The system is so slow these days. Back when I first filed in 2019 it was much faster but now with all the changes since covid everything takes forever. Just be patient and keep doing your weekly certifications. The money will come eventually, they're just backed up processing everything.

I just went through this process a few months ago and wanted to share what helped me. Besides keeping up with weekly certifications, make sure your direct deposit info is set up correctly in your online account - that was actually what delayed my first payment by almost a week. Also, if you haven't already, download the NY.gov ID app and verify your identity through that system. NYS Department of Labor has been requiring additional identity verification for many new claims, and getting ahead of that can speed things up. Hang in there - the first payment is always the longest wait, but once it starts flowing it's usually pretty consistent.

The whole system is so confusing!! I went through something similar and it took me weeks to figure out which office to call. Workers comp ended up taking care of everything though once I got the ball rolling. Don't let your employer stall you - you have rights and they know it.

@Javier Cruz - I went through a similar work injury situation a few years ago. Don't let your employer drag their feet on this! You have 30 days from the date of injury to file a workers comp claim, but the sooner the better. If your supervisor isn't being helpful, go directly to HR or whoever handles workers comp at your company. You can also call the Workers' Compensation Board directly at 1-877-632-4996 - they'll walk you through the process and make sure you get the forms you need. The weekly benefits usually cover about 2/3 of your wages while you're recovering, which is way better than what unemployment would give you. Hang in there!

oh this brings back memories lol... when I filed last year after my restaurant closed it was actually pretty smooth. got my determination letter in about 10 days and payments started the week after. just make sure you do those weekly claims religiously even if you're not sure about something

I just went through this process a few months ago and wanted to add that you should also check your mail regularly - NYS Department of Labor sends important documents by regular mail even though you filed online. I almost missed my monetary determination letter because it got mixed in with other mail. Also, if you have direct deposit set up it can take an extra few days for the first payment to hit your account even after you start getting approved weekly claims. The whole timeline from filing to first payment was about 3 weeks for me, but that weekly certification step is absolutely crucial - don't skip any weeks!

This is absolutely infuriating! I'm dealing with the exact same thing - payments randomly stopped 10 days ago with just "pending" status and ZERO communication from them. I've literally called 87 times (yes, I'm keeping count because I'm going insane) and can't get through to a single human being. It's like they want us to just give up and disappear. Reading through everyone's experiences here, it's clear this is happening to tons of people and it's probably those random "verification" flags they're throwing around because of fraud concerns. The fact that they can just freeze our lifeline without even sending an email is absolutely criminal. I'm definitely going to try the assembly member route first thing Monday morning, and if that doesn't work fast enough I might have to bite the bullet and try that Claimyr service everyone's mentioning. Has anyone had luck with the Twitter approach @NYSLabor? At this point I'm willing to try literally anything. We shouldn't have to jump through these insane hoops just to find out why our own benefits got cut off!

I'm so sorry you're going through this - the system is absolutely broken! I'm in a similar boat where my payments just vanished with no explanation about 2 weeks ago. After reading through everyone's experiences here, it's clear this is happening to SO many people because of these random verification flags they're throwing around. Here's what I've learned from this thread that seems most promising: 1. Contact your assembly member's office ASAP - multiple people say they have direct lines to DOL and can get faster responses 2. Try the Twitter approach @NYSLabor - seems hit or miss but worth a shot 3. If you're desperate and can afford it, several people have had success with Claimyr.com for actually getting through to a human The fact that we're all dealing with identical situations (payments stopped, "pending" status, zero communication) makes it obvious this is systematic rather than individual account issues. Don't give up - you have every right to those benefits and answers about what happened! Keep us posted on what works for you because we're all fighting the same battle here.

Update: I finally got through!!! Used the Claimyr service that someone suggested above and spoke with a representative. Turns out there was a glitch in their system that applied my tax withholding AND student loan garnishment retroactively, so they took out 8 weeks worth of deductions all at once! The rep submitted a correction request and said my next payment should be back to normal, and they'll refund the extra amount they took out within 2-3 weeks. Thank you all for your help and suggestions!

So glad you got through and figured it out! That system glitch sounds like a nightmare - taking 8 weeks of deductions all at once is brutal. I've been dealing with similar issues trying to reach DOL for my own claim problems. Quick question - about how long did the Claimyr service take to get you connected? And did they charge upfront or after they got you through? Trying to decide if it's worth it for my situation too.