ugh the nys department of labor is such a nightmare to deal with. they mess up constantly then act like its your fault when they want their money back. i hope bankruptcy works for you because owing them money is like having a permanent headache

I went through something similar last year. The key thing to understand is that bankruptcy courts look at whether you "willfully and knowingly" provided false information. If you genuinely reported your earnings correctly and NYS DOL made an error in their calculation or interpretation, there's a good chance the debt could be discharged. Document everything you have - your original weekly certifications, pay stubs, any correspondence with DOL. Your bankruptcy attorney should be able to argue that this wasn't fraud if you have evidence you reported in good faith. Don't give up hope - I've seen these overpayment determinations get overturned both in appeals and in bankruptcy court.

Glad to hear this was resolved! For anyone else reading this thread with a similar issue, here's a quick summary of the most effective approaches: 1. Request the Partial Benefits Unit specifically if your missing payment involves reported income 2. Ask for a payment trace if a single payment is missing from an approved backpay batch 3. Send a secure message through your account with a clear subject line indicating the specific issue and date 4. Contact your state assembly person's office if you're not getting resolution after multiple attempts The key is being specific about what you need rather than just asking about status. The system is unfortunately complex, but knowing which department handles your specific issue can save weeks of waiting.

So happy to see this got resolved! I'm dealing with something similar right now - missing two payments from my December 2024 backpay. I reported some part-time work during those weeks so sounds like the Partial Benefits Unit is exactly who I need to reach. Quick question for anyone who's been through this - when you call and ask for the Partial Benefits Unit, do they typically transfer you right away or do you have to explain the whole situation first? Just trying to be prepared so I don't waste time with the wrong department again. Thanks!

I'm dealing with a similar situation right now - been waiting 5 weeks for my seasonal landscaping unemployment to process. What's really frustrating is that I've been doing seasonal work for 3 years and never had these kinds of delays before. Something definitely changed with their system this year. Has anyone had luck with the online chat feature? I noticed they added it recently but every time I try to use it, it says "all agents are busy" and never connects me to anyone. At this point I'm willing to try anything to get my claim moving. Also wanted to mention for anyone filing in the future - make sure you have your employer's federal tax ID number ready. I didn't have mine when I first applied and had to call my old boss to get it, which probably contributed to my delays. They use it to verify your work history automatically instead of having to wait for employer responses.

I'm going through something similar right now - worked at a waterfront restaurant that closed for the winter season in November, and I've been waiting almost 4 weeks for my first payment. Reading through all these responses has been really eye-opening about the seasonal work complications. I think I made the same mistake as Ethan - I probably didn't clearly mark my work as seasonal when I filed, and I definitely didn't know about that buried "seasonal work patterns" question that Jean Claude mentioned. That would explain why my claim is stuck in review limbo. The advice about getting a letter from your employer beforehand is brilliant - wish I had thought of that. And the tip about having the federal tax ID ready is something I'll definitely remember. I had to email my old manager to get employment verification info, which probably added to my delays. At this point I'm seriously considering trying that Claimyr service. It's frustrating that we have to pay extra just to access benefits we're entitled to, but if it actually works and gets me connected to someone who can resolve this, it might be worth it. The regular phone system is completely impossible - I've tried calling probably 20+ times and never gotten through to a human. Has anyone else noticed if certain times of day work better for getting through? I've been trying mostly afternoons but maybe I should try those early morning slots that Amara suggested.

Final advice: When you do get through to someone, request that they place a "fraud alert" flag on your file in their system. This will prevent any future claims from being automatically processed under your SSN without additional verification steps. Also, for future reference, you can set up an account on the NYSDOL website even if you're not currently claiming benefits - this allows you to monitor if anyone tries to file using your information again.

I went through something similar last year and it was absolutely terrifying at first. The key thing that helped me was realizing this is actually pretty common with identity theft cases. Don't panic - you have rights and there are clear steps to resolve this. A few things that helped me specifically: - When you call, ask to speak to a "Benefit Payment Control" specialist - they handle overpayment disputes - Request a "wage crossmatch report" which shows what employers reported wages under your SSN during those weeks - If you have any bank statements from March-April 2025, gather them now to prove you weren't receiving UI deposits The identity theft angle is definitely your strongest defense here. The fact that you haven't been collecting benefits makes this pretty cut and dry once you get the right person to look at your case. Hang in there - I know it feels overwhelming but once you get through to someone who can actually help, these cases usually get resolved faster than you'd expect. The system is broken but the individual workers I dealt with were actually pretty helpful once I could reach them.

THE SYSTEM IS BROKEN!! I've been waiting 8 weeks and they keep saying my claim is under review. Meanwhile I can't pay my bills and they won't tell me what the holdup is. This is ridiculous.

I just went through this process a few months ago when my company downsized. The 2-3 week timeframe mentioned by Yara is pretty accurate for most cases. Since you were part of a mass layoff, that actually works in your favor - the Department of Labor processes these faster because they can verify multiple claims from the same employer at once. One thing that helped me was checking my claim status regularly on the my.ny.gov portal and making sure I certified for benefits every week even before approval. Also, keep all your paperwork handy in case they need additional documentation. Hang in there - the waiting is the hardest part but it will come through!