Another thing to check - if you're seeing "pending adjudication" make sure you've submitted all required documents. Sometimes they send you a notice requesting pay stubs, separation letter, or other proof but people miss it. Check your online account for any "correspondence" or "messages" section. I missed a document request for 2 weeks because I didn't realize they had sent me something through the portal instead of regular mail. Once I uploaded what they needed, my claim moved forward pretty quickly.

I went through this exact same frustration a few months ago! Here's what helped me understand the system better: When you log into my.ny.gov, go to "Unemployment Services" and look for these key sections: 1) "Claim Status" - this will show if you're approved, pending, or in adjudication, 2) "Payment History" - shows any payments made or scheduled, 3) "Correspondence" - CHECK THIS! They often send important requests here that you might miss, and 4) "Weekly Certification" - make sure you keep doing this even during adjudication. The "adjudication" status basically means they're reviewing something about your claim - could be verifying your job separation, work history, or eligibility. It's frustrating but totally normal. Don't panic if you see it, just make sure you've responded to any document requests in your correspondence section. The wait times suck but most claims do get resolved eventually.

FYI these appointments are partly to verify you're not committing fraud. They may ask verification questions about your previous employment and why you left. Be truthful. A friend of mine got caught in a lie during one of these and it caused major problems with her claim.

I went through one of these appointments about a month ago and it really wasn't as intimidating as I expected. The rep was actually pretty understanding about connection issues - I had to call back twice when my call dropped and they were totally fine with it. One thing I'd suggest is writing down a brief summary of each job you've applied to (company, position, date, website used) so you're not scrambling to remember details during the call. They asked me about my last 4-5 applications specifically. Also, if you have any documentation of your spotty cell service (like if you've contacted your provider about it), keep that handy in case you need to explain connection problems. The whole thing felt more like a wellness check than an interrogation. They genuinely seemed interested in helping me improve my job search strategy. Good luck with yours!

My cousin went through this 2 years ago and said the most important thing was staying calm and sticking to facts during the hearing. Don't get emotional even if the employer's representative says things that make you angry.

I went through a similar appeal hearing last year for a misconduct denial and won without a lawyer. Here's what helped me: 1) Request all your personnel files from HR in writing - they're legally required to provide them in NY. 2) Document everything with dates and times - write down exactly what happened leading to your termination. 3) Get witness statements from coworkers if possible. 4) Review your employee handbook for the exact policies they claim you violated. The hearing was actually less intimidating than I expected - the judge asked questions and let both sides present their case. Focus on facts, not emotions, and be prepared to counter their version of events with specific details. Good luck!

lol ny unemployment system is such a joke. good luck even getting anyone on the phone 🤡

Just want to add that you should also request a copy of your employment verification letter from HR before they fully shut down operations. Sometimes companies get sloppy with record keeping during closures and having that extra documentation can save you headaches later. Also, if you're part of a union, reach out to your rep - they might have additional resources or know if there's any special process for mass layoffs due to closure.

websites back up now just fyi

I had the same issue earlier today! After reading through all the comments here, I tried the Tel-Service number at 1-888-581-5812 and it worked perfectly. The automated system walked me through all the certification questions just like the website does. It took about 10 minutes total and I got a confirmation number at the end. Definitely keeping this number saved for future outages - seems like the phone system is more reliable than the website when there are technical issues.