Just wanted to update everyone - I finally got through using the Spanish line trick that @Carmen Flores mentioned! Called this morning at 8:35 AM, pressed 2 for Spanish, and when the agent picked up I politely said "English please" and they transferred me immediately. No hassle at all, they were super understanding about it. Took about 25 minutes total including the transfer. The authentication process itself was pretty simple - they just needed to verify some personal info and confirm my identity. My account is now unlocked and I can access everything online again! For anyone still struggling with this, definitely try the Spanish line approach. It seems like way fewer people know about this workaround so the wait times are much shorter. Also have all your info ready (SSN, PIN, address, etc.) because once you get through they can usually fix it in one call. Thanks to everyone who shared tips - this community really came through! 🙏

Just got off the phone after FINALLY getting through! Been locked out for 6 months and tried everything. Here's exactly what worked for me today: Called 800-833-3000 at 8:32 AM (Tuesday), selected Spanish (option 2), got connected to an agent in literally 12 minutes. When they picked up I said "Hi, I need English please" and they transferred me right away - no questions asked, super friendly about it. The English agent already had my call info so I didn't have to re-explain everything. She pulled up my account, asked me to verify my SSN, date of birth, and last employer. Then she asked a few security questions about my claim history. Whole thing took maybe 8 minutes and boom - account unlocked! She explained that my account got flagged because I logged in from different devices during COVID (home computer, phone, library, etc.) which triggered their security system. Makes sense but would've been nice to know that 6 months ago lol. For anyone still dealing with this - the Spanish line trick is 100% legit and the agents are super helpful once you get through. Don't waste any more time on the English line. Tuesday mornings seem to be the sweet spot. Good luck everyone! 🎉

I'm so sorry you're going through this - 9 months is absolutely unconscionable. I went through something similar (though only 4 months) and what finally broke it loose was a combination of things others have mentioned here. One thing I'll add that helped me: when you do get through to someone at NYSDOL, ask them to read you the specific "issue codes" or flags on your account. Don't let them just say "under review" - insist they tell you the actual codes. Write them down and ask what each one means. Sometimes the phone reps don't even look at the details, but if you push for specifics, they'll actually investigate your file. Also, if you're on Facebook, there are some NY unemployment groups where people share real-time info about which phone numbers are getting through faster on any given day. The main number isn't always the best option. Hang in there - with this level of delay, when it does get resolved you should get a substantial lump sum that will help you catch up. But I know that doesn't help with rent due next week. Definitely try the assembly member route ASAP.

Hey Gavin, I just wanted to reach out because I went through almost the exact same nightmare with NYSDOL last year. 8 months of waiting, constant "pending" status, and getting absolutely nowhere with phone calls. What finally worked for me was a combination of what Morgan and Lucas suggested - contacting my assembly member AND filing a complaint with the Inspector General. But here's the key thing that made the difference: I also submitted a written request for a "supervisory review" through the online portal. There's actually a form buried in the system specifically for cases that have been pending over 90 days without action. The magic happened when all three things converged - suddenly I had three different offices asking NYSDOL about my case at the same time, and within 48 hours someone actually looked at my file and found the issue (a computer glitch that had incorrectly flagged me as having an open claim from 2019 that was already resolved). Also, when you call your assembly member, mention the specific timeline - 9 months is actually grounds for them to escalate this as an emergency constituent services case. Most reps' offices have seen enough of these NYSDOL disasters that they know exactly how to handle them. You're so close to getting this resolved. Don't give up now!

Just wanted to jump in as another newcomer who's been following this thread closely! I'm in week 3 of my first unemployment claim and I've noticed the payment history delays seem to be getting longer recently. My first two certifications showed up within 24 hours, but this week's certification (done Tuesday) still isn't showing up. It's really comforting to see so many people experiencing the same thing and that it usually resolves itself within a few business days. This community has been incredibly helpful for understanding what's normal vs. what's actually a problem. For other newcomers like me - definitely save your confirmation numbers and don't panic if it takes 2-3 days to show up in payment history!

As someone who just started claiming unemployment last month, I can't tell you how relieved I am to find this thread! I certified on Monday and when nothing showed up in my payment history by Wednesday, I was convinced I'd messed something up. This is all so new to me and the NYSDOL website doesn't really explain these normal delays anywhere obvious. Reading everyone's experiences here has been a huge help - it sounds like 1-3 business day delays are totally normal, especially lately. I'm going to stop refreshing my payment history every hour now! Thank you all for sharing your stories, it really helps us newcomers understand what to expect from this system.

Same exact situation here! Filed Sunday around 8pm, got my confirmation number, but when I checked Monday morning there was absolutely nothing in my payment history. It's now Friday and still radio silence from the system. I've been on benefits for about 5 months with zero issues until this week. Reading through everyone's comments is honestly the first relief I've felt all week - clearly this is a widespread system issue and not something wrong with our individual accounts. Really hoping this gets sorted out by Monday because I have rent due Tuesday and this delay is causing major anxiety. Thanks for posting this @Mei Liu, sometimes it just helps to know you're not alone in dealing with NYSDOL's broken system! 🙏

This is such a relief to read! I filed my weekly certification on Sunday morning around 11am and I'm experiencing the exact same thing - it's like my claim just vanished from the system completely. No payment history, no pending status, absolutely nothing showing up. I've been on unemployment for about 7 months and this has never happened before. I was starting to panic thinking they somehow cut off my benefits without notice, but seeing that so many others are dealing with the identical issue makes it clear this is a system-wide problem. It's incredibly frustrating that NYSDOL doesn't communicate these processing delays to us - a simple banner on their website saying "experiencing technical difficulties, payments may be delayed" would save everyone so much stress and confusion. I have bills due early next week too so really hoping this gets resolved by Monday. Thanks for posting this @Mei Liu - knowing I'm not alone in this mess definitely helps!

I went through this exact nightmare last year. Got the "assigned to a worker" update in June and didn't see a penny until September - 3 full months. What finally worked for me was a combination approach: I contacted my state senator's office (they have constituent services specifically for this), kept calling DOL every other day, AND used that Claimyr service people mentioned to actually get through to supervisors. The state senator's office was honestly the game changer - they have direct contacts at DOL and can flag urgent cases. Don't give up, the backpay when it finally comes through will cover everything you're owed. I know it doesn't help with bills right now, but also look into local food banks and emergency assistance programs while you wait. This system is absolutely broken but persistence does eventually pay off.

I'm going through this exact situation right now too! Filed in January, got the "assigned to a worker" update about 3 weeks ago, and still nothing. The financial stress is absolutely killing me - I'm behind on everything and my credit is starting to tank. Reading through everyone's experiences here is both reassuring and terrifying at the same time. Sounds like it could be anywhere from a few more weeks to several more months. I'm definitely going to try contacting my state representative's office based on all the success stories here - seems like that's the most consistent way to actually get results. Also probably going to bite the bullet and try that Claimyr service since I'm spending hours every day trying to get through anyway. This whole system is just designed to wear people down until they give up. Hang in there Aaron, we're all in this nightmare together! 💪