I had this exact situation back in February. After weeks of trying to call with no success, I tried using Claimyr (the service someone mentioned above), and it actually worked. Got through to someone who told me my claim had a "pending review" status due to my former employer contesting the reason for separation. Once I talked to the agent, they removed the hold and I received all my backpay within 3 days. Definitely try to get through to a human - either through persistent calling, your state rep, or a service like that.

Just wanted to check back - were you able to make any progress with your claim? Sometimes if your work history includes multiple employers in your base period, that can also cause delays as they verify information with each one.

My sister had this same problem last month and she ended up emailing unemployment.questions@labor.ny.gov with her claim number in the subject line. She got a callback within 3 days. Maybe try that too?

UPDATE: I wanted to share what finally worked for me in case someone else has this problem. I tried everything suggested here: 1. The secure message in my account - got no response after 4 days 2. Calling at 8am sharp - still got the vaccine hotline 3. Emailing unemployment.questions@labor.ny.gov - no response after 3 days I finally used Claimyr that someone mentioned above and got through to an agent in about 30 minutes. The agent was able to fix my claim (there was a verification flag on it that shouldn't have been there) and my payments should resume this week. Thanks everyone for your help! The whole system is definitely broken right now, but at least I got my issue resolved.

My payment was a day late last week with no explanation, then suddenly appeared. The NY unemployment system is totally overloaded right now with the new claims processing system they implemented in January. I've heard they're having lots of technical glitches. My neighbor works for the state (not unemployment specifically) and said there's a lot of backend issues they're still working out with the new software. I wouldn't panic unless it goes beyond Thursday.

Just an update for everyone in this thread - NYSDOL just posted on their Twitter account that there was indeed a processing delay affecting some payments that were certified on Sunday. They expect all pending payments to be released by tomorrow morning. If anyone doesn't receive their payment by Thursday, they're recommending you call the payment processing line directly.

anyone else hate that they send it in such a plain envelope?? feels like they WANT us to throw it away so they dont have to pay us lol

One important thing to note: If you believe your KeyBank debit card was lost in the mail or you accidentally discarded it, you should contact KeyBank directly at 1-866-295-2955 to report it and request a replacement. Don't wait too long if you suspect this happened, as benefits will continue to accumulate on the account even if you don't have the physical card. Also, once you receive the card, I strongly recommend setting up direct deposit for future payments if you have a bank account. It's much more convenient and secure than the debit card system.

One last thing - just be prepared that your benefit amount might be drastically reduced or eliminated during those December weeks depending on how much you earn. New York uses the following formula: For each day you work, your weekly benefit rate is reduced by 25%. Plus, if you earn more than $200, any amount over $200 further reduces your weekly benefit. So if you're working 5 days a week in December, you'd get $0 for those weeks regardless of how much you earn. But that's okay - your claim stays open and when you go back to working 4 days in January, you'll start receiving partial benefits again for that 1 day you're not working.

Wow I didn't know you could be collecting unemployment while working at all?? I thought once you get a job even part time you're done with unemployment. the whole system makes zero sense to me 🤦‍♂️

i mean sometimes ppl get lucky and get it right away. i think it depends who u talk to and if they actually fix it while ur on the phone or just make a note for someone else to look at later

UPDATE: Just wanted to let everyone know that my payment came through this morning! So it took exactly 3 business days from when I spoke with the DOL representative. Thank you all for your help and advice!

Based on everything you've shared, it sounds like your backpay is stuck in verification limbo. When there's a long gap between application and approval (June to October), the system often flags those weeks for manual review - especially if you had any income during that period or if there were any discrepancies in your application. At this point, speaking with an agent is your best path forward. They can identify exactly what's holding up your backpay and often resolve it on the spot. I'd recommend trying during off-peak hours (mid-morning Tuesday-Thursday) or using a callback service if you continue having trouble connecting.

Final update: After trying that Claimyr service mentioned earlier, I finally got through to an agent yesterday! Turns out there was a "program transfer flag" on my account because I initially applied for regular UI but was moved to a different program during processing. The agent cleared the flag and said I should see all my backpay within 3-5 business days. Such a relief! Will update if the money actually shows up. Thanks everyone for your help and advice!

Great news! Glad it worked for you too. The crazy thing is each agent seems to have different abilities to fix things - I talked to 2 people before finding one who could actually help with my issue.

That's excellent! Make sure to keep an eye on your payment history page over the next few days to confirm the payments process correctly. If you don't see movement within the 3 business days, follow up with another call using the same method that worked for you.

I had a whole different issue with my claim last year but I just wanted to say I feel your pain with the endless phone calls. The NY unemployment system is seriously the most frustrating thing I've ever dealt with. Hang in there!!

UPDATE: I tried the Claimyr service that someone recommended above and it actually worked! Got through to a real person at NYSDOL in about 25 minutes. The agent was super helpful once I explained everything. She did a three-way call with KeyBank and confirmed my address was different in their system. They're expediting a new card to me that should arrive in 3-5 business days. Such a relief to finally have this resolved! Thanks everyone for your help and suggestions.

Just to be clear for anyone else reading this thread: When your benefit days reach zero but your benefit year is still active, you need to: 1. Determine if you qualify for any extensions (based on current economic indicators and your situation) 2. Speak directly with a claims specialist who can check your eligibility 3. Have them manually add the extension application to your portal if you qualify 4. Complete the extension application 5. Wait for approval (usually 1-2 weeks) The system won't automatically show extension options to everyone because eligibility varies based on multiple factors. And yes, getting through on the phone is unfortunately the most challenging part of this process.

Final update: I used Claimyr and finally got through to someone! The agent said my account needed a manual override because I qualified for Extended Benefits but the system hadn't triggered it properly due to a glitch. They fixed it and now I can see the extension application in my portal. Just submitted it and they said it should be processed within 5-7 business days. Such a relief! Thanks everyone for your help!