I'm going through the exact same thing right now! Filed in mid-November and still stuck in pending adjudication. What's really frustrating is how little information they give you about what's actually happening or when you might hear back. I've been keeping detailed records of all my weekly certifications and any correspondence, just in case there are issues later. Have you tried reaching out to your local career center? Sometimes they can provide updates or at least help you understand what stage your claim is in. Hang in there - I know how stressful it is when bills are piling up and you're just waiting in limbo.

I'm so sorry you're going through this stress - 6 weeks without any payment is really tough, especially during the holidays. One thing that might help is contacting your state assemblyperson or senator's office. They often have constituent services that can make inquiries on your behalf to NYS DOL and sometimes get faster responses than individuals calling directly. Also, if you haven't already, make sure you have documentation of your layoff (like a layoff notice or separation letter) readily available in case they request it. The fact that 30 people were laid off should actually work in your favor since it clearly establishes the reason for separation. Keep hanging in there and definitely keep doing those weekly certifications!

ugh the whole system is so confusing why cant they just make it simple and pay people right away when they lose their job

If you're having trouble getting through to NYS Department of Labor by phone to ask questions about your application, I had success using Claimyr (claimyr.com). They have a service that helps you get connected to an actual agent without waiting on hold forever. There's a demo video at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI that shows how it works. Really helped when I had questions about my claim status.

Just wanted to update everyone - I followed the advice here and submitted my reconsideration request with all the properly labeled documentation. I also checked the box for the alternate base period since I had higher wages in my most recent quarters. I tried calling for a few days with no luck, then used that Claimyr service someone mentioned above. Got through to an agent who confirmed they received my reconsideration request and said I should have an answer within 7-10 business days. They also noted that one of my employers hadn't reported my wages correctly, which was likely the source of the calculation error. Thank you to everyone who provided actual helpful information! I'll update again when I get the final determination.

This thread is exactly what this community should be about! I've been lurking here for months seeing the same confusion over and over. Reading through all these responses, it's clear that having knowledgeable people like Laura Lopez and Brianna Muhammad makes a huge difference. For anyone else dealing with benefit calculation issues, here's what I learned from my own experience last year: Don't assume the first calculation is correct, especially if you had multiple jobs or recent pay changes. The reconsideration process really does work if you have your documentation in order. One thing I'd add - if you're self-employed or had 1099 income during your base period, make sure those earnings are included too. A lot of people forget about contractor work when gathering their wage documentation. Really hoping Debra gets a positive outcome on her reconsideration. Keep us posted!

UPDATE: I finally got through to someone using that Claimyr service! The agent confirmed there was a hold on my account due to the address change. She verified my identity and released the payment. She said it should be in my account within 1-2 business days. Such a relief! She also mentioned this happens pretty frequently with address changes and that I should always call immediately if my payment is even one day late in the future. Thanks everyone for your help!

This thread is super helpful! I'm bookmarking it because I'm planning to move next month and had no idea that changing my address would delay payments. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences - now I know to call immediately if there's any delay and to make the address change early in my certification week to avoid issues.

I work at a local workforce development office and see this website issue constantly. Another option is to visit any American Job Center (One-Stop Career Center) in your area - they have staff who can help you file your initial claim on their computers which sometimes have better access to the system. You can find locations at https://www.labor.ny.gov/career-center-locator/. Also, if you do get through on the phone system, write down your confirmation number immediately - the system sometimes drops calls right after you submit. Don't give up, the first week you're eligible is when your benefit year starts, so getting it filed ASAP is crucial.

I went through this exact same frustrating experience last month! The website was constantly timing out for me too. What finally worked was calling the tel-claim line at 888-209-8124 very early in the morning (around 7:30 AM) before it gets busy. Make sure you have all your employment history for the past 18 months ready - company names, addresses, dates of employment, and reason for leaving each job. The automated system walks you through everything step by step. It took about 45 minutes total but was much less stressful than fighting with the website. You'll still need to set up your online account later for weekly certifications, but at least you'll get your initial claim filed and your benefit year started. Don't let the website issues delay you any longer - time is money with unemployment benefits!