new to this community - this thread is incredibly helpful! I'm currently working a temp assignment that's supposed to end next month, so I'm bookmarking all this advice for when I need to file. It's really reassuring to see how supportive everyone is here and how much practical knowledge gets shared. @KhalilStar I hope your claim goes smoothly - sounds like you've got all the info you need now. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences, especially the specific tips about what to put for separation reasons and keeping job search logs. This community is awesome!

Make sure you understand the partial benefit calculation too. You can work and still collect as long as your total earnings for the week are less than your weekly benefit rate. NYS Department of Labor has a specific formula for partial benefits. And document everything about why your hours were reduced - that'll help your case for backdating.

I actually went through something similar last year. The key thing is to file your initial claim ASAP and be very detailed in your explanation for requesting backdating. When I explained that my hours were cut due to lack of available work and that I wasn't informed about partial benefits being available, they approved my backdate request for about 2 months. It took forever to process though - like 6-8 weeks before I saw any payments. Also make sure you have documentation of your reduced hours/earnings if possible. Good luck!

I just went through this same nightmare a few weeks ago and wanted to share what worked for me. First thing - DO NOT PANIC (easier said than done, I know). Here's what you need to do immediately: 1) Log into your NY.gov account and check if you can file a new claim. Look at your base period wages - if you worked ANY hours during your original claim (even part-time or gig work), you might qualify for a fresh 26 weeks. 2) While you're checking that, apply for SNAP TODAY. Don't wait. The application process takes weeks and you need that safety net now. 3) Contact your local DSS office for emergency assistance - they can help with rent and utilities while you sort this out. 4) If you're having trouble getting through to DOL by phone, try calling right at 8 AM when they open, or use the callback feature on their website. I know this feels overwhelming but there are more options than it initially seems. You've been doing everything right with your job search - don't give up now!

I went through this exact same panic last year and wanted to share what I learned. First - breathe! There are still options. The most important thing is to immediately check if you can file a NEW claim. I had worked some temp jobs during my original benefit year and didn't realize I had earned enough to qualify for a fresh 26 weeks. Log into your NY.gov account and look at your "Monetary Determination" - if you see wages from work you did during your claim period, you might be eligible. Also, start applying for other assistance NOW - don't wait. SNAP, emergency rental assistance through your county DSS, HEAP for utilities. The applications take time to process so get them in ASAP. I also found local food pantries and community organizations were lifesavers during the gap. Check with 211 (dial 2-1-1) for resources in your area. The system isn't great but there are more safety nets than it initially appears. You've been doing everything right - keep pushing forward!