The system is literally designed to make u give up istg

Just went through this exact situation last month! Had to file in both states initially to figure out which one I qualified for. Turns out NY had higher benefits for me even though my last job was in NJ. The trick is calling NJ first thing in the morning (like 8am sharp) and having all your documentation ready. Also keep a log of every call you make - dates, times, who you spoke with. That saved me when there was confusion later. Don't give up, it's worth the hassle once you get it sorted! 🙏

I went through this exact same situation about 6 months ago! Got laid off and had a job starting 7 weeks later. Filed for unemployment and it was totally fine - NYS actually makes this pretty straightforward. The key things that helped me: 1) When filing online, there's a section where you can note future employment arrangements, so be honest about it upfront, 2) Keep doing your weekly certifications and job search activities (I applied to a few other positions each week just to meet the requirements), and 3) Set a calendar reminder to stop filing the week before your new job starts. The whole process took about 10 days to get approved and I received benefits for all the weeks I was unemployed. Don't stress about it - this is exactly what unemployment insurance is designed for! The income bridge during those weeks was a lifesaver for covering rent and bills.

I was in this exact situation about a year ago and want to add my perspective! Got laid off from my manufacturing job and had a new position lined up 4 weeks later. Filed for unemployment immediately and had no issues whatsoever. What really helped me was understanding that NYS views each week independently - you're either unemployed that week or you're not, regardless of future plans. When I filed my initial claim online, I was completely transparent about having future employment and it actually seemed to speed up the process rather than cause problems. The caseworker I eventually spoke with told me it's super common and they appreciate the honesty upfront. Just make sure you're genuinely available for work during those interim weeks and keep up with the job search requirements. The benefits were a huge help during that transition period - don't let uncertainty keep you from getting the financial support you're entitled to!

i swear they do this on purpose hoping people will just give up. stay persistent! keep calling! the squeaky wheel gets the grease with these ppl 🤡

Same exact situation here! Green card holder, been stuck in "review" limbo for 2.5 months now. Called 8 times and got 8 different explanations - first it was employer verification, then document authenticity, now they're saying it's a "secondary review" that could take another month. The most frustrating part is my green card doesn't even expire until 2027! I've been authorized to work in the US for over 3 years now. This system is absolutely broken and seems designed to exhaust people into giving up. Going to try some of the suggestions here like contacting my assembly person and that specialized documentation department. Thanks for posting this - at least I know I'm not alone in this nightmare!

Just wanted to say thanks for asking this question - I'm in almost the exact same boat with owing taxes from when my business failed. Was also worried about applying but this thread convinced me to go ahead and file my claim.

Don't stress about the tax debt - it won't affect your UI eligibility at all! I work in HR and have helped tons of employees file unemployment claims over the years. NYS Department of Labor only looks at your employment history and separation reason. The IRS debt is completely unrelated. Just make sure you file your weekly certifications on time once you're approved. Construction workers usually qualify easily since layoffs are so common in that industry due to seasonal work and project completions.

I just went through this exact same nightmare last month! The certification loop is so frustrating - I was certifying every few days thinking maybe it would finally stick. Turns out I had a "pending determination" on my account that was invisible to me but blocking all my certifications from processing. What finally worked for me was calling the main NYSDOL number (888-209-8124) at exactly 8:00 AM on a Tuesday. I know everyone says the phones are impossible, but I got through after about 45 minutes of busy signals by hitting redial constantly. The rep immediately saw the issue - apparently my previous employer had contested my claim and it triggered an automatic hold. She cleared it in about 5 minutes and released 3 weeks of backed-up payments the same day. The key was getting to someone who could actually see the backend of my account, because the online portal shows nothing about these hidden flags. Don't give up! Keep that confirmation number documentation and try the early morning calling strategy. The system is broken but there are real people who can fix it once you reach them.

I'm dealing with this exact same issue right now! Been certifying for the past two weeks and every single time I log back in, it's like I never did it. I've gotten confirmation numbers both online and through the phone system, but my account still shows "Action Required - Certify for Benefits." Reading through everyone's responses, it sounds like there's probably some kind of hidden flag or pending issue on my account that's preventing the certifications from actually processing. The most frustrating part is that the system doesn't tell you WHY it's not working - it just keeps letting you certify over and over again like everything is normal. I'm going to try the early morning calling strategy that @Dominique Adams mentioned. Has anyone else had luck with specific times of day for getting through to NYSDOL? I'm worried about falling behind on bills while this gets sorted out, but it's encouraging to hear that once you actually reach someone, they can usually fix it pretty quickly.