The whole nonmon determination process is just another way for NYS Department of Labor to make things confusing and stressful. They send these vague letters that nobody understands then make you jump through hoops to get answers. Classic bureaucracy BS.

I went through something similar last month. The "able and available" determinations can be tricky - sometimes they flag you if there's any inconsistency in your weekly certifications or if something in your profile suggests limited availability. Since yours is unfavorable, definitely appeal it within the 30-day deadline like Grace mentioned. When you appeal, be very specific about your availability - include your work schedule preferences, transportation, childcare arrangements if applicable, and emphasize that you're seeking full-time work. Document everything and keep copies. The appeal process can take a while but it's worth fighting if you truly are available for work.

This whole thread is so helpful - I'm dealing with the exact same issue right now! Been pending for 2 weeks and was starting to panic. Really glad to see Miguel got his sorted out. The fact that there was an identity verification flag with no notification is ridiculous though. How are we supposed to know there's an issue if they don't tell us? Going to try that Claimyr service tomorrow morning. Has anyone else used it recently or found other ways to actually get through to a human?

This is such a helpful thread - I'm dealing with almost the exact same situation right now! Filed in early June, first few payments came through fine, but now I've been stuck on pending for 2 weeks with zero communication from NYSDOL. It's so frustrating how the burden is completely on us to figure out what's wrong when they have all our contact information. Reading about Miguel's identity verification flag that never triggered a notification is both relieving (there might be a fixable issue) and infuriating (how are we supposed to know?). Definitely going to try the Claimyr service - at this point $20 to actually talk to a human seems like a bargain compared to the stress of calling 50+ times. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences, it really helps to know we're not alone in this mess!

did u ever get any letters in the mail from them? sometimes they send important stuff thru regular mail but not online for some weird reason

Final update: The money came through! All 11 weeks of backpay hit my account this morning. Such a massive relief. For anyone else stuck in pending status for months, don't give up. Finding a way to actually speak with a real person was the key for me. Thanks again to everyone for your advice and support!

I've been through a work search audit and here's what saved me: I created a simple Google Doc with columns for Date, Company, Position, Method (Indeed, LinkedIn, etc.), and Notes. For online applications, I screenshot the confirmation page immediately after submitting. For networking events, I take a photo of the event flyer/sign and write down 2-3 company names I spoke with. The auditor told me they mainly want to see you're making genuine efforts - they're not trying to trip you up, but you do need to show your work. Digital records are fine, you don't need to print everything. Just be consistent with your documentation from now on.

As someone who just started collecting unemployment benefits last month, this thread has been incredibly helpful! I was doing the bare minimum with my work search documentation and now I realize I need to step up my game. I've been mostly just applying through job boards without keeping proper records - definitely going to implement that Google Doc system and start taking screenshots of confirmation pages. One question though - does anyone know if using the NYS Department of Labor's job search website (jobs.labor.ny.gov) counts the same as using Indeed or LinkedIn? I want to make sure I'm diversifying my search methods properly. Also wondering if anyone has experience with whether informational interviews count toward the 3 weekly activities? Thanks everyone for sharing your real experiences - this is way more useful than trying to decipher the official guidelines!

For anyone else experiencing this issue in the future, here's what the NY Unemployment Insurance law actually states regarding Base Periods: 1. Standard Base Period: The first four of the last five completed calendar quarters before you filed your claim. 2. Alternate Base Period: The last four completed calendar quarters before you filed your claim. 3. Extended Alternate Base Period: If you were out of work because of a work-related injury, you may qualify for an extended alternate base period that includes the last complete calendar quarter. The system should automatically check all applicable base periods to determine if you qualify, but system errors do occur. If you believe your most recent work history should qualify you for benefits, always request a review of your monetary determination. Call center wait times are currently averaging 2-3 hours during peak periods (Monday-Wednesday), with somewhat shorter wait times on Thursdays and Fridays.

Congrats on getting it resolved! Your experience is exactly why I always tell people not to just wait for the online document review - calling is so much faster even though it's a pain to get through. For anyone else reading this thread, Ruby's case is a perfect example of how the system is supposed to work. When you have recent employment that wasn't included in your standard base period, they should automatically check your alternate base period eligibility. If they don't, don't panic - it's fixable, you just need to get a human on the phone to manually trigger the review. The backpay makes it worth the hassle of calling!