Ugh the fact finding process is such a pain. They put mine on hold for like a month because my former employer didn't respond to their inquiry fast enough. Meanwhile I'm sitting here with no income waiting for them to figure their stuff out. The whole unemployment system needs a major overhaul if you ask me.

I went through the exact same thing with NYS Department of Labor last year. The "pending fact finding" status is nerve-wracking when you're waiting for benefits, but it's actually a standard part of their process. In my case, they were verifying my layoff details with my former employer. The key thing is to keep filing your weekly claims like everyone mentioned - even though you won't get paid during the investigation, you'll receive back pay for those weeks once it's resolved. I also recommend setting up text alerts on your phone for any mail delivery since they often send important documents through regular mail that you need to respond to quickly. Hang in there - the waiting is the worst part but most claims do get approved once they finish their review.

The whole system is backwards if you ask me. Why should there be a cap on what employers pay in when some of us make way more than that wage base? Meanwhile they're always complaining about the unemployment fund running low...

Thanks for all the helpful explanations! I work in HR and deal with this regularly. Just to clarify a few things - the $12,300 wage base for 2025 is correct, but it's worth noting that this amount gets adjusted periodically based on economic factors. Also, while your benefits aren't capped by the wage base, New York does have a maximum weekly benefit amount (currently $504 per week). So if you're a high earner, your replacement rate might be lower percentage-wise, but you'll still get much more than someone earning at the wage base level. The system is designed to provide adequate support while keeping employer costs manageable across different business sizes.

One thing to add - make sure you keep all your unemployment documentation (award letter, payment records, etc.) even after you return to work. I learned this the hard way when I had to file taxes the following year and couldn't find my 1099-G form. The IRS considers unemployment benefits taxable income, so you'll need those records come tax season. Also, if you ever need to apply for certain benefits or loans in the future, having that employment gap documented properly can be helpful.

Just wanted to add something that hasn't been mentioned yet - if you're planning to return to the same employer you were laid off from, make sure they haven't changed their payroll or HR systems while you were out. I returned to my old job last year and spent my first week dealing with new login credentials, updated direct deposit forms, and a completely different benefits enrollment system. It's worth reaching out to HR a few days before your start date to confirm what you need to bring and if there are any new onboarding requirements. Nothing worse than showing up on your first day back and not being able to access your email or systems!

Just adding my 2 cents - definitely keep track of EVERYTHING. Job applications, networking events, career fairs, even informational interviews can count as job contacts. The more detailed your records the better. I made a simple spreadsheet with dates, company names, contact methods, and follow-up actions. NYS Department of Labor wants to see that you're making genuine efforts to find work.

@Amara Chukwu - Since you worked for 2 years at the same job, you should definitely qualify for the full 26 weeks of benefits in New York. Your cousin and neighbor were both partially right - it is typically 26 weeks (about 6 months), but it does depend on your work history during the "base period" which is usually the first 4 of the last 5 completed calendar quarters before you filed your claim. The key things to remember: file your weekly claims on time every week, keep detailed records of at least 3 job search activities per week (applications, networking, interviews, etc.), and be available for work. Don't stress too much about the paperwork - it becomes routine after the first few weeks. You've got this!

I'm in the exact same boat! My payments stopped about 2 weeks ago with no explanation and I've been calling nonstop. The automated system just hangs up on me every single time. I've tried the 888-209-8124 number at all different hours and it's like they don't want us to get through. Reading through all these comments, it sounds like contacting my assemblyperson might be the way to go. I'm also curious about this Claimyr service everyone's mentioning - has anyone actually used it recently? I'm getting desperate because my car payment is due next week and I have no idea when this will get resolved. The NY unemployment system is absolutely broken.

I'm dealing with the exact same issue! My payments stopped about 10 days ago and I've called that main number probably 30+ times with no luck. The system just hangs up after the automated menu every single time. I tried the assemblyperson route that people mentioned here and actually got a response within 2 days - they're looking into it now. I also tried the Twitter DM approach to @NYSLabor and surprisingly they responded asking for my claim details (without SSN obviously). Still waiting to hear back but it's the most progress I've made. This thread has been so helpful - I had no idea there were all these alternative approaches. The Claimyr service sounds promising too, might give that a shot if the assemblyperson route doesn't pan out. Hang in there, sounds like persistence with multiple approaches is key!