I went through almost the exact same thing last month with a construction layoff showing up as voluntary quit in the system. What finally worked for me was filing an appeal online through the my.ny.gov portal - there's a section called "Appeal a Determination" under the unemployment services. Even though it sounds scary, the appeal process actually got me connected with someone who could review my case properly. I attached my layoff notice, final paycheck showing "end of project" as the reason, and a brief letter explaining the situation. Got a response within 10 business days and they corrected the issue. In the meantime, keep filing your weekly certifications even if they're getting denied - you can get backpay once it's fixed. Also document every single phone call attempt with date/time - I kept a simple note on my phone and it helped show I was trying to resolve this properly. Don't panic about rent yet, there are emergency assistance programs through 211 if you call them. You've got this!

I feel your frustration - the NYS Department of Labor phone system is definitely broken right now. One thing that worked for me was calling the employer services line at 518-457-9000 instead of the main claimant line. They're sometimes less busy and can transfer you or at least give you better guidance on who to contact about separation issues. Also, since you mentioned construction work, make sure you have your employer's unemployment insurance account number handy (should be on your final paystub or layoff paperwork) - this helps them look up your case faster. For the voluntary quit vs layoff issue, you can also try reaching out to your former employer's HR or payroll department to confirm they reported it correctly to the state. Sometimes it's just a coding error on their end that they can fix with a simple correction form. Hang in there - I know it's stressful but most of these issues do get resolved eventually.

Just went through this process myself! NY does backdate to your last day of work BUT only if you can prove when you lost your job and have a valid reason for the delay in filing. I had a 10-day gap between losing my job and filing my claim, and they approved the full backpay after I submitted my termination email and explained I was trying to figure out the process first. Don't stress too much - just gather your documentation (last paystub, termination notice, even emails work) and be honest about why there was a delay when you talk to them. The key is filing ASAP from now and being prepared to explain the gap.

The backdating policy can be confusing but here's what I learned from my experience: NY will backdate to your actual separation date IF you can document it properly. The key things that helped me get approved were: 1) Having my final paycheck stub showing the last pay period, 2) A clear explanation that I was gathering info before filing (they understand people need time to research), and 3) Filing as soon as I understood the process. Don't let anyone scare you about losing weeks - just make sure you have some kind of documentation of your last day and a reasonable explanation for any delay. The worst thing you can do is wait even longer to file!

One thing to keep in mind is that if you receive any severance pay from your employer, it might affect when your unemployment benefits start. NYS considers severance as wages, so your benefits could be delayed until after the severance period ends. Also, make sure you have all your employment documents ready when you file - things like your last pay stub, separation notice, and Social Security card. The application process goes much smoother when you have everything organized upfront.

@Mateo Rodriguez Welcome to the unemployment process! As others mentioned, NY's standard duration is 26 weeks. Since you're new to this, here are a few practical tips: 1) File your claim ASAP online at labor.ny.gov - don't wait, 2) Set up direct deposit to avoid delays with benefit payments, 3) Keep a job search log from day one (I use a simple spreadsheet with company names, positions, dates, and contact info), and 4) Save all correspondence from NYS DOL in a folder. The system can seem overwhelming at first, but once you get into the weekly routine of filing your claim and documenting your job search, it becomes manageable. Your retail experience should definitely help you find something new - lots of employers value that customer service background. Good luck!

Congrats on getting through @Haley! That's so frustrating that it was just a verification issue that could have been resolved weeks ago if you could have reached someone earlier. The system really needs to be better at communicating what's holding up claims instead of just leaving people in limbo. For anyone else still struggling - her experience confirms that calling right at 8am opening time really is the best strategy, even if you have to wait on hold afterward.

@Haley so glad you finally got through and got it resolved! Your story is really helpful for the rest of us still dealing with this mess. I've been stuck waiting on back pay for 5 weeks now and was starting to lose hope. The fact that it was just a verification issue that could have been fixed immediately if you'd been able to reach someone earlier is exactly what's wrong with this system. I'm definitely going to try the 8am strategy tomorrow - thanks for sharing the update and giving us some hope that there's light at the end of this tunnel!

Great to hear you got approved Leila! From my recent experience with NYS DOL, once approved with direct deposit you should see payment within 2-4 business days. They definitely pay retroactively for all eligible weeks during adjudication - mine came as one larger deposit for the back weeks, then regular weekly payments after that. Pro tip: the payment status in your my.ny.gov account updates before the money actually hits your bank, so you'll get a heads up. Since you have rent due next week, there's a good chance you'll get that retroactive payment in time. Keep filing those weekly certs and hang in there - the hardest part is behind you!

Congratulations on getting approved, Leila! That's such a huge relief after going through adjudication. From what I've seen with NYS DOL, once you're approved with direct deposit, you typically get your first payment within 2-4 business days. The great news is they absolutely do pay retroactively for all the weeks you were waiting during adjudication - as long as you kept filing your weekly claims (which sounds like you did). Usually that retroactive amount comes as one bigger lump sum payment, then your regular weekly benefits start flowing normally. I'd keep checking your my.ny.gov account because the payment status updates there first before it actually hits your bank account. Given your timeline, you might actually get that payment before rent is due! The waiting is the worst part but you're through it now.