My sister got one of these last year when the exact same thing happened with her direct deposit. It's probably legit BUT you should DEFINITELY call unemployment to make sure!!! The problem is their phone lines are IMPOSSIBLE to get through!!!! I spent 3 DAYS trying to reach someone last time I had an issue. The system is BROKEN!!!!

UPDATE: Thanks everyone for your help! I was able to get through to a NYSDOL agent using the Claimyr service that someone suggested. The agent confirmed my Wisely card is legitimate. Apparently there was a system-wide issue with direct deposits in early March that affected thousands of claimants. The payment I was missing from March 5th was sent to the card instead. They've fixed my direct deposit for future payments, but I need to activate this card to access the funds already sent there. The agent also said they sent emails about this issue, but mine must have gone to spam or something because I never saw it. Problem solved!

has anyone else noticed the refund amounts are different than what the tax software estimated??? i was supposed to get like $870 but only got $721

UPDATE: I finally got through to the IRS using that Claimyr service someone mentioned above. Turns out they had the wrong direct deposit info for me (somehow a digit got changed). They're mailing me a check instead which will take another 2-3 weeks. At least I know what's happening now! Thanks everyone for your help!

Has anyone gotten through today? I'm trying right now (1:30pm) and still getting error messages when I try to certify. Getting really worried as I'm already behind one week because of ID verification issues.

Update: Finally got through! For anyone else having issues, what worked for me was using Chrome in incognito mode. All my benefits are now certified for the week. Thanks everyone for the help!

btw my cousin said we can pay these penalties online now but when i checked i couldnt find where to do it. does anyone know if this is true?

UPDATE: I got a money order from the post office today and filled it out exactly like you all suggested. Sent it certified mail with return receipt and took photos of everything. Now I'm going to try calling to let them know it's coming. Will update again when I hear something. Thanks everyone for the help!

Hey everyone just want to chime in - just delt with this for my partner who had trouble with 2025 back pay and it was a big mess. What everyone is saying about the separate department is true. What worked was we kept calling the 1-888 numbr everyday at 8AM sharp and asking specifically for a tier 2 specialist who can handle back payments. Took 6 days of calling but finally got someone who fixed it that day!!!! Dont bother with the message system completly useless. Hope this helps somebody!!

Update to my earlier comment - I forgot to mention that there's a specific form you might need to fill out for expediting back payments. It's called the Request for Back Payment Processing (Form BP-2025). It's not on their main website - you need to navigate to the "Forms and Publications" section, then "Specialized Claim Forms" and it should be there. This form goes directly to the Back Payment team and bypasses some of the regular processing queues. Include a copy of your determination letter when you submit it.

does anyone know if they do batch processing for the payments? i heard they only process backpay on certain days of the week. might explain some of the delays people see

UPDATE: My back payment just hit my account this morning! So it took exactly 8 days (6 business days) from when they said it was approved. Thanks everyone for your help and suggestions!

My cousin works for NYSDOL (not in unemployment though) and she said they're extremely understaffed right now. Apparently they lost like 30% of their call center staff since January and haven't replaced them. Not making excuses for them, just explaining why it's so hard to get through. The backpay requests are all going into a giant queue that's barely being processed.

Just wanted to update - I finally got my backpay issue resolved this morning! After seeing the suggestions here, I tried several approaches: 1. Called the Spanish line - got through but they just transferred me to the English queue where I waited 2 hours before being disconnected 2. Contacted my assembly member - they took my info but said it could be 2-3 weeks before they can help 3. Used Claimyr (claimyr.com) - got connected to an agent in about 25 minutes The agent found that my backpay was held because of a "verification inconsistency" between my application and my employer's quarterly report. They fixed it on the spot, and said I should receive all payments within 3-5 business days. She also gave me a direct reference number for the case. Hope this helps anyone else in a similar situation!

Just want to add something important - when you do get through to an agent, make sure to get their ID number and the exact name of what they're checking in their system. Write everything down. This can be crucial if you need to reference the conversation later. Also, ask them to add detailed notes to your file about what they told you regarding the back payments being approved.

After reading through this thread, it sounds like your back payments are likely stuck with a system flag or hold. Based on my experience and what others have shared, here's what I recommend: 1. Use Claimyr or keep calling until you reach an agent 2. Specifically request a tier 2 specialist who can check for payment holds 3. Ask them to check for quarterly review flags, payment blocks, or pending certifications 4. File the formal complaint as suggested above 5. If all else fails, contact your state representative The system is frustrating but persistence usually pays off eventually. Keep documenting everything and don't give up!

btw make sure u have ur proper wages handy when u apply. i messed up and had to send in like 3 months of paystubs cause i guessed wrong on my wages. total pain in the butt

Thanks everyone for all the info! I just submitted my application yesterday. It was actually easier than I expected. They asked about my reduced hours and I made sure to say it was due to lack of work (which is true). Now I'm just waiting for them to process it. Fingers crossed it goes through without issues!

make sure ur bank info is right in the system! my friend had everything "fixed" but nobody told him his banking info got deleted when the fraud thing happened so the money was getting sent to a closed account or something

Just to update everyone - my payment actually came through yesterday morning! It took exactly 4 business days after they fixed the fraud flag. All 12 weeks of back payments came at once, which was a huge relief. Thanks to everyone who offered advice!