THE SYSTEM IS SO BROKEN THO!! I got laid off and it took WEEKS to get my first payment because they kept asking for more documentation. Make sure you have EVERYTHING ready - pay stubs, employment verification, the works. Don't trust that it'll be quick just because you were laid off legitimately.

Just to add to what others have said - you'll also want to keep track of any job search activities once you start receiving benefits. NYS requires you to make at least 3 work search contacts per week and keep records of them. You can do this through their job search log on the Department of Labor website. Also, if your employer offers any kind of severance package, make sure you understand how that might affect the timing of your benefits - sometimes there's a delay if you receive severance pay that covers a certain period.

This entire thread has been a lifesaver for understanding what's going on with NY unemployment backpay! I'm currently 3 weeks past my first payment with no backpay yet for 7 weeks I'm owed. After reading everyone's experiences, I'm realizing there are so many hidden technical issues that can block payments - program transfer flags, verification holds, processing queue mix-ups, etc. What's really frustrating is that the system gives us zero transparency about these issues. We're left guessing why our money isn't coming through while drowning in bills. @Keisha Jackson - huge congrats on getting your issue resolved! Your detailed updates about the program transfer flag are going to help so many people know what to ask about when they finally get through to an agent. For anyone still waiting like me, it sounds like persistence is key and we need to be prepared to ask about specific technical flags that might be blocking our accounts. The fact that these can sit there indefinitely without any notification to us is absolutely ridiculous, but at least now we know what questions to ask. Going to keep trying to get through this week and will definitely mention program transfer flags specifically. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences - this community is honestly more helpful than the actual unemployment office!

This thread is incredibly eye-opening! I'm dealing with the same backpay delays - got my first payment 2 weeks ago but still waiting on 9 weeks of backpay. Reading about these hidden technical flags like "program transfer flags" is both helpful and infuriating. It's crazy that the system can just hold our money indefinitely due to these behind-the-scenes issues without any notification. @Keisha Jackson - thank you so much for sharing your detailed journey and the specific flag issue you discovered! This kind of information is gold for those of us still stuck in limbo. I had no idea to ask about program transfer flags specifically when I finally get through to an agent. What really gets me is how we're essentially forced to become system experts just to get our own benefits. The lack of transparency is unacceptable - we shouldn't have to guess why our payments are delayed or crowdsource technical troubleshooting tips. But I'm grateful for communities like this where we can share experiences and help each other navigate this broken system. Definitely saving all these insights for when I can finally reach an agent!

Thank you all for the helpful responses! I understand now that this isn't a separate payment but rather an exemption when I file my taxes. I'll make sure to update my address with NYSDOL so I get my 1099-G and will double-check everything when I file. Really appreciate everyone taking the time to explain!

Just wanted to add one more helpful tip for everyone - when you do file your taxes, make sure your tax software or preparer is up to date with the unemployment compensation exclusion rules. Some older versions of tax software might not automatically apply the exemption, so you'd want to double-check that it's being calculated correctly. Also, if you use a tax preparer, specifically mention that you received unemployment benefits under the $10,500 threshold so they don't miss applying the exclusion. Better to be safe than sorry!

so wat was the trick that finally worked? the claimyr thing?

Just wanted to add my experience for anyone else dealing with this - I had the exact same issue last month where my payments were stuck in "pending" for 4 weeks. Turned out there was a discrepancy between what my employer reported for my last day of work versus what I put on my application (they had me down as working one day longer than I actually did). The frustrating part is the system doesn't tell you WHY it's pending or what specific information needs to be verified. Once I got through to someone and they corrected the dates, all my back payments came through within 48 hours. The key really is just getting a human on the phone who can actually see what's flagged in your file. Keep trying different times of day - I had luck calling right at 8am on Tuesday mornings.

The whole system is a joke if you ask me. Why can't they just tell us exactly when payments will hit? It's 2025 and we're still playing guessing games with our rent money. I've had deposits come on different days of the week with no explanation from NYS Department of Labor.

I've been tracking my deposits for the past few months and noticed they tend to hit earlier in the week when I file my claim right at midnight on Tuesday. If I wait until later in the day Tuesday to file, the deposit seems to push to Thursday or Friday. Also, direct deposit through certain banks like Bank of America tends to be faster than others. One thing that really helped me was setting up text alerts from my bank so I know the exact moment it hits rather than constantly checking my balance. NYS Department of Labor's processing is pretty consistent - it's usually the bank processing that adds the extra day or two of uncertainty.