That's correct - being in a probationary period when terminated doesn't automatically disqualify you from unemployment benefits. What matters is your work history over the past 18 months and whether you were terminated for misconduct or quit voluntarily. If you were laid off or terminated without cause, you should be eligible regardless of probationary status.

I work at a local workforce development center and see this situation a lot unfortunately. The harsh reality is yes, you've likely lost out on a significant amount in benefits by waiting 4+ months. NYS caps the backdate at 28 days, so you're looking at losing roughly 12-14 weeks of potential payments. But don't let that stop you from filing RIGHT NOW - every day you wait is another day of benefits lost. Also worth noting that even if you get approved, the 26-week benefit period started ticking from when you first became unemployed, not when you file. So your benefit weeks are already being consumed. File today through ny.gov and don't wait for perfect information - you can always provide additional documentation later.

I went through something similar earlier this year! My payments stopped in May and I didn't get them resolved until August. The most important thing is to be persistent and document everything. When you do get through to someone, ask them to check for any "adjudication flags" or "system holds" on your account - that's usually what causes the sudden payment stops. Also, since you're now working, make sure to tell them the exact date you returned to work so they can calculate your final eligible week correctly. They should be able to process all your backpay for July through September in one lump sum once they clear whatever is blocking your account. Don't give up - you're definitely entitled to that money for the weeks you properly certified!

I'm dealing with a very similar situation right now! My payments stopped in August and I've been getting the runaround for weeks. Reading through everyone's responses here is actually really helpful - I didn't know about the secure message option through NY.gov or that service Summer mentioned for getting through the phone lines. @Harold Oh - one thing that might help while you're trying all these contact methods is to screenshot or print your weekly certification history from your online account. When I was digging through mine, I noticed it shows the dates you certified and whether payment was "pending" vs "paid" for each week. Having that ready when you do get through to someone will probably speed things up since you can point to exactly which weeks they owe you for. Also wanted to add - I've heard from other people in unemployment Facebook groups that sometimes calling the local career centers can help too. They can't process payments but they might be able to escalate your case or at least confirm what's showing in the system. Worth a shot if the main number keeps hanging up on you!

I had trouble getting through to NYS Department of Labor when I needed to speak with someone about my work authorization documents. If you run into issues reaching them by phone, I found this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that helped me get through to an actual agent. They have a demo video at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI that shows how it works. It was really helpful when I needed to verify my documentation requirements.

Just want to add that you'll need to meet the same job search requirements as everyone else once you start receiving benefits. Keep track of your job search activities and make sure your work authorization doesn't expire during your benefit period, as that could affect your continued eligibility.

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.