I'm going through the exact same thing right now! Missed my work search meeting because of a doctor's appointment I couldn't reschedule, and now I've been stuck in review for almost 3 weeks. The anxiety is killing me because I'm behind on my car payment already. I've been following all the advice here - claiming every week, documenting everything, trying to call at 8am. Still no luck getting through on the phone though. The wait times are absolutely insane! One question for those who've been through this - did you guys get any kind of notification when your review was finally completed? Or did the payments just randomly show up in your account? I keep checking obsessively but nothing yet. Thanks for sharing all your experiences, it really helps knowing other people have made it through this nightmare! 🤞

Just want to add another perspective here - I went through this exact situation about 4 months ago and it was absolutely nerve-wracking! Missed my work search meeting due to a COVID exposure and had to quarantine. The one thing that really helped me was creating a detailed timeline document with dates, times, and screenshots of everything I submitted. When I finally got through to someone (took the claimyr service route too), having all that organized info made the call go much smoother. Also, don't panic if you see your claim status change to "pending" or other confusing statuses during the review - that's normal. Mine bounced between like 3 different statuses before finally clearing. The system is definitely broken but you WILL get your money eventually. Keep your head up and keep claiming those weeks! The backpay hitting your account all at once is actually kind of nice when it finally happens 😅

Rita, I totally feel your pain on this! I had a similar security question nightmare with the NY unemployment system a few months back. One thing that might help - have you tried accessing the site during off-peak hours like really early morning (6-7am) or late evening? Sometimes the system behaves differently when there's less traffic. Also, if you have any family members who might remember exactly how your mom's name appeared on old documents or forms, that could give you clues about variations you haven't tried yet. The NY system is notorious for storing info exactly as it was entered originally, even if there were typos. I know it's super stressful with your benefits timeline, but based on all the success stories in this thread, it sounds like there's definitely a solution out there - you just need to find the right combination. Sending you good vibes that you crack the code soon! 🤞

Rita, I just went through this exact same nightmare two weeks ago and I completely understand your frustration! 😤 After trying every variation I could think of for days, what finally worked for me was remembering that when I originally set up my account back in 2020, I was using my phone and the auto-correct changed my mother's maiden name from "Kowalski" to "Kowalsky" without me noticing. Try thinking about any possible autocorrect mistakes - especially if you set up your account on mobile during the pandemic chaos when we were all rushing to file. Also, the system might be case-sensitive in weird ways, so try your mom's name in ALL CAPS, all lowercase, and proper capitalization. I know how stressful this is with your benefits running out, but based on all these success stories, there's definitely a solution! If nothing else works, that claimyr service people mentioned actually did get me through to an agent who fixed everything in under 10 minutes. Don't give up - you're going to figure this out! 💪

Glad to hear you got it resolved! This is exactly why I always recommend calling KeyBank first when there are issues with new unemployment cards. They put security holds on probably 50% of new activations, especially for larger amounts like yours. For anyone else reading this thread with similar issues - the KeyBank number is usually much easier to get through to than NYSDOL, and they can resolve card-specific problems immediately. Thanks for updating us with the solution!

As someone who just went through the NY unemployment process myself, I can't stress enough how important it is to save KeyBank's customer service number in your phone the moment you get your card. I had a similar scare when my first payment didn't show up - turned out to be a routine verification hold that took 5 minutes to resolve once I actually got through to them. The NYSDOL phone system is basically impossible, but KeyBank is usually pretty responsive. Also, pro tip: if you ever need to make a large withdrawal or purchase, call them first to let them know - they'll flag it as fraud otherwise and freeze your card at the worst possible moment!

I went through this exact situation on my H1B about 6 months ago. Yes, you're absolutely eligible! The process was pretty straightforward - I just needed to upload my I-797 approval notice and EAD card like you mentioned. One thing to note is that you'll need to be actively searching for work and available to accept suitable employment, which shouldn't be an issue since you're authorized to work. Also, make sure to file your claim as soon as possible since there's usually a one-week waiting period before benefits start. The weekly benefit amount is based on your previous earnings, so with 2 years of tech salary you should get a decent amount. Don't let the stress get to you - you've been paying into the system and you deserve these benefits!

I'm a former immigration paralegal and wanted to add some important details about H1B holders and unemployment benefits. While you are eligible as others have confirmed, there are a few critical things to keep in mind: 1) H1B holders typically have a 60-day grace period to find new employment or change status after job loss, so file your UI claim immediately to maximize your benefit period. 2) Make sure your employer properly notified USCIS of your termination - this affects your legal status timeline. 3) You can receive benefits while searching for work, but if you find a job with a different employer, they'll need to file a new H1B petition (unless it's a cap-exempt position). 4) Keep all your immigration documents updated and readily available since NYS DOL may request them for periodic eligibility reviews. The good news is that receiving unemployment benefits won't negatively impact future immigration applications. Best of luck with your claim!

Thanks everyone for clearing this up! I had no idea it was entirely employer-funded through their unemployment taxes. I was actually worried I hadn't been paying enough into the system somehow. It's good to know that when I file my claim with NYS Department of Labor, I'm accessing benefits that my previous employers have already paid for through their tax contributions. Makes the whole process feel more legitimate and less like I'm asking for a handout.

This is really helpful information! I'm in a similar situation and was also confused about the funding. One thing I'm still wondering about - does the amount of benefits I can receive depend on how much my employer paid in taxes, or is it based on my earnings history? I want to make sure I understand how the benefit calculation works with the NYS Department of Labor system.