ive been on both sides of this! as someone whos filed for unemployment AND as someone whos worked in HR... your employer has been paying unemployment insurance taxes the whole time youve worked there. its not a fine or penalty when you file, its literally using the insurance system as intended. dont feel bad AT ALL

btw did u get ur official termination letter yet? MAKE SURE it says layoff due to budget cuts! my friend got screwed bc her letter said something about "performance" even tho her boss told her verbally it was budget cuts. get everything in writing!!

good luck! the phone system is awful lol

UPDATE: I finally got through to someone at NYSDOL! I used that Claimyr service and got connected in about 25 minutes. The agent confirmed that I do qualify for a new claim based on my part-time work history. She had to do some special override in the system and then helped me file a new claim over the phone. My weekly benefit amount will be lower than before ($341 instead of $504), but it's definitely better than nothing! Thanks everyone for your help and advice.

That's awesome news!! So glad you got it fixed. But seriously, they need to fix their garbage system. Nobody should have to jump through all these hoops just to get benefits they're entitled to!!

Great news! For anyone else reading this thread with similar issues - notice how effective it was to specifically request a Tier 2 specialist who has database restoration permissions. Regular representatives often don't have the system access needed to fix these kinds of technical glitches. Always be polite but persistent about speaking with someone with higher-level system access.

honestly i think its super unfair that we even have to jump through all these hoops... like ur literally unable to do heavy lifting for medical reasons but the system treats u like ur just being lazy??? the whole thing is rigged against ppl with health issues who want to work but have limitations!!

One more important point: While pursuing SSI, consider speaking with a disability attorney. Many offer free initial consultations and only get paid if you win your case (usually taking a percentage of your backpay). They dramatically increase approval rates, especially for appeals. For immediate needs, check if your local Department of Social Services offers emergency assistance programs - these can sometimes provide temporary help while you're sorting out longer-term solutions.

Anybody else notice that the first payment always includes backpay for any weeks they owed you? My first deposit was WAY bigger than I expected and I almost had a heart attack thinking they made a mistake and would take it back! But it was just including the 3 weeks I had certified for while waiting for approval.

yo update us when u get paid so we know how long it took

One more important thing - while working on your unemployment appeal, immediately apply for emergency assistance benefits through HRA. You may qualify for emergency cash assistance, SNAP benefits (food stamps), and emergency rental assistance even while your unemployment is under appeal. Many people don't realize these programs exist separately from unemployment insurance. Visit ACCESS HRA online or go to your local HRA office in person - tell them you have a 4-year-old and are facing homelessness, and they should expedite your case. This can provide a financial bridge while your unemployment appeal is being processed.

That's great news about the emergency assistance! Regarding your unemployment appeal, make sure to specifically mention in your appeal that you had two employers and suspect one may not be showing in the system. Request a "wage investigation" as part of your appeal. This triggers a separate process where they contact the employer directly to verify your employment. Also, when providing documentation, include your first and last paystubs from BOTH employers, as this proves the duration of employment clearly. For the LQ-510 code specifically, they're looking at whether you earned at least $3,100 in your base period and worked in at least two calendar quarters. With 18 months of work history, you should easily meet this unless your wages were very low.

One important thing to remember: when you do finally reach an agent, make sure to get their ID number or name. This is helpful if you need to follow up later and can reference the previous conversation. Also, if they tell you they're sending a determination letter, note the exact timeframe they give you. If you don't receive it within that window plus 3-5 business days, you should call back. Also, for anyone waiting on payments - once your claim is approved, payments are typically processed on the Tuesday or Wednesday following your weekly certification. Direct deposits usually appear 2-3 business days after processing, while debit cards may take 5-7 business days to receive funds.

My sister had the same situation last year where she couldn't get anyone on the phone for weeks. Eventually what worked for her was calling right at 7:58am (a couple minutes before they officially open). Apparently their phone system sometimes connects calls slightly early, so she got in before the massive 8:00am rush. Might be worth trying if anyone is still struggling!

THE WHOLE SYSTEM IS DESIGNED TO MAKE US GIVE UP!!! They WANT us to get frustrated and stop trying to claim benefits we EARNED and DESERVE. I've been trying for THREE WEEKS to complete my claim verification and still nothing. This is how they keep their numbers down, by making the process impossible to complete!!!

UPDATE: I FINALLY got through!!! I tried the Claimyr service after struggling for days more, and I was connected to an agent within 45 minutes. The verification was actually really quick once I got someone on the phone - just had to confirm some employment details and explain why I left my last job. They told me my claim had been flagged because my employer didn't respond to their initial verification request (typical). My claim is now fully processed and I should receive payments within 3 business days. Such a relief! Thank you everyone for your help and suggestions!

Just want to follow up - did your payments come through yet? The processing times have been a bit slower lately due to some system updates NYSDOL is implementing in 2025.

Yes! They finally came through this morning - took exactly 4 business days. Thanks for checking in!

i ended up just using my bf's chase account cuz i got tired of waiting lol. not ideal but whatever works

Update: I finally got through on the phone this morning (called right when they opened at 8am). The rep said they're aware of the Chime issue and they have to manually override something in their system to make it work. My deposit went through to my Chime account today with no problems! So definitely worth trying to reach someone by phone.