has anyone tried the callback feature? i heard they were testing it in some areas

Just checking back - did you manage to get through? I'm curious if any of these suggestions worked for you.

This is exactly what I'm going through right now! Been stuck in this same loop for over a week - can't certify online, can't reach anyone by phone. It's so frustrating when you're depending on these benefits and the system just breaks down like this. I'm going to try the 8am calling strategy tomorrow and staying on the line longer like people suggested. Really glad to see Diego got his resolved - gives me hope that persistence will eventually pay off. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences and tips!

Just want to add another tip that worked for me - if you have multiple phones available (like a cell and landline, or ask family members to help), you can try calling from different numbers simultaneously at 8am. I did this last week and got through on my second phone after about 15 minutes while my first phone was still getting busy signals. Once you're in the queue on one line, you can hang up the others. Also, make sure you have your Social Security number, claim confirmation number, and recent work history ready before you call - they'll ask for all of this to verify your identity and remove the flag. The whole process took about 5 minutes once I actually got an agent on the line.

I'm in a similar situation - got laid off from my retail job about 3 weeks ago and just started getting benefits. Reading through all this is really helpful. One thing I'm wondering about is whether those 26 weeks get affected if you work part-time while collecting? Like if I pick up some gig work or temporary shifts, does that pause the clock on my benefit weeks or do they keep counting down? I want to take on some small jobs to help make ends meet but don't want to mess up my unemployment timeline.

Just to add some clarity on the extended benefits question - New York does participate in the federal Extended Benefits (EB) program, but it only triggers when the state's unemployment rate hits certain levels (usually above 6.5% for 13 weeks). During COVID we had programs like PEUC and PUA that added many more weeks, but those were special pandemic programs that have ended. The trigger rates for EB are calculated monthly, so theoretically it could activate again if unemployment gets high enough, but as Emma mentioned, there are currently no extensions available. Your best bet is to use those 26 weeks wisely and really focus on that job search!

I'm going through a similar situation right now and this thread has been incredibly helpful! I got fired from my food service job two weeks ago for "attitude problems" but really it was because I kept asking management about getting the broken freezer fixed and proper cleaning supplies. They said I was being "difficult" and "not a team player." Reading everyone's experiences here, especially about the timeline of raising safety concerns versus when disciplinary actions started, makes me realize I should probably file for unemployment too. I've been hesitating because I thought getting fired automatically disqualified you, but it sounds like the circumstances really matter. The retaliation angle that several people mentioned really resonates with my situation. Thanks to everyone who shared their stories - it's giving me the confidence to actually file my claim instead of just worrying about it.

I'm dealing with a similar situation right now - got fired from my delivery job last month for what they called "insubordination" but it was really because I refused to drive the company van that had faulty brakes. I kept telling my supervisor it wasn't safe and needed to be fixed, but they said I was being "difficult" and "not following orders." Finally they terminated me saying I had a "bad attitude" and wasn't "coachable." Reading through all these responses is giving me so much clarity - I had no idea that being fired for raising safety concerns could actually strengthen your unemployment case rather than hurt it. I was so worried about filing because I thought any termination would automatically disqualify me. But seeing how many people here had success, especially those who were initially denied but won on appeal, is really encouraging. I'm going to file this week and make sure to document the timeline of my safety complaints versus when the disciplinary actions started. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences - this community is such a lifeline when you're navigating this stressful process!

same boat here, lost my restaurant job and trying to figure out if unemployment will even be worth it with all the hoops they make you jump through

Just went through this process myself after getting laid off from my office job. One thing to keep in mind is that your weekly benefit amount is roughly 50% of your average weekly wage, but capped at the maximum. With your $52k salary, you were making about $1,000 per week, so you'd likely qualify for around $430-450 weekly like others mentioned. Also heads up - you can choose to have taxes withheld (10% federal) when you set up your claim, which I'd recommend so you don't get hit with a big tax bill later. The money definitely helps cover basics while job searching!