Just to add some practical advice - keep filing your weekly claims even if you haven't been approved yet. If you miss filing weeks, you can lose benefits for those periods even after approval. Also check your online account regularly for any requests for additional documentation.

Based on my experience filing last year, the 2-3 week timeframe is pretty accurate for straightforward cases. One thing that helped me track progress was logging into my.ny.gov account every few days - they'll post updates there before you get any mail or calls. Also, if you're really stressed about rent, consider reaching out to local assistance programs while you wait. Many counties have emergency rental assistance that can bridge the gap. The waiting is definitely the hardest part, but try to stay patient with the process.

Just wanted to share my experience since I went through something similar last year. Had the $0.00 showing for about 6 weeks and was losing my mind. Turns out my previous employer never responded to the wage verification request - that's what was holding everything up. Once I called and they expedited the employer contact, everything got resolved within 2 weeks and I got all my backpay. Definitely keep certifying every week no matter what because you'll get paid retroactively once it's sorted out. Also try calling first thing Monday morning at 8am sharp - that's when I finally got through without waiting hours. Don't give up! 🙏

Ugh, I'm in the exact same boat as you @Ravi Patel - filed my claim back in November too and still getting that same "we're working on your application" runaround. It's beyond frustrating when you're trying to pay bills and they just leave you hanging with zero communication. I've tried calling probably 100+ times and either get busy signals or sit on hold for hours just to get disconnected. Reading through everyone's comments here is honestly making me feel less alone in this mess. Definitely going to try that Monday 8am calling strategy @Amina Sy mentioned and might cave and use that claimyr service too. At this point $20 seems like nothing compared to the stress of not knowing what's going on with my claim. Keep your head up - sounds like we're all in this together! 💪

Just remember to keep good records of everything - save confirmation numbers when you file weekly claims, keep screenshots of your job search log, and document any communication with NYS Department of Labor. You'll need this stuff if any questions come up later.

I'm in a similar situation - filed 10 days ago and still waiting to hear back. The uncertainty is the worst part! I've been checking my account obsessively but the status hasn't changed from "pending". One thing I learned from reading other posts here is to make sure you're doing those weekly certifications even while waiting. Also, if you haven't already, double-check that all your employer information was entered correctly when you filed - any discrepancies can cause delays. Keeping my fingers crossed that both our claims get processed soon!

ugh the whole unemployment system is such a mess, they make everything so complicated and stressful when people are already struggling

The protest period can definitely be nerve-wracking, but try not to stress too much about it. In my experience, most employers don't actually contest claims unless there was serious misconduct involved. Since you mentioned this is about a standard unemployment filing, you'll likely be fine. Just make sure you keep filing your weekly certifications even during the protest period - that way if you're approved, you won't miss out on any benefits. The whole process usually takes 2-3 weeks total with NYS DOL.

Hey OP, any updates? Did you get your payment yet?

I went through this exact same thing earlier this year! Got the "Claim Can now be Paid" text and then... crickets for almost a month. It's so frustrating when you're counting on that money. What finally worked for me was calling super early in the morning (like 8:01 AM sharp) and just hitting redial over and over. Took about 45 minutes but I finally got through to someone who could see there was a small glitch in my account that was holding up payments. They fixed it right there on the call and I had my money within 3 business days. Also make sure you're doing your weekly certifications religiously - even if you haven't gotten paid yet, keep claiming those weeks or you'll lose them. The system will catch up and backpay you for all the weeks you certified for. Hope this helps and you see that payment soon! 🙏