I went through something similar a few months ago and it was nerve-wracking! In my case, the "pending issue/denied" status showed up because NYS Department of Labor needed to verify my reason for leaving my last job - apparently my employer had reported it differently than what I put on my initial application. The whole thing took about 4-5 weeks to resolve, but like others said, I kept filing my weekly claims and got all the back payments once they cleared it up. One thing that helped me was logging into the website daily to check if any new correspondence appeared in my inbox, even though they're supposed to mail stuff too. Sometimes there are additional documents or questionnaires they want you to fill out that only show up online. Hang in there - most of these issues do get resolved eventually!

I had the exact same status appear on my claim about 6 months ago and I completely panicked! Turns out it was because I had reported some freelance work income but didn't include all the documentation they needed. The key thing I learned is that "pending issue/denied" doesn't mean you're actually denied yet - it just means they've flagged something that needs review before they can continue payments. Definitely keep filing your weekly claims like others have said, because those weeks will get paid retroactively if the issue gets resolved in your favor. Also, try checking your online account every few days for any questionnaires or document requests that might pop up - sometimes they'll ask for additional info to help resolve the issue faster. The waiting is awful but most of these do get cleared up within a few weeks!

I just went through this exact situation a few months ago - hours cut from full-time to barely part-time, then got hit with a "voluntary quit" determination. The appeal process was stressful but totally worth it. A few things that really helped my case: 1) I took photos of my work schedule/timesheet showing the dramatic hour reduction over time, 2) I saved any text messages or emails where my supervisor mentioned the cuts were permanent or business-related, and 3) I documented how the reduced income made it impossible to pay basic expenses like rent. The hearing was actually pretty straightforward - the judge asked direct questions about what happened and why I left. My employer didn't even show up to contest it, which happens more often than you'd think. The whole process from appeal to decision took about 6-8 weeks for me. Don't let them intimidate you - if your hours were genuinely cut to the point where you couldn't survive on them, you have every right to those benefits. The system is designed to help people in situations exactly like yours.

I went through a similar appeal last year after being wrongly classified as a voluntary quit when my employer cut my hours from 32 to about 6 per week. The whole process was intimidating at first but definitely worth fighting. A couple of additional tips that helped me: Make sure you file your appeal online through my.ny.gov rather than mailing it - the online system gives you a confirmation receipt and tracks your submission. Also, when you write your appeal statement, be very specific about the timeline - include exact dates when your hours were cut, how much they were reduced, and when you ultimately had to leave. I created a simple spreadsheet showing my weekly hours and pay for about 3 months before and after the cuts, which made the impact crystal clear to the judge. One thing I wish someone had told me is that you can continue certifying for benefits during the appeal process even though you're not getting paid yet - this keeps your claim active. If you win the appeal, they'll pay you retroactively for those weeks. The hearing itself was less scary than I expected - just be honest, stick to the facts, and have your documents organized. You've got this!

I went through the exact same thing last year - filed in March and didn't see a penny until July! The "pending determination" status you're seeing is key. In my case, it turned out my former employer had flagged my claim for review but nobody bothered to tell me. What finally worked was calling at exactly 8:00 AM on a Tuesday (they seem to have more staff then) and staying on hold for 2+ hours. Yes, it's brutal, but I finally got through to someone who could see what was holding up my claim. They also backdated everything once the issue was resolved. Don't give up - that money is rightfully yours!

I'm dealing with a very similar situation right now - filed in late January and still waiting on my first payment! The "pending determination" status is so frustrating because they give you zero information about what's actually wrong. I've been following this thread and trying some of the suggestions people mentioned. One thing that helped me was checking the "Correspondence" section in my online account (not just Messages) - I found a notice there that I had somehow missed before asking for additional wage verification from a previous employer. Maybe check there if you haven't already? Also, I tried the Claimyr service that Sofia mentioned and actually got through to an agent yesterday! Turns out my claim was flagged because my previous employer never responded to their verification request, so it was just sitting in limbo. The agent was able to push it through and said I should see payments within 5-7 business days. Fingers crossed! Keep pushing - it's exhausting but we have to advocate for ourselves since the system won't do it for us. 💪

I'm in a similar situation - just got furloughed from my retail job yesterday and feeling overwhelmed about the whole process. Reading through everyone's responses here is really helpful! One question I have is about the waiting period that Grace mentioned - does that mean there's automatically a delay before you start receiving benefits, or is that just processing time? Also, for anyone who's been through this, do you have to actively search for other work while on furlough, or does the expectation of returning to your original job count as your work search requirement? I want to make sure I'm following all the rules correctly so I don't mess up my claim.

I went through furlough unemployment with NYS Department of Labor about 6 months ago when my manufacturing company temporarily shut down our production line. Here are some key things I wish I'd known: 1) File your claim the Sunday of the week your furlough starts - the system processes new claims on Sundays and you want to get in the queue early. 2) When they ask about your "last day worked," use the actual last day you worked, not the day your furlough officially begins. 3) Keep checking your online account regularly because sometimes they'll request additional documentation and you only have a limited time to respond. 4) If your employer offers any kind of benefits continuation during furlough (like health insurance), make sure to mention that in your application - it won't affect your UI eligibility but they like to have complete info. The whole process took about 2 weeks for me to see my first deposit, and I was able to collect benefits for the full 7 weeks I was furloughed before getting called back. Don't stress too much - furlough situations are pretty straightforward for them to process!

The phone system is ridiculous. I've called probably 200 times over the past month trying to get my disqualification explained and I've gotten through TWICE. Both times they told me different things about my appeal process. The whole NYS Department of Labor phone system needs to be completely overhauled.

I feel your pain! I've been dealing with the same issue trying to reach them about my benefit calculation. What worked for me was calling exactly at 8:00 AM on Tuesday - seems like they have more staff available earlier in the week. Also, I noticed that if you select the option for "reporting fraud" (even though that's not what you need), you sometimes get through to a real person faster who can then transfer you to the right department. It's frustrating that we have to use these workarounds just to get basic help with our claims.