I went through this nightmare myself about 6 months ago! One thing that really helped me was calling the NYSDOL fraud line early in the morning (like 7:50am) and then hitting redial constantly until I got through. Also, when you do get connected, ask the agent to give you their direct extension and the best time to call them back - this saved me so much time for follow-up questions. Another tip: keep a detailed log of every call attempt with timestamps. It helped when I finally spoke to someone to show how many times I'd tried to reach them. Hang in there - it's incredibly frustrating but you WILL get it resolved!

I'm so sorry you're dealing with this - identity theft is absolutely terrifying and the system makes it way harder than it should be! Reading through all these responses, it sounds like you've gotten some solid advice. I just wanted to add that when you do get connected to someone, make sure to ask them to email you a confirmation of the fraud report with a case number. I learned this the hard way when my case got "lost" in their system and I had to start over. Having that email saved me so much hassle. Also, consider setting up a Google Voice number specifically for all these unemployment calls so you can easily track and record the call history if needed. The whole situation is infuriating but you're doing all the right things!

I'm dealing with a similar situation right now - my spouse needed emergency surgery and I had to take unpaid leave to care for them. What I learned is that even though you can't get unemployment during approved leave, you should definitely document everything in case your situation changes. If your father's condition worsens and your leave becomes indefinite, or if your employer changes the terms of your return, that could potentially change your eligibility. Also, make sure to keep all your medical documentation and correspondence with HR. I'd recommend calling your local Department of Social Services too - they might have emergency assistance programs for caregivers that could help with utilities or other expenses while you're not getting paid. Hang in there, it's a tough situation but you're doing the right thing for your family.

I went through this exact situation last year when my mother had a stroke and needed full-time care. The hard truth is that you're right - you can't collect unemployment while on approved leave because you're not "available for work" which is a key requirement. However, there are a few things that helped me get through financially: First, check if your employer has an Employee Assistance Program (EAP) - mine provided some emergency financial assistance I didn't know about. Second, look into your state's Medicaid waiver programs for family caregivers - some provide small stipends. Third, if your father qualifies for certain programs through Veterans Affairs or has long-term care insurance, there might be caregiver support benefits. Also consider reaching out to local churches or community organizations - many have emergency assistance funds for families in crisis. The 6 months will be tough financially, but document everything in case your situation changes or your employer's policies shift. You're doing an incredibly important thing caring for your father.

I went through this exact situation about 6 months ago and want to give you some encouragement! I was fired for "poor performance" after working at a warehouse for 18 months with no prior disciplinary action. Like you, I suspected retaliation because I had filed a complaint about safety violations the week before. I was so nervous about applying but decided to file anyway through my.ny.gov. NYS Department of Labor called me about 3 weeks later for the fact-finding interview, and the adjudicator was actually really thorough and fair. They asked detailed questions about my work history, the circumstances of my termination, and whether I had received any warnings. The fact that I had no write-ups and a clean record for over a year really helped my case. I was approved for benefits about 2 weeks after that call. My former employer did try to contest it, but NYS Department of Labor sided with me after reviewing all the evidence. The key is being completely honest during the process and providing any documentation you have. Those text messages about scheduling issues could definitely help show a pattern of retaliation. Don't let fear stop you from filing - you've earned these benefits through your work, and being terminated for "poor performance" without prior warnings is a pretty weak case for misconduct on their part.

I'm going through something very similar right now! Got fired from my customer service job two weeks ago for "attitude issues" but I think it was really because I kept asking about our break policies and pointed out we weren't getting our legally required 30-minute lunch breaks. I've been reading through all these responses and it's giving me so much hope - I had no idea that poor performance usually doesn't count as misconduct for NYS Department of Labor purposes. I've been hesitating to file because I was scared they'd automatically deny me, but seeing all these success stories from people who were in almost identical situations is really encouraging. The fact that you don't have any formal write-ups after 2 years is huge - that's exactly what several people mentioned helped their cases. I'm definitely going to file my claim this week too. It sounds like we both have documentation that shows we were trying to address legitimate workplace issues, which could actually work in our favor if they retaliated against us. Thanks for posting this question - the responses have been incredibly helpful for my situation as well!

Been dealing with the same nightmare for 2 months now. What finally worked for me was filing a complaint with the NY Department of Labor's Inspector General office at 518-457-8746. They actually have authority to investigate delays and can push your case through faster than going through regular channels. Also try emailing the DOL Commissioner directly - sometimes those emails get flagged for priority review. Don't give up, the squeaky wheel gets the grease with these agencies!

Ugh I feel your pain @Ellie Lopez! I've been stuck in unemployment hell for 6 weeks now. The regular phone lines are absolutely useless - I either get busy signals or sit on hold for hours just to get disconnected. I tried the governor's office number that @Liam Cortez posted but honestly it was a dead end like everyone else said. Really considering trying that claimyr thing @Nina Fitzgerald mentioned even though $20 feels steep when you're already broke from waiting for benefits 😭 Let me know if you have any luck with the assembly member route - might try that next!

I'm in almost the exact same situation - filed in early September and been stuck in pending ever since. Called last month and got the same "high priority unit" story with that 518 number. Spoiler alert: they never called back. Reading through all these responses though, it seems like contacting your assembly representative is the way to go. So many people here had success with that approach after months of getting nowhere with DOL directly. I'm going to look up my rep tomorrow and give it a shot. The financial stress while waiting is absolutely brutal - hang in there Giovanni, sounds like there are real solutions that work if we push hard enough through the right channels.

I'm going through the exact same nightmare right now - filed my claim in mid-September and it's been stuck in pending for over 2 months. Got the same "high priority unit" runaround when I finally got through to someone last week, and of course that 518 number hasn't called back either. The financial stress is absolutely crushing when you're job hunting and watching your savings evaporate. Reading through all these responses has been eye-opening though - it's clear this "high priority" thing is just what they tell everyone to get them off the phone. But the assembly representative route sounds promising based on all the success stories here. I'm definitely going to look up my rep tomorrow and make that call. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences - it helps to know we're not alone in this broken system. Giovanni, definitely try the assembly rep approach and keep us posted on how it goes!