I heard the ny unemployment system hired a bunch of new people but didnt train em properly so half of em don't even kno what there doing when u get em on the phone. my cousin works there and says its a mess behind the scenes

I went through the same nightmare last month - missing $2,100 in payments and getting nowhere with the regular channels. What finally worked for me was contacting my state senator's office (not assembly, but senator). They have a constituent services team that handles unemployment issues specifically. I found my senator through nysenate.gov, filled out their online form describing the problem, and got a callback within 48 hours. The senator's office contacted NYSDOL directly and my payments were released within a week. Also, keep detailed records of every call attempt - date, time, how long you waited, what happened. This documentation helps when you escalate. Don't give up, the system is broken but there are ways around it if you know the right pressure points.

am i the only 1 who thinks its ridiculous we have to jump through all these hoops just to get help when we're already stressed about losing our jobs? 🤔 the system is broken af

Just wanted to add - if you're having trouble getting through on the phone, try calling on different days of the week. I found that Tuesdays and Wednesdays around 10am seemed to have shorter wait times than Mondays or Fridays. Also, have your unemployment insurance number ready if you already have one from your initial application - it speeds things up a lot. Don't get discouraged if it takes a few tries to get through, the system is overwhelmed but the reps are generally helpful once you reach them.

Same boat here, been waiting since December for my standby status to be approved. The system definitely needs major reforms but in the meantime we're all just stuck dealing with it. At least knowing other people are going through the same thing makes me feel less alone in this mess.

I'm going through the exact same thing right now - filed my claim in March and still waiting in adjudication. What's really frustrating is how the NYS DOL website gives you zero information about what's actually happening with your case or how much longer it might take. I've tried calling dozens of times and either get disconnected or told to "keep waiting." It feels like they designed this system to discourage people from getting their benefits. Has anyone had luck contacting their local assembly member's office? I'm thinking about trying that route since the regular channels aren't working at all.

Update: I finally got through! Called the technical support line trick at 7:35am and got connected to someone after about 45 minutes. Turns out there was an issue with my identity verification that never triggered a notification to me. The agent was able to clear it on the spot and said my claim should be processed within 72 hours. Thanks everyone for all your help and suggestions!

Congratulations on getting through! This is such a relief to hear after following your whole ordeal. The identity verification issue not triggering a notification is exactly the kind of system glitch that's been plaguing NY unemployment lately. It's frustrating that you had to go through weeks of stress for something that could be fixed in minutes once you reached the right person. For anyone else reading this thread - the technical support line trick (888-209-8124, press 1, 9, 2) seems to be the real MVP here. Much better success rate than the main claims line from what I'm seeing in these comments. Hope you get your backpay processed quickly and can finally put this nightmare behind you!

My brother got fired for poor performance and had no issues getting unemployment. The employer tried to fight it but NYS Department of Labor sided with him. Make sure you document everything that's happening now in case you need it later for your claim or an appeal.

I went through something similar last year - the anxiety of feeling like you're under a microscope is terrible. Just to add to what others have said, keep detailed records of any meetings, warnings, or performance discussions you have with your supervisor. If they do terminate you, having documentation of your side can really help during the unemployment adjudication process. Also, don't let them pressure you into resigning "voluntarily" - that can complicate your eligibility. If you're fired for performance issues rather than misconduct, you should qualify for benefits. NYS Department of Labor generally understands that not every job is the right fit for every person. Hang in there!