Based on everything you've shared, this sounds like the March system update issue. Your friend should: 1. Continue certifying weekly without fail 2. Try calling first thing Monday morning (7:30am is best) 3. Check his online account settings to ensure contact information is current 4. Look for a mail notice (sometimes they send physical mail but not online messages) 5. Verify his direct deposit or debit card information hasn't expired If he still can't get through by phone after 3 days of trying, the Claimyr service mentioned above might be worth considering as waiting too long can further complicate the resolution.

I went through something similar last year and it turned out to be a "routine review" that wasn't routine at all - took 6 weeks to resolve! The most frustrating part is how the system gives you zero indication of what's happening. One thing that helped me was documenting everything - screenshot his account pages, note the dates he certified, keep records of when he tries calling. When you finally get through to someone, having all that info ready makes the call go much faster. Also, tell him to check if his bank account info is still valid - I've seen cases where expired debit cards caused payments to bounce back and trigger account holds. Hope this gets resolved soon!

I'm in the exact same boat and tried calling UI for 3 days straight last week!!! The phone system is IMPOSSIBLE! Kept getting disconnected or told to call back later. Has anyone actually managed to talk to a real person about this issue? Did they offer any solutions??

I went through this exact situation last year and it's really frustrating. Your unused days do disappear when you hit your BYE date - there's no way around it. The key thing is to file your new claim immediately when your BYE date hits, even if you're not sure you'll qualify. For your part-time work, you'll need to calculate if you earned at least 10x your weekly benefit amount during your entire benefit year (not just those 6 weeks). So with a $504 weekly benefit, you'd need $5,040 total. Also make sure that work was in "covered employment" - regular W-2 employment usually counts, but 1099/contractor work typically doesn't. Even if you don't think you qualify, still file the new claim and keep certifying weekly during the processing period. The worst they can say is no, but at least you'll have tried everything. And if by chance you do qualify, you'll get backpaid for those weeks you certified. The system definitely isn't perfect, but those are your best options. Good luck with your job search!

Whatever you do, don't just ignore it. Even if you think it's wrong, you have to respond within the timeframe or you lose your right to appeal. I learned this the hard way with a different issue.

I went through this exact situation last year with a $3,200 overpayment notice. The key thing is to immediately request all the documentation they used to make their determination - you have a right to see exactly why they think you weren't eligible. In my case, they had incorrect information about my work history that my previous employer never corrected with them. I appealed, provided payroll records and W-2s, and got the whole thing dismissed. The appeal process is intimidating but it's your best shot. Also, if you do end up owing something, they usually offer payment plans rather than demanding a lump sum. Don't panic - just act quickly within that 30-day window.

Just wanted to add that if you do end up having to pay back the overpayment, you can potentially claim it as a deduction on next year's tax return under the claim of right doctrine. Not tax advice obviously but worth asking a tax professional about.

I went through this exact same thing last year and it's incredibly frustrating. The key thing to understand is that NYS Department of Labor overpayments are usually based on either unreported income, work search requirements not being met, or employer wage reports that contradict what you certified. The taxes you paid don't factor into whether you were eligible - they're completely separate processes. My advice: 1) Request a detailed breakdown of exactly which weeks they're claiming as overpaid and why, 2) Gather all your documentation from that period (work search logs, income reports, etc.), and 3) Appeal within the 30-day window even if you're not sure - you can always withdraw the appeal later but you can't file one after the deadline. Don't let them just take your word for it that you owe the money without proving exactly how they calculated it.

One last important note: make sure you're still certifying for benefits every week while you wait for this to resolve. Many people stop certifying when they don't see payments, but you need those certifications to get backpay for all weeks once the issue is fixed. Set a calendar reminder to certify every Sunday without fail.

I'm dealing with almost the exact same situation! Filed in late January and it's been over 6 weeks of the same "determining benefit rate" status. What's really frustrating is that I can see in my online account that they've already calculated my weekly benefit amount ($347) but the payments just won't release. I've tried calling dozens of times with no luck getting through. Reading through all these responses, it sounds like there might be some kind of automated system flag that only a human agent can clear. I'm going to try contacting my assembly person this week since several people mentioned that worked for them. This whole system is absolutely broken - how can they send determination letters but then act like they don't know our benefit rates? Hang in there Emma, hopefully we both get this resolved soon! 🤞