I'm going through the exact same thing right now - been trying to reach someone for 4 days about a payment that's been stuck on "pending" for almost 3 weeks! Reading through this thread has been so helpful, especially seeing Isaiah's success story. I tried calling Thursday afternoon like Fiona suggested and actually got further than usual - made it to the hold music for 20 minutes before getting disconnected, which is progress compared to the immediate busy signals I was getting earlier in the week. I think I'm going to bite the bullet and try Claimyr tomorrow since so many people here had success with it. It's just ridiculous that we're paying for a third-party service to access our own state benefits, but at this point my sanity is worth more than whatever it costs. Has anyone noticed if certain times of day work better with Claimyr, or is it pretty consistent throughout the day?

Just wanted to chime in as someone who went through this exact nightmare about 6 months ago. I was stuck in "pending review" limbo for almost a month and nearly had a mental breakdown from the stress. What finally worked for me was a combination of the strategies mentioned here - I called on Thursday around 3pm AND used the slow SSN entry trick that Fiona mentioned. Got through on my second try that day after weeks of failure. The agent told me my case was flagged because I had filed for unemployment briefly in 2023, and their system flagged it as a potential duplicate claim. Took her literally 3 minutes to clear it once she saw my account. It's absolutely insane that such simple fixes require jumping through so many hoops. For anyone still struggling - don't give up! The system is broken but the agents are actually helpful once you reach them. And definitely have all your info ready because they move fast.

Just to be clear - if you need to file weekly claims, check your payment history, or get information about job search requirements, that's all NYS Department of Labor through their online portal at my.ny.gov. Don't waste time calling other agencies.

@Aisha Khan - I went through a similar situation last year with a denial and the appeals process. Just wanted to add that when you file your appeal with NYS Department of Labor, make sure to include any additional documentation that supports your case - pay stubs, termination letter, etc. The Administrative Law Judge will review everything fresh, not just what was in your original claim. Also, you can represent yourself or bring someone to help advocate for you during the hearing. Don't give up - many denials get overturned on appeal when people can actually explain their situation properly. The initial determination process is pretty automated, but the appeals hearing gives you a real chance to present your case to a human being.

I'm actually going through something very similar right now - my manager has been documenting every minor mistake and I can tell they're building a paper trail. This whole thread has been such a relief to read because I was convinced that getting fired would automatically disqualify me from unemployment benefits. It's really encouraging to see that NYS Department of Labor actually looks at the circumstances rather than just rubber-stamping whatever the employer claims. The documentation advice everyone's giving is spot on - I've started keeping copies of all my emails, especially ones where I'm asking for clarification or showing that I'm trying to address any concerns they raise. It sounds like the key distinction is between genuine misconduct (like theft or deliberate rule violations) versus performance issues or personality conflicts with management. For anyone else dealing with this stress, it seems like the takeaway is to file for benefits even if you're not 100% sure you'll qualify - worst case they deny it and you can appeal, but you might be surprised and get approved on the initial determination.

This thread has been incredibly helpful! I'm actually in a very similar situation where my new supervisor seems to be looking for any excuse to write me up. It's such a relief to learn that being fired doesn't automatically disqualify you from unemployment benefits in New York. The distinction between misconduct and performance issues really makes sense - it sounds like NYS Department of Labor understands that sometimes terminations happen due to personality conflicts or management style differences rather than genuine wrongdoing. I'm definitely taking everyone's advice about documentation seriously. I've already started saving emails where I ask for clarification on tasks and keeping copies of any feedback I receive. Reading about people's successful claims even after being fired for "performance issues" gives me hope that I'd have options if the worst happens. Thanks for asking this question - it's helping so many of us who are dealing with similar workplace stress!

I'm going through the exact same thing! Filed 3 weeks ago and still stuck in pending with no explanation. It's so frustrating because I'm running out of savings and need these payments to keep up with rent. I've tried calling dozens of times but can never get through. Has anyone had success with emailing them directly, or is calling really the only way? Also seeing mixed opinions about Claimyr - has anyone here actually used it successfully? At this point I'm willing to try anything that might work.

I'm dealing with the exact same situation - filed about 5 weeks ago and still stuck in pending with no payments received. It's incredibly stressful, especially when you're already struggling financially. I've been trying the early morning calling strategy too but no luck getting through. One thing that helped me was creating a detailed log of all my claim activities and call attempts with dates/times - apparently this can be useful if you eventually need to escalate to a supervisor or your local representative. Also double-check that you're not missing any messages or required documents in your online account, sometimes there are hidden requirements that aren't obvious. I'm also seriously considering the Claimyr option at this point. $20 feels like a lot when you're broke, but if it means finally getting someone on the phone to figure out what's wrong, it might be worth it. Keep your head up - from what I'm reading here, most people eventually get their claims processed and receive backpay, it's just a matter of persistence and maybe a little luck with the system.

I filed mine on a Sunday evening and had no issues. Like others said, the online system is available 24/7. Just make sure you're using the official my.ny.gov site and not some scam website.

I can confirm what others are saying - timing doesn't affect processing speed at all. I filed my claim at 11 PM on a Thursday night and it went through just fine. The key thing is to file ASAP after your last day of work like everyone mentioned. One tip: have your previous employer's information handy (company name, address, dates of employment, reason for separation) because you'll need all that during the application process. The system will walk you through everything step by step, so don't stress too much about it!