i made a spreadsheet to track all my calls to unemployment last year: - 47 calls over 3 weeks - average wait: 1hr 22min - got hung up on: 19 times - reached human: 6 times - problem actually solved: ONCE the system is a joke 🤡

I'm dealing with almost the exact same situation! Filed in October, got caught up in their verification nightmare for 2 months, and didn't certify during that time because the system kept showing my claim as "pending" and I thought there was no point. Now I'm approved but missing like 8 weeks of payments that I desperately need. Reading through all these responses is both helpful and terrifying - sounds like getting through to someone is a full-time job in itself. I'm definitely going to try that "payment not received" tip when calling the automated system. Has anyone had success getting backdated more than 6-8 weeks? I'm worried they'll say it's been too long even though it was their verification process that caused the delay in the first place. This whole system seems designed to make people give up and walk away from money they're legally entitled to.

Don't quit unless you absolutely have to! The system is rigged against workers who quit. Even with 'good cause' they'll find ways to deny you. Better to get fired honestly, then you're guaranteed benefits.

same boat here, my supervisor has been awful but idk if i can prove it enough for unemployment... might just have to stick it out until i find something else

Common adjudication reasons include verifying you were laid off (not fired for cause), confirming your work history and wages, or checking if you're able and available to work. As long as you were honest on your application and eligible for benefits, adjudication usually resolves in your favor. The key is patience and continuing to file weekly claims throughout the process.

One more thing to add - when you file your initial claim, don't be surprised if the website is slow or crashes, especially on Mondays. The NY.gov system gets overloaded frequently. Try filing early in the morning or late at night when there's less traffic. Also, make sure you have all your documents ready before you start - previous employer addresses, dates of employment, and reason for separation. The system will time out if you take too long to complete the application. And definitely save/screenshot your confirmation number when you finish filing - you'll need it for reference.

The whole unemployment system is just another way for the government to control businesses if you ask me. Making employers pay all these taxes and then bureaucrats decide who gets benefits and who doesn't. At least you're getting something back but the red tape is ridiculous.

Thanks for all the detailed explanations! As someone new to this, it's really helpful to understand that the money comes from employer contributions rather than my own paycheck deductions. I was actually feeling guilty about collecting benefits, thinking I was somehow taking money I hadn't earned or contributed to. Knowing that my previous employers already paid into this system based on having me as an employee makes me feel more comfortable about using the benefits while I search for new work. The experience rating system also makes a lot of sense - it creates incentives for companies to think twice before laying people off unnecessarily.

I went through this exact same situation with NYS DOL last year. Definitely go with "lack of work" as Diego mentioned - that's the correct category for staff reduction due to slow business. In the explanation box, keep it simple and factual: "Position eliminated due to reduced business/staffing needs" works perfectly. Don't overthink it! The key is being consistent with what your employer will tell them when they verify. Good luck with your claim!

Just went through this process myself a few months ago! I was in retail too and got let go for the same reason - slow business, staff reduction. I selected "lack of work" and wrote "Position eliminated due to business slowdown and staff reduction" in the explanation. The whole thing went through without any issues. The NYS DOL verified with my employer and everything matched up perfectly. Don't stress too much about the exact wording - just be honest and straightforward about what happened. Your situation sounds very straightforward for unemployment benefits.