I'm dealing with this same situation right now - missed my appointment on September 10th and completed the makeup requirements on the 15th. My account has been on hold for almost 2 weeks now. The stress is real when you're depending on these benefits! Reading everyone's experiences here is actually really comforting though. Sounds like the 10-12 day timeframe that @Diego Vargas mentioned is pretty typical, so I'm trying to stay patient. I've been following the advice here - certifying every week, trying to call at 8am sharp, and documenting everything. Still haven't gotten through on the phone but I'm not giving up. Thanks for starting this thread @Dylan Wright - it's so helpful to see we're all dealing with the same frustrating system together. Hopefully we'll all get our holds lifted soon! 🤞

I'm going through the exact same thing right now! Missed my appointment on September 18th and completed all the makeup requirements on the 22nd. It's been about 10 days now and my account is still on hold. The anxiety is killing me because I really need those benefits to cover my expenses. But reading through everyone's experiences here is giving me so much hope - it sounds like the 10-12 day timeline that @Diego Vargas mentioned is pretty standard, and most people do get it resolved eventually. I've been following all the advice from this thread: certifying every week even though I'm not getting paid, trying to call right at 8am when they open, and keeping detailed records of everything. Haven't gotten through on the phone yet but I'm not giving up! It's honestly such a relief to know I'm not the only one dealing with this nightmare. The NY unemployment system is so broken but at least we're all supporting each other through it. Thanks @Dylan Wright for starting this thread - it's exactly what I needed to see today! 🙏

Don't be scared - just be honest on your application. As long as you report everything accurately and follow the job search requirements, you'll be fine. Layoffs are legitimate reasons for unemployment benefits.

I went through this exact same situation about 6 months ago when my tech company did massive layoffs. Being laid off absolutely qualifies you for unemployment benefits in NY - it's considered an involuntary separation through no fault of your own. Don't worry about only having 8 months at your current job either. The NYS DOL looks at your entire work history over the past 18 months to determine eligibility, so if you worked elsewhere before this job, that counts too. One tip: when you file online, make sure you have your last employer's FEIN number ready if possible - it speeds up the process. Also, start looking for work right away and keep records of your job search activities since you'll need to report them during your weekly certifications. The whole process was much less scary than I thought it would be!

Just keep checking your account daily. Sometimes the status changes without any notification. Also make sure you're meeting the job search requirements even before approval - you'll need to show you've been actively looking for work.

I'm going through the same thing right now - filed my claim 8 days ago and it's nerve-wracking waiting! One thing that helped me was calling the automated phone line (1-888-209-8124) which at least confirms they received your application and gives basic status info without having to get through to a human. Also, if you haven't already, make sure you have all your documents ready (pay stubs, separation notice, etc.) in case they request additional verification. The waiting is the worst part but hang in there!

just hang in there, once the payments start they come regularly every week as long as you keep filing your weekly claims on time

I'm going through the exact same thing right now! Filed my claim 12 days ago after getting laid off from my retail job and still showing $0 in payment history. The waiting is really nerve-wracking when you're counting on that money for rent and groceries. I've been religiously filing my weekly claims and double-checked all my info multiple times. It's somewhat comforting to know 2-3 weeks is normal, but man does it feel like forever when you're stressed about bills. Hoping both our payments come through soon!

Ugh, I'm dealing with the EXACT same thing right now! Filed my claim 11 days ago and it's been stuck in pending ever since. The representative told me to certify weekly but there's literally no option to do it in the portal - just that stupid "pending" status with zero explanation. I've probably called 50+ times and either get disconnected immediately or sit on hold for hours before giving up. It's so frustrating because I really need this money to pay my bills. From reading all these comments it seems like the only real solution is somehow getting through to a live person, but that feels impossible right now. Definitely going to try some of these tips - the assembly person route sounds promising, and I might have to look into that Claimyr service too. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences, at least I know this isn't just happening to me!

I'm in the exact same boat! Filed my claim about 9 days ago and it's been stuck on pending this whole time. The woman I spoke to during my phone interview was so confident telling me I'd be able to certify every Sunday, but when I log in there's literally nothing there - just that maddening "pending" status with no explanation whatsoever. I've been calling obsessively every day, sometimes 20+ times in a row, and I either get that automated "we're too busy" message or I'll sit on hold for 2-3 hours before the call just drops. It's beyond frustrating when you're counting on this money! Reading through everyone's responses here is actually giving me some hope though. Sounds like the assembly person route might be worth trying, and I'm seriously considering that Claimyr service too since so many people seem to have success with it. Thanks for posting this - it's weirdly comforting to know I'm not the only one dealing with this broken system right now!