omg I litterally thought I was the only one dealing with this!! my effective days went to 0 two weeks ago and then my payments just stopped completely. No notification or anything. I called 47 times yesterday (yes I counted) and couldn't get through to anyone. This is so frustrating!

I'm dealing with a similar situation right now - my effective days hit zero about a week ago and I'm getting really anxious about what happens next. Reading through all these responses is both helpful and terrifying! It sounds like the system is supposed to automatically transition you to extended benefits (PEUC) but fails pretty regularly. I'm definitely going to be proactive and not wait around for it to fix itself. Has anyone had success getting through by calling first thing Monday morning at 8am? I might try that before looking into the claimyr service people are mentioning. Also wondering if I should keep certifying even though my account shows zero days - sounds like that's important to do regardless.

This is incredibly helpful - thank you for sharing your experience! I've been dealing with a similar situation where my payments stopped in December with just a generic "pending review" message. I've called probably 60+ times and sent countless messages through the portal with zero response. Reading all these comments about contacting assembly members and using services like Claimyr is giving me hope that there might actually be a way forward. Going to try reaching out to my assembly person first thing tomorrow morning with all my documentation. It's frustrating that we have to jump through these hoops just to get basic assistance, but at least now I know there are options beyond the black hole that is the regular customer service line.

Wow, this is exactly what I needed to see! I've been stuck in unemployment limbo for 2 months now - payments just stopped with a vague "under review" message and absolutely no way to get answers. I've called probably 80+ times, always getting disconnected or stuck on hold for hours. The online portal messages go into a black hole. I was starting to think I'd never get this resolved and would just have to give up on the money I'm owed. But reading about contacting assembly members and all these success stories is giving me real hope for the first time in weeks. Going to contact both my assembly person AND state senator tomorrow with all my documentation. Thank you for posting this - it's a lifeline for people like me who are drowning in this broken system!

I'm currently dealing with a similar situation - I'm 4 months pregnant and recently filed for unemployment after my company had layoffs. The application process was straightforward and I never had to disclose my pregnancy status anywhere on the forms. What I found helpful was keeping detailed records of all my job applications and networking efforts for the weekly certifications. Also, I've been upfront with potential employers about my pregnancy timeline during phone screenings rather than waiting until in-person interviews - it's saved time and helped me focus on companies that are genuinely supportive. The NYS Department of Labor has been processing my claims without any issues. Don't let anyone make you feel like you're not entitled to these benefits!

I'm a career counselor who works with pregnant women navigating job searches, and I wanted to add some practical tips for your situation. Beyond knowing that pregnancy doesn't disqualify you from unemployment benefits, here are some strategies that have helped my clients: 1) Consider temporary or contract work that might be more flexible about start dates and accommodating your timeline, 2) Look into companies that are certified as "Best Places to Work for Families" - they're typically more pregnancy-friendly, 3) Network through professional groups for working mothers in your industry, and 4) If you're in retail, many companies are hiring for seasonal positions right now which could work well with your timeline. Also, remember that you don't have to disclose your pregnancy until after a job offer is made - it's illegal for employers to ask about pregnancy status during interviews. Keep documenting all your job search activities for your weekly certifications. You're doing everything right!

Another tip that might help - if you're still having trouble after the PIN activates, try logging in during off-peak hours (like early morning or late evening). The system tends to be less glitchy when fewer people are using it. I learned this the hard way after trying to certify during lunch breaks and getting nothing but error messages. Also, @Honorah King, make sure you're going to the official ny.gov unemployment site and not any third-party sites that might look similar. There are some sketchy copycat sites out there that can confuse the process. Hope you get it sorted soon!

I had this exact same problem a few weeks ago! The PIN creation process is so confusing - they really don't explain what happens next. What worked for me was logging into the mobile app instead of the website after my PIN was activated. For some reason, the certification option showed up there first before it appeared on the desktop site. Also, try checking under different menu sections - mine was buried under "Weekly Certification" instead of being on the main dashboard where you'd expect it. The whole system is honestly a nightmare to navigate, but don't give up! Once you find it the first time, it gets easier. Sending you good vibes that you get this sorted out soon! 🤞

Final important tip: Document absolutely everything during this process. Keep records of: 1. All case/reference numbers from ID.me, FTC, and both state unemployment offices 2. Names and ID numbers of every representative you speak with 3. Dates and times of all communications 4. Screenshots of any error messages or account status pages 5. Copies of all emails and correspondence This documentation becomes crucial if your case needs escalation or if you face any issues with backpay once your identity is verified. In 2025, NY unemployment is required to provide full backpay from your eligibility date once your identity is confirmed, but having this documentation makes the process much smoother.

This is such a common problem now - identity thieves are specifically targeting unemployment systems because they know people need those benefits urgently. A few additional things that helped me when I went through this: 1. If you have a smartphone, download the ID.me app - it's often faster than the website for scheduling video calls 2. Consider filing a complaint with your state attorney general's office too - they track patterns of unemployment fraud 3. Check your credit reports immediately at annualcreditreport.com - if someone filed unemployment in CA with your info, they might have opened other accounts 4. Keep your weekly NY certifications going even while this gets resolved - you don't want to miss any filing deadlines The good news is that NY has gotten much better at handling these cross-state fraud cases in 2025. Most people I know who followed the steps others mentioned here got resolved within 2-3 weeks. Hang in there!