Has anyone else noticed mail delivery is SUPER slow lately? My neighbor's card took almost 2 weeks even though we're in Manhattan. I swear the post office is falling apart! Probably won't help with your anxiety but just wanted to prepare you that it might take longer than the 'official' timeline.

Good news is that once you set up direct deposit for future payments, you'll never have to worry about the card or mail delays again. All my subsequent payments went straight to my checking account with no issues.

The NYSDOL phone system has a known bug when processing partial unemployment claims with variable hours. The department is aware of the issue but the fix isn't scheduled until next quarter according to their system maintenance bulletin. In the meantime, here's the most reliable workaround: 1. Use the web portal instead (labor.ny.gov) 2. If you must use phone, enter your total hours as individual days (even if you worked the same hours each day) 3. When prompted for earnings, round to the nearest dollar (decimals often trigger disconnects) 4. If asked about availability for work, always say "yes" (1) first, then clarify with the agent later if needed The system particularly struggles with claims reporting 15-25 hours of work per week, which seems to be a data validation issue in their legacy system.

last week i had to try like 8 times to get thru when claimin my partial hours they really need to fix there system im so sick of this!!!!!

BTW my neighbor had their bankruptcy case temporarily suspended because of unemployment issues. The court gave them 90 days of reduced payments until benefits kicked in. DONT listen to people saying you have to wait 10 weeks - that's the standard garbage they tell EVERYONE to get you off the phone. The system is designed to frustrate you into giving up!!!

Any updates? Were you able to get through to someone who could actually help? I'm really curious if any of these suggestions worked for you because I know how frustrating the whole system can be.

I remember my first arbitration hearing back in 2023... I was so stressed I could barely sleep the night before! But honestly it wasn't nearly as formal as a court or anything. The judge asked me questions about why I left my job (I was laid off but employer claimed I quit). I just told the truth and explained everything clearly. Oh and one tip - when the hearing starts they'll verify your contact info and claim details, so have all that ready. And don't interrupt when others are speaking, the judge HATES that and will call you out. My hearing was supposed to be 30 mins but ended up being almost an hour because my former boss kept arguing about everything.

Thank you all so much for the advice! I'm still nervous but feel way more prepared now. My hearing is next Tuesday, and I've already started organizing all my documents and practicing what I'll say. I'll update once it's over to let you know how it went. Fingers crossed!

To prepare for your hearing, I recommend gathering these documents ahead of time: 1. Copy of your initial claim application 2. Any determination notices you've received 3. Employment records (dates, pay stubs, etc.) 4. Any correspondence with your employer 5. Your separation notice or termination letter 6. Notes about the issue in dispute Have these organized before your hearing, as the ALJ (Administrative Law Judge) will appreciate your preparedness, and it will help your case go smoothly. Virtual hearings typically last 30-45 minutes.

guys am i the only one whos microphone never works on these stupid Teams meetings?? my last hearing was a disaster cuz i could hear them but they couldnt hear me and i had to use the chat box the whole time

when i exhausted my benefits last year i just filed a new claim even tho they said i had to wait til my benefit year was over. system rejected it but then a agent called me like 3 days later and fixed some things. worth trying maybe??

One last suggestion - if you've exhausted benefits, immediately apply for the Safety Net Assistance program through your local Department of Social Services. It's NY's program of last resort for those who've exhausted all other options. Eligibility is strict and benefits are lower than UI, but it can help bridge the gap. Also, some counties have their own temporary assistance programs with faster processing times than state programs.

I had to tweet at NYSDOL to get help lol. Seriously, try their social media accounts. Sometimes the public embarrassment gets them moving faster.

UPDATE: I managed to get through to a real person! I used the Claimyr service that @user3 recommended, and it worked perfectly. Turns out there was an "identity verification flag" on my account that I was never notified about! The agent cleared it and said I should receive all my backpay within 2-3 business days. Thank you all for your help and suggestions!

I HATE these scammers!! My brother almost fell for a similar scam last month - they told him he qualified for some special 'job training fund' that required his banking info to 'deposit the benefit.' He was desperate and almost sent them everything before I stopped him. The unemployment system is ALREADY confusing enough without these vultures making it worse. And of course when you call the actual unemployment office to verify, you can never get through!!

Update: I finally got through to a representative at NYSDOL this morning. They confirmed this is absolutely a scam - there is no tourism recovery program connected to unemployment benefits. They placed a note on my account about the phishing attempt and suggested I monitor my credit report for the next few months just as a precaution. Thanks everyone for your help!

Just wanted to update - calling early is definitely better but I still couldn't get through doing that for a whole week. The Claimyr service I mentioned was worth it for me personally because I have kids and couldn't spend all day redialing. But if you have the time and patience to keep trying at 8am, that's probably your best bet. Just be prepared that even when you get through, the first person you talk to might not be able to help with complicated issues like wage investigations.

UPDATE: You guys are all amazing! We followed the advice about uploading his wage documents with a letter specifically requesting "monetary redetermination" and "claim backdating" (used those exact terms). Called at 8:01am this morning and got through after only 4 attempts! The claims specialist confirmed there was a wage verification flag and that the ID.me completion hadn't fully processed in their system. She was able to fix both issues during the call, and said payments should start processing within 3-5 business days including the back weeks! THANK YOU ALL for your help - this community saved us so much stress and confusion!

Just to update on some recent changes - in March 2025, NYSDOL implemented a new payment processing system that occasionally delays first-time payments by 24-48 hours longer than usual. This mostly affects new claims, but can sometimes impact existing claims if there was a break in your certification or if you recently updated any information. This could explain some of the inconsistency you're experiencing.

UPDATE: Money finally hit my Key Bank card this morning (Wednesday). No idea why it was delayed but at least it came through! This system is so stressful when you're depending on the money.