The 26 week thing is true but honestly the whole system is designed to discourage you from using it. They make the job search requirements more and more ridiculous, the website crashes constantly, and don't even get me started on trying to reach anyone by phone. I burned through my 26 weeks mostly fighting with their system instead of actually job hunting.

same boat here! just started collecting last month too. good luck with the job search, hopefully we both find something soon before the 26 weeks runs out

Guys I just had a similar issue last week and i wnated to add that if your waiting for a call back make sure your phone isn't blocking unknown numbers. NYSDOL calls show up as unknown and I missed their call twice because of that lol. And they don't leave voicemails either which is super annoying

I've been in a similar situation and what finally worked for me was using multiple strategies at once. First, try the Claimyr service that @Klaus Schmidt mentioned - it really does work and saved me from getting disconnected constantly. Second, while you're waiting for that, definitely reach out to your assembly member's office like @Yuki Tanaka suggested. I called mine and they had someone from DOL call me back within 48 hours. Also, make sure you have all your documentation ready - claim number, correspondence reference numbers, and a clear summary of your issue written down. The agents can fix things quickly if you have everything organized. Don't give up - the system is frustrating but there are ways to get through!

Congrats! That's one less thing to worry about. The whole unemployment system is so stressful.

I went through this exact same situation a few months ago! "Not disqualified" means you've passed the separation determination review - basically NYS DOL confirmed that your job loss wasn't due to misconduct or voluntary quit without good cause. This is actually a major milestone in the process. In my case, I received my first payment about 5-6 days after seeing this status update. Just keep filing your weekly claims and stay patient - the hardest part is behind you now. The waiting is nerve-wracking but you're definitely heading in the right direction!

I tried both ways and here's what I learned: Online is definitely faster BUT if you have any special circumstances (like working out of state or multiple employers) you might need to talk to someone eventually. Start with online filing and only call if you absolutely have to.

Thanks everyone! This is super helpful. I'll definitely go with online filing and try to do it early in the morning like @Amina suggested. Good to know about documenting everything too - I'll make sure to screenshot everything just in case. Really appreciate all the advice!

Pro tip: use the mobile app! Way easier than the website and you can do it from anywhere as long as you got service

Look Im gonna tell you exactly how this works cause I been in the system for a minute. You HAVE to certify between Sunday 7AM and Saturday midnight. No exceptions. If you miss it, you gotta call them and explain why, and trust me you DO NOT want that headache. They might make you wait weeks to get paid. Sunday morning is your best bet - do it early before the system gets overwhelmed. Don't try any tricks or loopholes cause they will catch you. If you really can't do it yourself on Sunday, your only options are either finding internet access wherever you're gonna be, or calling them through claimyr.com to explain your situation before it happens. Better to handle it upfront than fix it after.