hang in there OP. i was in your EXACT situation last year. took 13 weeks (!!!) but i eventually got every penny. the system is awful but don't give up

I'm so sorry you're going through this nightmare. The stress of waiting months without any income while bills pile up is absolutely crushing. I've been reading through all these responses and it seems like the key is getting to an actual human who can look at your specific case. The automated system and general reps just give you the runaround. Have you tried that specific phone number sequence that @Yara Elias shared? Also, the suggestion about contacting your state senator (not just representative) seems to have worked for multiple people here. Document everything like @Miguel Castro suggested - dates, times, names, what they told you. That paper trail becomes crucial if you need to escalate further. Don't lose hope - I know it feels impossible right now but people ARE getting through this broken system and getting their back pay. You've already made it this far, you can push through a little longer. 💪

It's working now! Just logged in successfully. Must have been fixed in the last hour.

Glad to see it's working again! I was having the same issue earlier today and was getting really stressed about missing my certification. For future reference, does anyone know if there's a way to get notifications when the site goes down? It would be helpful to know about outages instead of spending hours thinking it's just my computer acting up.

Pro tip: if you can't get through on the phone, try reaching out on social media. Sometimes their Twitter team is more responsive than the phone lines. worth a shot! 🤷‍♂️

Hey Isaac! I just went through this process last month and managed to get my claim backdated about 3 weeks. A few things that really helped me: 1. Call first thing in the morning (like 8 AM sharp) - way better chance of getting through 2. Have your SSN, employment dates, and employer info ready before you dial 3. Be honest about why you delayed filing - they're more understanding than you'd think 4. If they ask for documentation, email it the same day The whole call took about 45 minutes once I got through, and they were able to process the backdating right away. Just be patient with the hold times - it's worth it to get those extra weeks of benefits! Good luck with your call! 🤞

not to be that person but have u tried turning ur computer completely off and back on? sometimes the simplest fix works. also try a different device like ur phone

Same exact issue here! I've been locked out since Wednesday and tried everything - different browsers, clearing cache, even used my neighbor's wifi thinking it was my internet. The frustrating part is there's no clear error message telling you what's actually wrong. I'm supposed to certify tomorrow and I'm getting really worried about missing the deadline. Has anyone who got this fixed found out what was actually causing it? Like was it account flags, system maintenance, or just random glitches? I'm debating whether to try that Claimyr service people mentioned or wait it out, but I can't afford to miss another week of benefits with rent coming up.

I'm going through something similar right now - filed in early March after being terminated and it's been radio silence from NYSDOL ever since. Reading through all these responses is both helpful and terrifying at the same time! The fact that so many people are waiting 8-12 weeks is absolutely insane. I've been trying to call daily but can never get through. @Nia Davis thank you for sharing your experience and update - it gives me hope that being persistent and using multiple approaches (hardship request + state rep) might actually work. I'm definitely going to try that Claimyr service that @CosmicCrusader mentioned, and I'll ask about the "issue code" when I finally get through to someone. The idea that my claim could be sitting in some digital pile while I stress about rent is infuriating. Has anyone had luck with the online chat feature or is calling still the only way to get real information? I feel like I'm spending hours every day just trying to reach a human being who can tell me what's happening with my own claim.

I'm so sorry you're going through this nightmare - it's unfortunately becoming way too common with NY unemployment right now. I went through a similar situation last year where I waited 11 weeks after being terminated, and it was absolutely devastating financially. A few things that might help based on my experience: 1. When you do get through to someone, ask them to check if your employer actually responded to their inquiry yet. Sometimes employers just ignore the requests completely, which can drag things out even longer. 2. If you haven't already, gather any documentation about your termination - performance reviews, emails, your termination letter, etc. Having this ready can speed things up if they request additional info. 3. Consider reaching out to local unemployment advocacy groups or legal aid societies. Some offer free assistance with navigating the system and can sometimes help with appeals if needed. The waiting is absolutely brutal, especially when you're watching bills pile up. Just remember that once it does get approved, you'll receive all the backpay for the weeks you've been certifying. I know that doesn't help with immediate expenses, but at least you won't lose those weeks of benefits. Keep pushing with the hardship request and state rep contact - that combination really does seem to be the most effective approach based on what I'm seeing in this thread. Hoping you get some good news soon!