I'm dealing with this exact same frustration right now! Been trying to get through for about 10 days and it's absolutely maddening. Reading through all these comments though gives me some hope - seems like there are actually some strategies that work. I'm definitely going to try reaching out to my state assemblyperson tomorrow since multiple people here had success with that approach. Also going to attempt that 7:58am calling trick and maybe try some of those alternative numbers people mentioned. The claimyr thing is interesting - I've never heard of a service like that before but honestly after seeing so many people vouch for it in this thread, I might give it a shot if the other methods don't work. At this point I'm willing to try anything to avoid another week of calling 20+ times a day just to get busy signals. It's so reassuring to see that once people actually get through, the verification process is quick. The system is clearly just overwhelmed and poorly designed. Thanks to everyone for sharing what worked - this community is amazing! Will definitely update if I manage to break through this nightmare. 🤞

This is such a frustrating situation and I completely understand your desperation! I've been lurking in this community for a while and finally decided to create an account because your post hit so close to home - I'm dealing with something similar in a different state and it's absolutely maddening. From reading all these comments, it sounds like the NY system is particularly broken right now. The assemblyperson suggestion seems really promising - I had no idea elected officials could help with unemployment issues! That seems like it should be your first move since multiple people got results within days. The early morning calling strategy also makes sense - trying to get in the queue before it fills up. And honestly, after seeing so many people independently vouch for that claimyr service, it's starting to seem pretty legitimate. I'm usually skeptical of third-party services but the fact that it's just automating the hold process rather than claiming to have special connections makes it sound more trustworthy. Don't give up! It's clear from everyone's experiences that once you actually get through to a real person, the verification process is quick and straightforward. The system is just overwhelmed and poorly designed. Hang in there and definitely try multiple approaches at once. Rooting for you! 🙏

same boat here, filed 8 days ago and nothing yet, starting to worry something is wrong

The waiting period is definitely nerve-wracking! I went through this same anxiety a few months ago. In addition to checking the correspondence section and payment history that others mentioned, also look for any requests for additional documentation in your account - sometimes they need wage verification or separation details that can hold up the process. The good news is that 10 days is still within the normal timeframe. Most approvals I've seen (including mine) came through between days 12-18. Keep doing your weekly certifications if those are available - that shows you're actively engaging with the system even while waiting for the determination.

The whole system is ridiculous if you ask me. You pay into unemployment insurance but then when you actually need time off for something important like having a baby they tell you you're not eligible because you're not 'available for work.' Meanwhile they created this whole separate program with different rules and probably different application processes. Why can't they just make it simple?

I just went through this process myself earlier this year! @Connor O'Brien is absolutely right - you won't qualify for regular unemployment while on maternity leave, but New York's Paid Family Leave is what you want to look into. You can get up to 12 weeks of PFL at 67% of your average weekly wage (up to a cap). The application is through your employer or their insurance carrier, not through the unemployment system. Also, for the actual birth/recovery period, you may qualify for short-term disability benefits which is separate from both UI and PFL. I'd recommend calling your HR department first to ask about both PFL and disability benefits - they should be able to walk you through the process since they handle the paperwork on their end.

I remember being so confused about this when I first filed. The key thing to understand is that they're looking at completed quarters only, so if you filed mid-quarter, that current quarter doesn't count toward your base year calculation. It's all about the timing of when wages were reported by your employers.

The base year system can definitely be tricky at first! One thing that helped me understand it was realizing that NYS Department of Labor is essentially looking back at your earnings from about 15-18 months ago when you file. So your most recent work history might not even be considered, which seems counterintuitive. If you're still confused about your specific calculation, you can request a detailed breakdown of how they calculated your weekly benefit amount - they'll show you exactly which quarters and wages they used. This helped me catch an error where one of my employers hadn't reported my wages correctly to the state.

my cousin waited like 8 months and still got approved so maybe theres hope? idk the rules exactly but worth a shot i guess

I was in a somewhat similar situation - waited about 6 months before applying because I kept thinking I'd find work soon. The NYS Department of Labor did approve my claim, but I definitely lost out on those months of benefits I could have received earlier. The key thing is your base period wages - they'll look at your highest earning quarter from the base period to calculate your weekly benefit amount. Since you worked in 2023, you should have qualifying wages. Don't let the delay discourage you from applying - you've already lost potential benefits by waiting, so there's no point in losing more. Just be honest about your separation date and reason when you apply online.