Glad you got it sorted out! That's such a relief when you're waiting on money for bills. The 'routine review' thing seems to happen randomly - I had the same issue a few months back and they never really explained what triggers it. Good to know Claimyr actually works, I've been hesitant to try third-party services but might be worth it to avoid the phone hell. Hope your payment comes through today as promised!

Thanks for the update Anna! Really glad you got through and figured out what was causing the delay. These 'routine reviews' seem to happen more often than they should - it's frustrating that they don't give us any heads up when they put a hold on payments. Definitely keeping Claimyr in my back pocket for when I inevitably need to reach someone at NYS DOL. Hope everyone else dealing with similar delays sees this thread - seems like the key is just being persistent about getting through to an actual person who can check what's really going on with your account.

Also remember you'll need to file weekly claims and meet job search requirements. NYS Department of Labor requires 3 job contacts per week minimum, and you need to keep detailed records in case they audit your job search log. Don't forget about the waiting week either - your first week won't be paid.

Just want to add that if you've had multiple jobs or income changes throughout the year, the quarter-based calculation can work in your favor. NYS DOL looks at your highest earning quarter, so if you had a period where you made more than $900/week (overtime, bonus quarters, etc.), that could boost your benefit calculation. Also worth noting that the $504 maximum gets adjusted annually for inflation, so it might be slightly different by the time you actually need to file. The base period can be tricky to understand - it's not your most recent quarters, but the first 4 of the last 5 completed calendar quarters before you file your claim.

I went through something similar and was constantly worried about overpayments. What helped me was calling the NYS DOL office (when I finally got through) and asking them to review my account to make sure everything looked correct. They were actually pretty helpful and confirmed that as long as I was reporting accurately, I shouldn't worry. Also, keep in mind that if there ever is an issue, they have to give you proper notice and a chance to appeal before demanding repayment. The horror stories you hear are usually from people who either made mistakes or didn't respond to notices properly.

Don't stress too much about it if you've been reporting everything honestly! I was on unemployment for about 6 months last year and had the same worries. The key thing is that NYS DOL has to prove you did something wrong - they can't just randomly decide you owe money. Most overpayment cases happen when people either don't report work income, work while claiming they're available, or provide false information. Since you mentioned you've been reporting your temp jobs, you're already doing the right thing. The system is actually pretty good at catching discrepancies early on, so if you were going to have issues, you'd likely know within a few weeks rather than months later.

Just wanted to add that you should also know that in New York, you can work part-time while collecting unemployment benefits as long as you report those earnings. If you find temporary or part-time work while searching for a full-time position, you may still be eligible for partial benefits. The key is being honest about any income on your weekly certification. Also, don't let anyone discourage you from applying for jobs because of your age - age discrimination in hiring is illegal under federal law, though unfortunately it still happens. Your experience and work ethic are valuable assets!

One thing to keep in mind is that while there's no age limit for collecting UI benefits, you still need to be "able and available" for work. This means if you have any health conditions that would prevent you from working, that could affect your eligibility - but that's true at any age. Also, since you mentioned you've been working since 16, you've definitely earned these benefits! Don't feel guilty about collecting what you've paid into. The warehouse experience you have is valuable, and many employers are looking for reliable workers with your kind of long-term work history. Keep documenting your job search efforts and you should be fine.

Just to be super clear on the timeline since I had to research this for my own records: the $600 FPUC was retroactive to weeks of unemployment beginning March 29, 2020, and the last week it was paid was the week ending July 25, 2020 (though some states paid through August 1st depending on their payment schedule). New York followed the federal timeline pretty closely.

For anyone still looking for this info, I found it helpful to know that the $600 FPUC payments should show up separately on your 1099-G tax form from the NYS Department of Labor. They're usually listed as a separate line item from your regular state benefits, which makes it easier to track exactly how much federal supplement money you received during that March-July 2020 period. Just wanted to add that in case it helps with tax prep!