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.

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.

definitely file even if you're not sure! worst case scenario they deny you and you can appeal. I thought I wouldn't qualify when I got fired but turns out my employer couldn't prove misconduct so I got benefits. The weekly claim process is pretty straightforward once you're approved.

I went through a similar situation last year when my supervisor started documenting every little thing I did. It felt like they were setting me up to fail. When I eventually got terminated, I was nervous about filing but decided to go for it anyway. The key thing I learned is that NYS Department of Labor looks at the whole picture - they want to know if you were willfully doing something wrong or if it was just a mismatch between you and management. In my case, I was able to show that I was trying to do my job properly and that the issues were more about conflicting management styles than actual misconduct. My advice is to start documenting everything now - save any emails showing you're trying to address concerns, keep records of your work performance, and if you do get terminated, file for unemployment right away. Don't let them intimidate you out of claiming benefits you might be entitled to.

I'm going through the exact same thing! Filed 3 weeks ago and still stuck in pending with no explanation. It's so frustrating because I'm running out of savings and need these payments to keep up with rent. I've tried calling dozens of times but can never get through. Has anyone had success with emailing them directly, or is calling really the only way? Also seeing mixed opinions about Claimyr - has anyone here actually used it successfully? At this point I'm willing to try anything that might work.

I'm dealing with the exact same situation - filed about 5 weeks ago and still stuck in pending with no payments received. It's incredibly stressful, especially when you're already struggling financially. I've been trying the early morning calling strategy too but no luck getting through. One thing that helped me was creating a detailed log of all my claim activities and call attempts with dates/times - apparently this can be useful if you eventually need to escalate to a supervisor or your local representative. Also double-check that you're not missing any messages or required documents in your online account, sometimes there are hidden requirements that aren't obvious. I'm also seriously considering the Claimyr option at this point. $20 feels like a lot when you're broke, but if it means finally getting someone on the phone to figure out what's wrong, it might be worth it. Keep your head up - from what I'm reading here, most people eventually get their claims processed and receive backpay, it's just a matter of persistence and maybe a little luck with the system.

I filed mine on a Sunday evening and had no issues. Like others said, the online system is available 24/7. Just make sure you're using the official my.ny.gov site and not some scam website.

I can confirm what others are saying - timing doesn't affect processing speed at all. I filed my claim at 11 PM on a Thursday night and it went through just fine. The key thing is to file ASAP after your last day of work like everyone mentioned. One tip: have your previous employer's information handy (company name, address, dates of employment, reason for separation) because you'll need all that during the application process. The system will walk you through everything step by step, so don't stress too much about it!