Congrats on getting through @Haley! That's so frustrating that it was just a verification issue that could have been resolved weeks ago if you could have reached someone earlier. The system really needs to be better at communicating what's holding up claims instead of just leaving people in limbo. For anyone else still struggling - her experience confirms that calling right at 8am opening time really is the best strategy, even if you have to wait on hold afterward.

@Haley so glad you finally got through and got it resolved! Your story is really helpful for the rest of us still dealing with this mess. I've been stuck waiting on back pay for 5 weeks now and was starting to lose hope. The fact that it was just a verification issue that could have been fixed immediately if you'd been able to reach someone earlier is exactly what's wrong with this system. I'm definitely going to try the 8am strategy tomorrow - thanks for sharing the update and giving us some hope that there's light at the end of this tunnel!

Great to hear you got approved Leila! From my recent experience with NYS DOL, once approved with direct deposit you should see payment within 2-4 business days. They definitely pay retroactively for all eligible weeks during adjudication - mine came as one larger deposit for the back weeks, then regular weekly payments after that. Pro tip: the payment status in your my.ny.gov account updates before the money actually hits your bank, so you'll get a heads up. Since you have rent due next week, there's a good chance you'll get that retroactive payment in time. Keep filing those weekly certs and hang in there - the hardest part is behind you!

Congratulations on getting approved, Leila! That's such a huge relief after going through adjudication. From what I've seen with NYS DOL, once you're approved with direct deposit, you typically get your first payment within 2-4 business days. The great news is they absolutely do pay retroactively for all the weeks you were waiting during adjudication - as long as you kept filing your weekly claims (which sounds like you did). Usually that retroactive amount comes as one bigger lump sum payment, then your regular weekly benefits start flowing normally. I'd keep checking your my.ny.gov account because the payment status updates there first before it actually hits your bank account. Given your timeline, you might actually get that payment before rent is due! The waiting is the worst part but you're through it now.

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!

I was in a similar situation last year! I'm also on SSDI and was able to get unemployment benefits while looking for part-time work that accommodated my limitations. The key thing is being completely transparent with both agencies. When I applied for unemployment, I had to provide detailed medical documentation about what types of work I could do despite my disability. NYS DOL was actually pretty reasonable once I explained my situation properly. Yes, there's always a risk of triggering a disability review, but as long as you're honest about your capabilities and limitations, you should be okay. The Ticket to Work program that someone mentioned is definitely worth looking into too - it provides some protection while you transition back to work. Don't let fear stop you from trying to improve your situation!

I've been following this thread and wanted to add my perspective as someone who works with disability advocacy. The confusion about unemployment and disability eligibility is really common, and it stems from the fact that these programs use different definitions of "disability" and "ability to work." For SSDI, you're considered disabled if you can't perform substantial gainful activity at the level you did before. But for unemployment, you just need to be able and available for some type of work, even if it's different from your previous job or has accommodations. The key is having clear medical documentation that outlines exactly what you CAN do, not just what you can't do. I'd recommend getting a functional capacity evaluation from your doctor that specifies things like "can sit for 4 hours with breaks" or "can lift up to 10 pounds" rather than just "has back problems." This gives both agencies concrete information to work with and helps avoid the appearance of contradiction between being "disabled" and "able to work.

Just wanted to share my recent experience since I literally went through this exact situation 3 months ago. Filed my new claim when I had 3 effective days left (after reading advice similar to what's here), and it took about 3 weeks total to get my first payment on the new claim. The key things that helped me: - Filed the new claim early (don't wait until you hit zero days) - Never stopped doing my weekly certifications - Had all my employer info organized beforehand - Got lucky and qualified based on work I did before my original claim started One thing that caught me off guard - my weekly benefit amount dropped from $420 to $340 on the new claim because they use a different calculation period. So even if you qualify, your payment might change. Also seconding what others said about claimyr - used them after 2 weeks of getting nowhere on my own and finally got connected to someone who could actually help. Worth the cost to avoid the endless hold music. Good luck OP, the system sucks but you'll get through it!

I went through this exact situation about 6 months ago and wanted to share what actually worked for me. When my effective days hit 5 remaining, I filed a new claim online but it got stuck in "pending" status for weeks. What finally broke the logjam was calling first thing Monday morning at exactly 8:00 AM - I got through after only 45 minutes on hold (which felt like a miracle). The agent told me that when your benefit year hasn't ended but your effective days are exhausted, it creates a weird system glitch that requires manual intervention. She was able to push my new claim through immediately and I got my first payment within 10 days. My weekly amount did drop from $385 to $320 because they had to use an older base period, but at least there was no gap in payments. Pro tip: when you call, have your SSN, original claim confirmation number, and employment details from the last 18 months ready. The agents can process these edge cases quickly if you have everything they need right at hand. Don't panic - just file ASAP and be persistent about following up!