I'm on day 1 of waiting and was already starting to get nervous about the "pending" status, but reading through this entire thread has been absolutely amazing for setting proper expectations! I had no idea that 2-6 weeks was completely normal processing time - I was thinking I'd hear something within a day or two and was starting to worry when I logged in this morning and just saw "pending." It's incredible how much stress and anxiety NYS DOL could prevent by simply explaining upfront that adjudication typically takes several weeks and that employer verification is a routine part of the process, not a red flag. This thread has taught me more about the unemployment process in 20 minutes than I could find anywhere on their official website! I'm definitely bookmarking this conversation and will try the 8am calling strategy if I need updates later on. Thank you to everyone who's shared their timelines and experiences - you've created exactly the kind of support and transparency that should have been provided from the beginning. It's such a relief to know that "pending" just means they're working on it, not that something went wrong with my application!

I'm on day 6 of waiting and this thread has been absolutely incredible for my peace of mind! I was starting to panic that my "pending" status meant I'd been denied or that I somehow messed up my application. Reading everyone's experiences here has taught me so much more about the actual process than anything on the NYS DOL website. It's really reassuring to learn that 2-6 weeks is completely normal, especially when employer verification is involved. The lack of communication from NYS DOL about realistic timelines is honestly shocking - they could save so many people from unnecessary anxiety by just explaining that adjudication takes time. I'm definitely going to try the 8am calling strategy that everyone keeps mentioning if I need updates later on. Thank you to everyone who's shared their timelines and outcomes - you've created the support system that should have existed from day one! For anyone else in those first week or two and starting to worry like I was, just know that "pending" is actually a good sign that they're still working on your claim.

Update: I filed my weekly claim today and reported my first week of work. The system let me file and it looks like I'll still get some benefits even though I'm working. Thanks everyone for the advice about not stopping my claim completely!

Congratulations on the new job! Just wanted to add that you should also keep all your pay stubs and track your exact work hours each week. NYS Department of Labor sometimes audits claims and having good records makes everything smoother. Also, if your part-time job ever ends or your hours get reduced, you'll already have an active claim and won't have to go through the whole application process again. The partial benefits system is actually pretty helpful for people in situations like yours where you're working your way back to full-time employment.

Just went through this exact situation last month! Got let go during my 90-day probation at a retail job and was able to reopen my claim no problem. The key things that helped me: 1. I stopped certifying the week I started work (super important!) 2. When I got terminated, I immediately went online and reopened my claim 3. Had to do a phone interview where they asked about why I was let go - just be honest 4. They asked for my start/end dates and final pay info Since it was just "not a good fit" and not misconduct, they approved me to continue with my remaining benefits. The whole process took about 2 weeks from reopening to getting my first payment back. Pro tip: if you need to talk to someone, don't waste time calling - use one of those callback services. Worth every penny to avoid the hold times!

Been in a similar spot before - the good news is you can definitely return to your remaining benefits if things don't work out during probation. Just make sure you're documenting everything from day one at the new job (emails, performance feedback, etc.) in case you need it later. And definitely stop certifying for benefits the moment you start working! That's crucial. If you do get let go, you can reopen your claim online pretty easily as long as it wasn't for misconduct. The probation period thing actually works in your favor since most terminations during that time are just "not a good fit" rather than misconduct.

I'm new to this community and unfortunately here because I'm dealing with my own NY unemployment pending nightmare - currently on week 2 and getting really stressed about it. Reading through this entire thread has been both incredibly reassuring (knowing I'm not alone) and absolutely infuriating (seeing how broken this system is). @d3285d7b0217 huge congratulations on finally getting through and getting your situation resolved! Your detailed documentation throughout this whole process is invaluable for the rest of us still stuck in pending hell. That 7:30am calling strategy is brilliant and I'm definitely setting my alarm to try it tomorrow morning. It's completely absurd that you got flagged just for using a tablet - like we're living in 2025 and they expect us to only access our benefits from one computer for eternity? The total lack of communication from NYSDOL is what makes this whole situation so cruel. They just cut off your financial lifeline without any explanation while you're already dealing with the stress of unemployment. I've been religiously keeping up with my weekly certifications thankfully, and everyone's advice here confirms that's absolutely critical for getting backpay. This community support means everything when the official system completely abandons us. Will definitely update if I have any luck with that early morning call strategy - fingers crossed!

I'm completely new to this community and unfortunately here because I'm dealing with my own NY unemployment pending nightmare - just started week 1 but already feeling anxious after reading everyone's experiences here. This thread has been incredibly eye-opening! @d3285d7b0217 huge congratulations on finally breaking through and getting your situation resolved - your detailed updates give me so much hope that persistence really does pay off. That 7:30am calling strategy seems to be the absolute key based on all these success stories. I can't believe you got flagged just for using a tablet - that's completely ridiculous in 2025! It's like their system expects us to be chained to one computer forever. The total lack of communication from NYSDOL is what makes this whole situation so much more stressful than it needs to be. They just cut people off financially without any explanation while we're already dealing with job loss anxiety. I've been keeping up with my weekly certifications and started taking screenshots of everything after reading all the great advice here. It's both comforting and terrifying to see how widespread this problem is - clearly their fraud detection system needs a complete overhaul if it's flagging legitimate users for basic activities like accessing benefits from different devices. Thanks to everyone for sharing your experiences and practical strategies - this community support is invaluable when navigating such a broken system!

I went through this exact situation about 8 months ago and here's what I learned: You absolutely need to contact your local One-Stop Career Center BEFORE enrolling in any classes. They can help determine if you qualify for programs like WIOA or TAA that will actually pay for your training. I ended up getting approved for a web development bootcamp that was 100% covered, and I was able to continue receiving UI benefits throughout the program. The key is getting the proper approval first - don't just enroll and hope for the best. Each local office has slightly different procedures, so definitely go in person if you can rather than trying to navigate this over the phone.

I actually went through this process last year and want to echo what others have said about getting approval first. The key thing to understand is that NYS has what's called "approved training" which lets you attend school while still collecting UI benefits. When I went to my local One-Stop Career Center, they explained that as long as your training is approved and you're still able to work (meaning you'd leave class for a job interview or accept a job if offered), you're good. On your weekly claims, you'll answer "yes" to attending school but you'll also indicate it's approved training. The staff there were actually really helpful once I got connected to the right person - they have lists of approved programs and can even help with funding through WIOA. Don't let the phone system discourage you from pursuing this - the in-person help is much better.