By the way, for anyone who had a name change recently, I had to go through a whole separate verification process because my November email had my married name but the check system still had my maiden name. So if your name changed and you don't get your check when you should, that might be why!

Update: I deposited my check through mobile deposit and it cleared this morning. No issues. For anyone worried about the delay - a friend of mine called using that Claimyr service someone mentioned above and found out his check was sent to his old address even though he updated his info online. They're resending it but said it'll take another 2-3 weeks. Might be worth checking if you've moved in the past year.

Thank you for this! I hadn't even thought about tax implications. Will definitely file that form ASAP.

It's good to hear you got through! For anyone else facing identity theft issues with NY unemployment:\n\n1. Try the fraud hotline (1-888-598-2077) during non-peak hours (Tuesday-Thursday afternoons tend to be better)\n2. Use Claimyr if you continue having trouble getting through\n3. Contact your state assembly member's office as a backup\n4. Complete all the required forms (ID-520, DTF-275)\n5. Place credit freezes at all three bureaus\n6. File an FTC report at IdentityTheft.gov\n\nIdentity theft cases require persistence but can be resolved with the right approach.

So I had a semi-similar situation happen to me last month but my back pay was for missed days not whole weeks. I was owed for 3 partial weeks that I had documentation for but never got to certify. I got paid within 48 hours but then they somehow overpaid me by adding an extra week I never claimed. Now I'm dealing with that whole mess. Make sure you keep track of exactly what weeks they approved you for so you don't end up with an overpayment notice later!

Final update from what I've gathered from several cases: Direct deposit back pay timing seems to be: - Best case: Next business day - Average case: 2-3 business days - Worst case (without issues): 5 business days If it goes beyond that, there's likely another issue that needs resolving. Hope this helps you and others wondering about the timeline!

Just wanted to update - I used Claimyr this morning like someone suggested and actually got through to a real person! They confirmed my tourism recovery benefit check will be mailed May 25th. They also said there was indeed a flag on my account because I worked at the same place for over 4 years, but that it had already been resolved. AND they confirmed my current address was correct in the system. Such a relief! Thanks everyone for your help.

my cousin works at the unemployment office and she said their printer that makes the checks broke down for like a week lol that's why there were delays for everyone. such a mess!

One more tip: when you do finally get through to someone, make sure you get their name and ID number. If they don't resolve your issue completely, you can reference that specific conversation in follow-up calls. Helps maintain continuity and prevents the "I don't see any notes about that" problem.

UPDATE: Success! After trying for days, I finally got through this morning. For anyone else struggling, here's what worked for me: 1. Called at exactly 8:00am 2. Used the menu sequence that people suggested here (1-5-2-1) 3. Still got disconnected 3 times 4. On the 4th try, got put on hold for 1.5 hours but FINALLY spoke to someone They fixed my issue in about 10 minutes once I got through. Apparently there was a "verification flag" on my account that needed to be removed. Thanks everyone for your help!

Yes, NY offers temporary disability benefits through NYS Disability Insurance for short-term conditions. If his doctor expects he'll return to work in a few months, this might be a better fit. The benefit amount is different from unemployment though - 50% of his average weekly wage up to a maximum of $1,147 per week in 2025. His doctor would need to complete part of the application. He can potentially transition to unemployment later when he's able to work but hasn't found a job yet.

Important update for you: If your brother's cancer qualifies as a serious medical condition under NY law, he might also be eligible for NY Paid Family & Medical Leave, which typically provides higher benefits than basic disability. The maximum weekly benefit is $1,482 in 2025. His doctor would need to certify his condition, but it's worth exploring both options to see which provides better benefits in his situation.

UPDATE: My 1099-G just appeared in my account today (Jan 29)! For anyone else waiting, check your NY.gov account under Unemployment Services, then look for 1099-G Information. Mine shows the correct amount too, thankfully.

By the way, if anyone needs previous years' 1099-Gs, they keep them in the same section of your account. I was able to download my 2020, 2021, and 2022 forms all at once when I needed them for a mortgage application last month. Just click on the year you need.

just got mine by logging in. system is working fine

update?? did u get ur 1099 yet? im in same boat

It was in their newsletter email from last Thursday (2/27). I don't think they've updated the website yet. When you call, mention that date specifically if they seem unsure about the initiative.

UPDATE: I finally got through to someone at DOL! Used the Claimyr service that was suggested here and it actually connected me to an agent within about 45 minutes. The agent told me my investigation was actually complete last week but there was a system flag preventing payment release. They cleared it manually and I should receive all 7 weeks of backpay within 3 business days! Thank you everyone for your help and suggestions during this stressful time.

i work as a bartender and got COVID last year. my friend told me to just apply for unemployment anyway and say i was laid off temporarily but i think thats fraud?? i ended up just eating the lost income and it SUCKED. Couldn't pay my full rent that month. The whole system needs fixing!!!

Thank you all for the helpful responses! I'm going to: 1) Talk to my boss about the NY Paid Sick Leave law they might not know about, 2) Look into disability benefits even though the 7-day waiting period might make it impractical, and 3) Use Claimyr to reach someone at DOL if I can't get through on my own tomorrow. I really appreciate all the guidance - this community is amazing!