What did you put for your reason for separation from your last job? If you put anything that sounds remotely like misconduct or voluntarily quitting, it'll trigger a manual review and you'll see those zeros until they complete it.

I'm dealing with the exact same issue right now! Filed in September and still seeing all zeros with that generic "continuing to work on application" message. It's so frustrating because there's literally no way to know what's actually wrong without getting through to someone on the phone. I've been calling every morning at 8am sharp but keep getting the busy signal or that automated message saying they're experiencing high call volume. Has anyone had luck calling at specific times of day? I'm wondering if I should just bite the bullet and try one of those callback services people are mentioning since this is going on week 6 for me now.

Hey Freya, I'm really sorry to hear about your layoff - the tech market has been absolutely brutal lately. Just went through this myself a few months ago. Everyone here is right about the 26 weeks being the max, but I wanted to add something that helped me stretch things a bit further. If you can find ANY part-time or freelance work (even just a few hours a week), NY has a partial benefit system where you can still collect some unemployment while earning a little extra. The formula is complicated but basically if you earn less than your weekly benefit amount, you'll still get some payment and those "partial weeks" don't count as full weeks against your 26-week limit. It's not much but every little bit helps when you're dealing with NYC rent. Also seconding what others said about talking to an actual agent - I used that Claimyr service too after days of busy signals and it was worth every penny to get real answers about my specific situation. Hang in there and cast that net wide in your job search!

I'm in a similar situation - got laid off from my marketing job about a month ago and just started collecting benefits. Reading through all these comments is honestly both helpful and terrifying! The 26-week limit seems so short when you're dealing with this job market. I had no idea about the partial benefits thing that @Debra Bai mentioned - that could be a real lifesaver. I've been turning down some part-time opportunities because I thought it would mess up my unemployment, but now I'm wondering if I should reconsider. Also seeing so many people mention that Claimyr service to actually get through to an agent - might have to try that since I've been playing phone tag with the DOL for weeks. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences, even if they're a bit scary. At least we're all in this together!

Wait I'm so confused about all this base period stuff. What if I just started working this year? Do I not qualify then?? This is so stressful

@Grace Durand - Before you make any decisions about quitting, I'd strongly recommend documenting everything about these terrible working conditions you mentioned. Take photos, save emails, keep records of incidents with dates and times. If you do decide to leave, having solid documentation will be crucial if the Department of Labor needs to determine whether you had "good cause." Also, have you considered talking to HR or filing complaints with OSHA if it's truly unsafe? Sometimes addressing the issues first can strengthen your case if you do end up needing to quit and file for unemployment.

I just went through this same process last month! In addition to what others mentioned, I'd recommend bringing a printed copy of your online unemployment claim confirmation if you have one, plus any correspondence you've received from the Department of Labor. They asked me for proof of my job search activities too, so if you've been keeping track of where you've applied, bring that list. Also, get there early - my appointment was at 2pm but I showed up at 1:30 and they were running behind schedule. The whole thing took about 45 minutes once I actually got called in.

Just wanted to add - if you were paid by check instead of direct deposit, bring copies of those old paystubs or even photos of the checks if you have them. I was a contractor for part of my work history and they really scrutinized that employment since it wasn't traditional W-2 work. Also, if you have any documentation about why you lost your job (company closure notice, mass layoff announcement, etc.) that can help speed things up. They're basically trying to verify you're not committing fraud, so anything that shows your work history and separation circumstances is good to have. Good luck with your appointment!

Have you tried calling KeyBank directly at their unemployment card customer service line? They might be able to give you more specific information about your card status than the general DOL office. Also, if you're really worried about it being stolen from your mailbox, you could contact your local post office and ask them to hold mail for pickup - that way future important mail won't sit in an unsecured mailbox. I know it's stressful when rent is due, but hopefully one of these tracking methods will give you some answers soon.

You can also check your claim status online through the NY DOL website to see if there are any holds or issues that might be delaying card shipment. Sometimes there are identity verification steps that need to be completed before the card gets sent out. Also, if you need money urgently for rent, you might want to ask family/friends for a short-term loan since even if you get the card tomorrow it can take a day or two to activate it and access funds. Definitely try the KeyBank tracking and calling their unemployment card line - they're usually more helpful than the general DOL phone system.