That's great progress! The "pending employer verification" issue is quite common, especially with larger companies that have centralized HR departments. Now that the agent has flagged it for urgent follow-up, the system will move your claim forward even if your employer doesn't respond within the new timeframe (they're only required to make two good-faith attempts to contact the employer). Make sure you keep certifying weekly while you wait. And just a tip - take notes of any conversations with NYSDOL including the agent's ID number if they provided one. This helps if you need to reference the conversation in any future communications.

Wow, reading through this whole thread has been so helpful! I'm dealing with a similar situation - filed in early October and still waiting. @Dmitry Petrov glad to hear you finally got some answers about the employer verification issue! For anyone else still struggling, I wanted to add that I found the NY.gov mobile app sometimes shows different information than the website. Worth checking both if you're looking for updates. Also, if you're self-employed or had multiple jobs, make sure ALL your employers are listed correctly in your claim - I discovered one of mine was missing which was causing delays. Keep fighting everyone - the system is frustrating but persistence does pay off eventually!

Just wanted to add - make sure you're certifying every week on time! Even if you miss the deadline by a few hours NYS Department of Labor can delay your payment. I learned that the hard way.

If you certified Wednesday and your claim shows as payable with a payment amount, you should definitely see the money by Monday. I've been on unemployment for a few months now and NYS Department of Labor is pretty consistent with the 2-3 business day timeline for direct deposit. Since Wednesday was day 1, Friday would be day 3, so if it doesn't hit Friday it should definitely be there Monday morning. Just make sure to check your account early Monday since deposits usually process overnight. Hope it comes through in time for your rent!

same here, always wondered about this! thanks for asking the question

From what I understand, they use multiple detection methods but the main one is quarterly wage matching. Every employer in NY has to report wages to the state, and they run these reports against active unemployment claims. They also check with the IRS for 1099 income and can access databases from other states if you work elsewhere. The system is pretty automated now, so even small amounts of unreported income will eventually get caught. My advice is to always report any work on your weekly certification, even if it's just a few hours - they have partial benefit formulas so you might still get some money, and it's way better than dealing with an overpayment investigation later.

grocery stores like stop and shop or key food usually cash checks too, might be cheaper than banks but you gotta buy something usually

Try TD Bank or Capital One if you have one nearby - they usually cash government checks for around $5-8 even without an account. Also some pharmacies like CVS or Duane Reade have check cashing services at their customer service counters. Just make sure to bring valid photo ID and be prepared for the fee. Good luck getting your rent sorted!

honestly the whole phone system is a joke now, they've made it nearly impossible to do anything without going online. even when you do get through they just read you the same info thats on the website

Try going to a local library if you can't get the online filing to work on your phone. Most libraries have computers you can use and the my.ny.gov portal works better on desktop browsers. That's what I did when I was having similar issues.