THE WHOLE SYSTEM IS BROKEN!! I've been waiting for my unemployment for over a month and NYS Department of Labor just keeps giving me the runaround. They approved my claim then suddenly there's some mysterious hold that nobody can explain.

Check if you have any outstanding issues in your claim. Sometimes NYS Department of Labor puts a payment hold while they verify employment or resolve adjudication issues, but the system doesn't always show this clearly on the main dashboard.

make sure you keep track of your job search activities too!! they can ask for proof anytime and if you dont have it they'll stop your payments

Just went through this same process last month! The key things are: 1) File your weekly claims every Sunday-Saturday for the previous week, 2) Set up direct deposit in your my.ny.gov account (takes 1-2 business days to activate), and 3) Keep detailed records of your job search activities. I was also confused at first but once you get into the routine it's pretty straightforward. Your first payment should come within a few days of filing your weekly claim as long as everything is set up correctly.

Just as a follow-up since several people mentioned this issue - the NYSDOL announced they're doing system maintenance every Tuesday and Thursday night from 7pm-10pm through the end of April 2025. If you're trying to log in during those times, you might encounter these password errors or other strange behavior. They don't publicize this well, but it's on their system status page.

This is such a common problem with the NY system! I had the exact same issue last month - logged in fine, then got locked out with "incorrect password" errors even though nothing changed. What finally worked for me was using an incognito/private browser window. Something about their session management gets confused when you log out and back in quickly. Also, if you're still having trouble, try logging in during off-peak hours (like early morning or late evening) - the system seems more stable then. Hope you got your certification done on time!

That's excellent! Make sure to keep an eye on your payment history page over the next few days to confirm the payments process correctly. If you don't see movement within the 3 business days, follow up with another call using the same method that worked for you.

Congrats on getting through! That's such a relief after dealing with this for so long. I'm actually in a similar situation - my benefits have been pending since early March and I can't get anyone on the phone. Going to try that exact button sequence you mentioned tomorrow morning at 8am sharp. Quick question - when you say there was an identity verification flag, did you get any notification about that in your online account or was it completely invisible to you as the claimant? I'm wondering if I might have the same issue since I also submitted all my ID documents when I first applied but haven't heard anything back.

I feel your pain! 😫 Just wanted to add that you should absolutely apply for SNAP benefits if you haven't already while you're between jobs. The application process is way easier than unemployment and it can help with food costs while you're figuring out the rest.

Hey Chris! I went through this exact same situation last year and it's so frustrating. Just to confirm what others have said - once you've exhausted your 26 weeks of benefits, you're done until your benefit year ends in May 2024. Filing a new claim now won't work because you're still in your current benefit year. The system is designed so you can only get one set of benefits per benefit year, regardless of whether you use them all at once or spread them out. Since you've been collecting since June 2023, you've likely hit that 26-week maximum. My advice: 1) Don't file a new claim yet - wait until after May 2024, 2) Document any part-time work you do between now and then as it might help you qualify for a new claim later, 3) Look into other assistance like SNAP, rental assistance, etc. to bridge the gap, and 4) If you really want confirmation from DOL, use one of those callback services people mentioned to actually get through to someone who can look at your specific account. It sucks but you're definitely not alone in this situation. The wait until May feels long but at least you'll know exactly when you can file again if you meet the work requirements. Hang in there! 💪