Hey! I'm dealing with the exact same thing right now - filed 3 weeks ago and still waiting on my first payment after the waiting week. Been certifying religiously every Sunday but nothing yet. Really stressing about bills piling up. Has anyone had luck calling the main number or is it still impossible to get through? Might have to try that claimyr thing people are mentioning...

Just went through this same situation last month! For me, the first payment came exactly 3 weeks after completing my waiting week. The key thing is to make sure you're logging into your account and checking for any "action items" or document requests - sometimes they need additional verification and won't tell you unless you check. Also double-check that your direct deposit info is correct in your profile. Once mine started, I got all the backpay in one lump sum which was actually pretty nice. Hang in there, the wait is nerve-wracking but it does come through!

Reading through all these experiences has been incredibly helpful! I'm currently in week 4 of waiting for payments with no explanation from the system. I haven't worked in other states recently, but I'm wondering if there are other common verification issues that cause similar delays? For those who successfully got through to agents, what other types of holds or flags did they mention besides the interstate wage verification? I'm trying to prepare for when I finally reach someone so I can ask about the right things. Also, has anyone had success with the secure messaging system, or is calling really the only way to get these issues resolved?

This thread has been so incredibly helpful! I'm in week 9 of waiting for my first payment and was starting to think I was the only one dealing with this nightmare. Reading about everyone's interstate wage verification issues is eye-opening - I worked remotely for a company based in California for about 3 months last year while living here in NY, and I bet that's what's causing my delay too. The fact that the system gives us absolutely zero indication that these verifications are happening in the background is infuriating. We're left thinking we did something wrong or our claims got lost when really it's just bureaucratic delays behind the scenes. I've been trying to call for weeks with no success, but I'm going to try the Claimyr service that @facf45268409 mentioned since traditional calling clearly isn't working. Thank you all for sharing your experiences and advice - this community support is literally the only thing keeping me sane right now!

The whole system is honestly a nightmare to navigate. Between the confusing website, impossible phone lines, and constant delays, it's like they don't want you to get benefits. But unfortunately it's the only safety net we have. Just be prepared for lots of frustration and bureaucratic nonsense.

One thing that really helped me when I first applied was gathering all my documents beforehand. Make sure you have your driver's license or state ID, Social Security card, and detailed employment info for every job in the last 18 months - employer names, addresses, phone numbers, dates of employment, and reason you left each job. Also have your bank account info ready for direct deposit setup. The application process goes much smoother when you're not scrambling to find paperwork halfway through.

Oof, cross-state unemployment issues are the worst. Sending you good vibes, OP! 💖

I went through this exact same situation about 6 months ago! Here's what worked for me: First, make sure you have all your NJ wage statements and employment records ready. NY unemployment will need your complete work history from NJ. The trick is to file your claim with NY first (since that's where you're living now), then they'll request the wage info from NJ automatically through something called the Interstate Connection Network. You shouldn't have to manually send anything between states - they handle that part. BUT if for some reason that automated system isn't working, you can call NY unemployment and specifically ask them to do an "interstate wage request." They have a process for this. Also, pro tip: when you're on hold, use the callback feature if they have one. Saved me hours of sitting by the phone! Hope this helps - the interstate stuff is confusing but once you get it sorted, it should flow smoothly. Good luck! 🍀

Check your bank account again - sometimes the deposit comes through with a weird description that doesn't obviously look like unemployment. Mine showed up as 'NYS DOL UI BENEFIT' or something like that and I almost missed it.

I went through this same issue about 6 months ago. After my claims showed approved for almost 3 weeks with no payment, I finally got through to someone at NYS DOL who told me there was an "identity verification hold" that wasn't showing up anywhere in my online account. They had to manually release it. The frustrating part is there's no notification when these backend holds happen - your claim just sits in limbo while everything looks normal on your end. Try calling first thing Monday morning at exactly 8am, that's when I had the most luck getting through.