I'm dealing with this exact same issue right now! My payments have been showing "released" for 6 days and I'm starting to panic. After reading through all these comments, especially @StellarSurfer's experience with the backend processing error, I think I know what might be happening. I'm definitely going to call first thing Monday morning and specifically ask them to check for manual review flags, payment processing holds, and backend errors on my account. It's insane that we have to become system experts just to get our benefits, but I'm so grateful for everyone sharing their experiences here. At least now I know I'm not going crazy and there are actual solutions! Going to document everything when I call and not accept the standard "everything looks fine" response. This community is honestly a lifesaver when the actual system fails us 💙

This exact thing happened to me about 6 weeks ago! Had 4 payments showing "released" for almost 2 weeks with nothing hitting my account. After reading similar posts here, I called and specifically asked them to check for "payment processing holds" and "manual review flags" on my account like others suggested. The first rep gave me the usual "everything looks normal" but I politely asked to speak with someone who could do a deeper dive into my payment status. The second rep found that my account had been flagged for some kind of automated security review that was blocking the payments from actually processing. She was able to clear it immediately and all 4 payments showed up in my account within 24 hours. Don't give up - keep calling and don't accept the surface-level responses. Ask specifically about security flags, processing holds, and manual reviews. Document everything and if needed, ask for a supervisor. The system definitely has issues but there are solutions once you get the right person who knows how to actually investigate! Hang in there @Justin Chang - based on what you're describing this sounds exactly like what I went through.

I went through this exact same situation last year with NYS Department of Labor. The "claim under review" status is frustrating because they don't give you any details about what they're reviewing. In my case, it turned out they needed to verify my wages with my former employer, which took about 8 weeks total. The good news is once they finally processed my claim, I got all the back pay for every week I had certified. My advice is to keep filing your weekly claims religiously and check your my.ny.gov account daily for any messages requesting documents. Also try calling first thing Monday morning at 8am sharp - that's when I finally got through to someone who could at least confirm my case was moving forward.

I'm dealing with the exact same frustrating situation right now - filed 5 weeks ago, been doing weekly certifications religiously, but still stuck on "claim under review" with zero communication from NYS Department of Labor. What's really getting to me is the complete lack of transparency about what they're actually reviewing or how much longer it might take. I've tried calling multiple times but can never get through. The stress of not knowing when (or if) the money will come is honestly worse than just waiting if I knew there was a timeline. Has anyone had success getting any kind of status update or estimate from them recently?

I'm in a similar situation - my company just announced they're filing Chapter 7 (complete liquidation) next month and we're all getting laid off. Reading through these responses is really helpful! Quick question for those who've been through this - did you need any special documentation from the company about the bankruptcy filing itself, or was the standard layoff notice sufficient for NYS DOL? I want to make sure I have everything ready when I file my claim.

I work for a benefits consulting firm and deal with these situations regularly. Bankruptcy absolutely does NOT disqualify you from unemployment benefits in New York. The UI system is funded by employer taxes paid over time into the state trust fund, so your bankrupt employer's current financial situation is irrelevant. File your claim immediately - waiting could cost you benefits for those weeks. Document everything: your layoff notice, final paystub, and any communication about the bankruptcy. NYS DOL sees involuntary layoffs due to business closure/downsizing as the most straightforward UI cases. You should have no problems getting approved.

Definitely keep certifying weekly - that's the most important thing! I went through something similar last year where I got a denial letter but the system still let me certify. Turned out there was an error in how they calculated my base period earnings. The key is getting through to an actual person to sort it out. I know everyone's mentioning claimyr.com and honestly it's worth trying - I was skeptical at first but after spending literally days trying to call myself with no luck, I gave it a shot and got connected to an agent within a few hours. Also make sure to appeal that denial ASAP since there's a 30-day window. The NY unemployment system is a mess but don't give up on what you might be entitled to!

I went through almost the exact same thing earlier this year! Got a denial letter but could still certify weekly - it's so confusing and stressful. Here's what I learned: definitely keep certifying no matter what (you can't get backpay for weeks you don't certify), and definitely appeal that denial letter ASAP since you only have 30 days. The system is honestly a disaster - sometimes they have duplicate claims, sometimes there are calculation errors, sometimes it's just a glitch. The only way to really figure out what's going on is to talk to a live person, which as everyone here knows is nearly impossible. I ended up having to use one of those callback services too after trying for weeks on my own. Don't panic though - lots of people here have had similar experiences and got it sorted out eventually. Just make sure you document everything and keep those weekly certifications going!

I'm so sorry you're dealing with this frustrating situation! 4 months is absolutely unacceptable. I went through something similar last year and wanted to share what finally worked for me after weeks of the same nightmare. Here's my strategy that eventually broke through: 1. **Call at 7:58am sharp** - Set multiple alarms and be ready to dial the second your clock hits 7:58. Don't wait until 8:00 when everyone else calls. 2. **Use the "redial immediately" method** - As soon as you get the busy message, hang up and redial instantly. Don't wait. I did this for about 90 minutes straight and finally got through. 3. **Have EVERYTHING ready** - Your SSN, PIN, mailing address, dates of unemployment, and any work you've done since filing. Also have a pen and paper to write down confirmation numbers. 4. **Document your 4 months of attempts** - This is actually valuable evidence for "good cause" when they ask why your waiting week is so late. The agent I finally reached was actually very helpful once I got through. They processed my delayed waiting week and all my backpay in one call. The key was explaining that I'd been consistently trying to reach them but couldn't get through due to the phone system issues. Don't give up! Your benefits are waiting for you - it's just a matter of breaking through this terrible system. The 4 months of documentation you have will actually work in your favor.

I'm so sorry you're going through this - 4 months is completely unacceptable! I just joined this community because I'm facing a similar situation (locked out for 6 weeks now) and this thread has been incredibly helpful. Based on everything I've read here, I'm planning to combine multiple strategies this week: the 7:58am calling trick with constant redialing, contacting my state representative's office, and filing a complaint with the DOL Advocate Office using that number someone shared (855-528-5618). What really gives me hope is seeing how many people eventually broke through after months of trying. Your documentation of 4 months of call attempts is actually going to be your strongest asset when you finally get through - that's solid "good cause" evidence for your delayed waiting week claim. Have you tried the Claimyr service that a few people mentioned? I'm normally skeptical of third-party services, but after reading the success stories here, I'm considering it as a backup option if the direct calling doesn't work. Stay strong - we're all rooting for you to finally get through this broken system and get the benefits you deserve!