This whole system is so frustrating! Why don't they explain this stuff when you file for unemployment? I've been stressed about the same thing and now I find out I was worrying for nothing since I already have enough quarters.

I went through this exact worry when I was laid off from my construction job last year. Like others mentioned, you can create an account at ssa.gov and view your complete earnings history - it shows every year you worked and how much you earned. Since you've been working 35 years, you definitely have the 40 quarters needed. The unemployment gap won't hurt your eligibility at all, just might slightly reduce the final benefit amount since it's calculated on your highest earning years. Don't stress too much about it - you're in good shape for retirement!

I'm dealing with this same EXACT situation right now!!! My payment was released Monday and still nothing in my account today (Thursday). Called NYSDOL and they said everything looks fine on their end and to just wait. So frustrating when the bills are piling up. Let me know when yours finally hits so I can get some hope lol

Hey there! I've been through this exact same situation with Varo and NY unemployment. From my experience, it usually takes 1-3 business days after the "released" status shows up. Since you mentioned it was released on the 15th (Tuesday), I'd expect to see it by today or tomorrow at the latest. The fact that this is your first payment (including backpay) might add an extra day or two to the process - the system sometimes takes longer to set up that initial direct deposit connection. I know the waiting is absolutely brutal when you've got bills breathing down your neck. If it doesn't show up by tomorrow, definitely give them a call just to make sure there are no issues with your banking info. But try not to stress too much - once it says "released" the money is definitely coming your way! Hang in there 💪

Check if you can access any correspondence or messages in your online account. Sometimes there are documents or notices posted there that explain what the issue is, even if you didn't receive them by mail or email. Also make sure your contact information is current in case they're trying to reach you.

I'm dealing with the exact same thing right now! Been stuck on "issue on file" for almost 3 weeks and it's driving me crazy. I did manage to get through to someone last week (took calling literally hundreds of times) and they told me it was just a routine review of my separation reason, but they couldn't give me a timeline for when it would be resolved. They said to just keep certifying weekly and wait. It's so frustrating when you're counting on that money and have no idea what's happening or how long it will take.

Once you can get a human on the phone this should be pretty easy to fix. I had a similar issue where the system miscalculated my hours. The rep was able to submit an adjustment and I got the money about a week later. But getting through is the hard part. I recommend using Claimyr.com to get past the busy signals - saved me hours of frustration!

This exact same thing happened to me last month! I worked a 15-hour shift at a restaurant (covered someone's shift plus my own) and reported it honestly for just that one Saturday. The system deducted benefits for TWO full days even though I clearly only worked one day. It's so frustrating because you're trying to be honest and follow the rules, but their outdated system punishes you for it. I ended up having to wait on hold for literally 3 hours before I got through to someone who could fix it. The rep told me it's a known issue with shifts over 10-12 hours - their system assumes you can't possibly work that long in one day so it splits it automatically. Completely ridiculous in 2025 when long shifts are so common. Keep calling and ask specifically for a "manual adjustment to your effective days calculation" - that's the magic phrase that gets them to actually look into it. Don't give up, you deserve that money!

Contact ur state representatives office! Seriously! After 3 weeks of getting nowhere with unemployment, I emailed my state assembly person and their office contacted DOL directly. Had my issue resolved in 4 days after that.

This is absolutely infuriating but unfortunately becoming way too common. I work in cybersecurity and we're seeing identity theft for unemployment benefits skyrocket. A few additional steps that might help: 1. Set up monitoring on your Social Security account at ssa.gov - scammers often use stolen SSNs for multiple types of fraud 2. Consider placing a security freeze (not just alerts) on all your credit reports - it's free and more protective 3. Check if your bank offers identity monitoring services - many do for free now 4. Save screenshots/photos of ALL documents you receive, including that approval letter - you'll need evidence later The good news is that once it's properly flagged as fraud, the state usually stops any payments pretty quickly. The bad news is the paperwork nightmare can drag on for months. Stay on top of it and don't let them brush you off. You're the victim here and they need to fix their broken system. Also - definitely tell your employer before they find out another way. It looks much better coming from you first and shows you're being proactive about the fraud.