I'm in the same boat and it's incredibly frustrating! I've been dealing with a similar issue for about 2 weeks now. One thing I discovered is that you can try using the "Contact Us" form on the NYS DOL website - it's buried in the menu but sometimes they actually respond to written inquiries faster than phone calls. Also, I heard that some people have had luck calling the technical support line instead of the main unemployment line when it's specifically a website/certification error. The number is different and sometimes has shorter wait times. Has anyone else tried that approach?

Have you tried contacting your local state senator's office in addition to your assembly member? I had a nightmare situation with my unemployment benefits last year where I couldn't get through for over a month. My state senator's office has a constituent services department that actually reached out directly to the Department of Labor on my behalf. They were able to get my case reviewed and resolved within a week. You can find your representatives on the NY State Senate website by entering your zip code. Also, make sure you have your Social Security number, claim confirmation number, and any reference numbers from error messages ready when you do finally get through to someone - it speeds up the process significantly.

Good luck! These hearings are stressful but totally winnable if you have your documentation together.

I just went through this process a few months ago and won my case! Here's what really helped me: 1) Practice explaining your case out loud beforehand - you'll be nervous and it helps to have rehearsed your key points. 2) Have a simple outline written down with your main arguments and the order you want to present them. 3) When they ask about the "misconduct," focus on the specific policy they claim you violated and whether you actually received proper training or warning about it. 4) Most importantly for retaliation cases - be very clear about the exact dates. When did you file the safety complaint vs when did disciplinary actions start? That timeline gap is crucial evidence. The hearing officers are actually pretty fair in my experience, they just want to understand what really happened.

Just wanted to give an update - my PayPal deposit came through this morning around 8:30am! So it was about 14 hours later than my usual Chime timing, but not too bad for the first payment to a new account. Thanks everyone for the reassurance and info, this thread was super helpful when I was stressing yesterday. For anyone else switching to PayPal, seems like Tuesday morning is pretty common based on what people shared here.

I've been using PayPal for NY unemployment for about 6 months now and it's pretty consistent. Usually get mine between 6-8am on Tuesday mornings, but like others mentioned, the first deposit to a new account can be delayed. PayPal seems to do some extra verification on the first government deposit which can add 12-24 hours. After that it should settle into a regular pattern. One tip - make sure your PayPal account is fully verified (bank account linked, identity confirmed, etc.) before the deposit comes through, otherwise they might hold it longer for security reasons.

Just want to add that if you're in a job training program through Workforce Development, some of those programs might have their own requirements, but that's separate from your basic UI eligibility. The NYS Department of Labor website has info about job search requirements but I don't remember seeing anything about drug testing there.

Thanks everyone for the helpful responses! I was really worried about this since I've heard so many conflicting stories. It's good to know that NYS Department of Labor doesn't require drug testing for regular unemployment benefits. I was laid off due to company downsizing, so it sounds like I should be fine to file my claim without worrying about any testing requirements. Really appreciate the clarification about it only being an issue if you were fired for failing a workplace drug test - that definitely doesn't apply to my situation.

I'm currently dealing with this exact same issue! Changed my bank info from Chase to Ally Bank 9 days ago and my payment shows "paid" but hasn't arrived anywhere. Reading through everyone's experiences here is honestly such a relief - I was starting to think my claim was somehow messed up or that I'd lost the money completely. It's absolutely ridiculous that NYSDOL doesn't give any warning about verification delays or explain that payments might switch to paper checks during this process. I've been checking both my old and new accounts multiple times a day and obsessively checking my mailbox. Based on what everyone's sharing, it sounds like this 1-3 week limbo period is unfortunately normal. I'm definitely going to try the Claimyr service if nothing shows up by early next week. Thank you all for sharing your stories and solutions - this community is way more helpful than anything on the official NYSDOL website!

I'm going through this exact same nightmare right now! Changed my direct deposit from Wells Fargo to Credit Union about 6 days ago and my payment shows "paid" but is nowhere to be found. I've been losing sleep over this because I have rent due next week. Reading through everyone's experiences here is honestly the first time I've felt any relief - I had no idea this verification limbo period was so common! The NYSDOL website gives zero indication that this could happen when you change banks. I've called probably 15 times and can't get past the automated system. Definitely going to try that Claimyr service everyone mentioned. Thank you all for sharing your stories - it's so frustrating that we have to rely on community forums to understand what's actually happening with our benefits instead of getting clear information from the state!