File immediately and don't overthink the terminology. Whether they called it fired, laid off, or restructuring, if you weren't terminated for misconduct (stealing, fighting, not showing up), you should qualify for benefits. The key is that you lost your job through no fault of your own.

Don't let the word "fired" scare you - what matters is the actual circumstances, not the terminology your manager used. Since they explicitly told you it was due to "restructuring" and "position elimination," that's a separation due to lack of work, which makes you eligible for unemployment benefits. The fact that they hired someone new recently might actually work in your favor if NYS Department of Labor investigates, as it shows the "restructuring" claim might not hold up. File your claim online today and be truthful about everything - report that your employer said your position was eliminated due to restructuring. You've got nothing to worry about based on what you've described.

The whole NYS Department of Labor system is a nightmare honestly. Between the website crashes, the phone lines being jammed, and unclear instructions about what documentation they actually want, it's like they're trying to make it impossible to get benefits. At least now I know I don't have to upload every single week.

I've been dealing with the same frustrating upload issues! What finally worked for me was creating a simple table in Google Docs with my job search activities, then downloading it as a PDF. Make sure the file name doesn't have any special characters - just use something like "JobSearch_Week_01_23_2025.pdf". Also, try uploading during off-peak hours like early morning or late evening when fewer people are using the system. The servers seem less overloaded then and I've had better success getting files to actually submit.

For the original poster - if this drags on past 10 business days, definitely escalate. Sometimes pending payments get stuck in the system due to random flags or if there was any employer response to your separation that needs review. The key is getting to speak with someone who can look at your specific case rather than getting generic responses.

I'm dealing with something similar right now - filed my weekly claim on Sunday and it's been pending for 4 days. This is my first time experiencing a delay like this since I started collecting benefits 2 months ago. Reading through these responses, it sounds like anywhere from a week to 10+ days isn't unusual. Really hoping it resolves soon because I have rent due next week. The uncertainty is almost worse than the actual delay.

Just wanted to add one more thing that might be helpful - if your relative does end up in this situation, they should also check if their company has any kind of retention bonus or severance package they might be entitled to. Sometimes during acquisitions, companies will offer these to long-term employees even if they're not legally required to. Also, I'd suggest they start networking and updating their resume now, just in case. With 25 years of experience, they're probably very valuable in their field, and having other options lined up can give them more confidence to reject a lowball offer if it comes to that. The unemployment benefits are definitely there as a safety net, but having multiple backup plans is always the best approach. Hopefully the new owners will recognize the value of experienced employees and not make drastic cuts!

I'm in a very similar boat right now - my company just announced they're being acquired and there are already whispers about "right-sizing" compensation packages. After reading through all these responses, I'm realizing I need to start documenting everything immediately even though nothing official has been announced yet. One thing I wanted to add that I learned from a friend who went through this - if your relative has any stock options or retirement benefits that might be affected by the acquisition, they should also get clarity on those ASAP. Sometimes the new company changes vesting schedules or benefit structures in ways that could impact their total compensation calculation for unemployment purposes. Also, if they're over 40, they might want to look into whether any age discrimination protections apply if the new company is targeting longer-term employees for pay cuts. Just another angle to consider given they've been there 25 years. Thanks for posting this question - the responses here have been incredibly helpful for my own situation too!

I'm dealing with this EXACT same issue and it's driving me absolutely insane! Been trying to certify for the past week and can't get through on either phone or online. The phone system just plays that "all representatives are busy" message for 2 seconds then hangs up - no hold option, no queue, nothing! My online account is stuck on some "identity verification in progress" screen that never actually progresses. What's really stressing me out is that I've been certifying without issues for months, and now suddenly during my most important certification period the whole system decides to lock me out. I've got bills due and groceries to buy, and the thought of missing this payment cycle is keeping me awake at night. Based on all the incredible advice in this thread, I'm setting my alarm for 7:55am tomorrow to try that early calling strategy that so many people have mentioned. I'm also going to clear all my browser data and try accessing my account from my laptop instead of my phone. If those don't work, I think I'll have to bite the bullet and try Claimyr - it seems like multiple people have had success with it even though it's ridiculous we should have to pay extra just to access our own benefits. Thank you all SO much for sharing your experiences and solutions. Knowing I'm not alone in this nightmare actually helps me feel less crazy. This system is clearly broken but at least we're helping each other navigate through it!

I'm in the exact same boat as everyone else here! Been trying to certify for 3 days now and it's absolutely ridiculous. The phone system won't even let me wait on hold - just gives me that "all representatives are busy" message and immediately disconnects. My online account keeps showing "security verification pending" but doesn't tell me what I need to do to verify anything. What's really frustrating is that I've been certifying smoothly for months and now suddenly during crunch time the system completely locks me out. I'm supposed to be looking for work, not spending entire days just trying to access the unemployment system! After reading through all these experiences, I'm definitely going to try calling right at 7:58am tomorrow morning like several people suggested. Also going to clear my browser cache and try from a different device. If those don't work, I might have to consider that Claimyr service too - it's annoying to potentially pay extra but if it gets me through to a real person it might be worth it. Thanks to everyone for sharing their tips and frustrations - at least we know this is a widespread system problem and not something we're doing wrong. The fact that so many people are dealing with this exact same issue just proves how broken the NYSDOL system really is right now!