I had issues reaching NYS Department of Labor when I had questions about continuing my claim. Kept getting busy signals and when I did get through, I'd get hung up on after waiting forever. Finally used this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that calls for you and gets you connected to an actual agent. They have a video demo showing how it works (https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI). Saved me hours of frustration and I got my questions answered same day.

The system is SO confusing! I feel like they make it hard on purpose so people give up and stop claiming. I've been on unemployment for 3 months now and I still feel like I'm doing something wrong even when I follow all the rules.

I went through something similar when I had shoulder surgery and couldn't do my manufacturing job. The NYS Department of Labor approved my claim because I could still do sedentary work - I just had to prove I was actively looking for office positions or remote work within my restrictions. Make sure to get a letter from your doctor clearly stating what types of work you CAN do, not just what you can't. Also apply as soon as possible since there's usually a waiting week before benefits start. The weekly certification process will ask about your work search efforts, so keep a log of every job you apply to that matches your medical limitations.

I'm dealing with a similar situation right now - injured my knee in a slip and fall at work and can't do my retail job that requires standing all day. From what I've learned, the most important thing is being upfront about your limitations when you file. NYS Department of Labor wants to see that you're "able and available" for some type of work, even if it's not your usual job. I've been applying to customer service positions I can do from home and data entry jobs that don't require physical activity. The weekly certifications ask specifically about your job search, so I keep a spreadsheet of every application I submit. One tip - when you register on the job portal, make sure to set up job alerts for remote or office work so you can show consistent search activity. Good luck with your recovery!

Been there, done that. Gap insurance = car gets destroyed, insurance pays difference. What you want is income protection or unemployment coverage which is totally separate. Focus on getting your weekly claims filed with NYS Department of Labor and see if your lender has any hardship programs while you wait for benefits to kick in.

Just wanted to add another perspective - while gap insurance won't help with unemployment, if you're struggling with car payments, don't forget to check if your state has any emergency assistance programs. New York has some temporary financial aid programs that might help bridge the gap while your NYS Department of Labor claim is processing. Also, document everything related to your job loss (termination letter, final pay stub, etc.) because you'll need it for your unemployment application. The more organized your paperwork is, the smoother the process usually goes.

I feel your pain - went through the exact same waiting week credit nightmare last year. Here's what finally worked for me after 3 weeks of frustration: 1. Try calling at 7:54am sharp (before they officially open at 8am) - sometimes you can slip into the queue early 2. Use the callback feature if available in your area - way better than sitting on hold 3. Send messages through BOTH the online portal AND email their direct unemployment inbox every single day 4. Contact your local assembly member's office - they have direct lines to unemployment and can escalate your case The key is being persistent but strategic. Don't just keep doing the same thing over and over. I also heard good things about services like Claimyr that auto-dial for you, but I managed to get through before trying that route. Hang in there - once you actually reach someone, the waiting week credit issue gets resolved pretty quickly. The hard part is just making that initial contact. Your rent situation sounds scary but don't give up - you're entitled to those benefits!

I'm dealing with the exact same waiting week credit nightmare right now! Been calling for 2+ weeks with zero luck getting through. The system won't let me certify online either - just keeps saying I need to request the credit first. So frustrating when you're already stressed about money. Reading through all these comments, I'm seeing a pattern of people recommending calling your state rep/assembly member. That seems to be the most consistent success story I'm hearing. Definitely going to try that tomorrow along with the early morning calling strategy. Also considering that Claimyr service a few people mentioned since manual calling clearly isn't working. Has anyone else had success with them recently? The video explanation someone linked actually made it seem legit - just auto-dials and connects you when someone picks up. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences. At least I know I'm not alone in this mess!

Just wanted to update - got my payment this morning! Looks like it was just a one-day delay. Thanks everyone for your help and reassurance!

Same thing happened to me last month during the December quarterly processing! I was panicking because my car payment was due, but like everyone said, it showed up on Friday. The NY DOL really should send out notifications when there are going to be delays - would save us all so much stress. At least now I know to expect this at the end of each quarter. Thanks for posting this question, it's helpful to know we're not alone when these delays happen!