same here, always wondered about this! thanks for asking the question

From what I understand, they use multiple detection methods but the main one is quarterly wage matching. Every employer in NY has to report wages to the state, and they run these reports against active unemployment claims. They also check with the IRS for 1099 income and can access databases from other states if you work elsewhere. The system is pretty automated now, so even small amounts of unreported income will eventually get caught. My advice is to always report any work on your weekly certification, even if it's just a few hours - they have partial benefit formulas so you might still get some money, and it's way better than dealing with an overpayment investigation later.

Yes, you should definitely keep filing your weekly claims even during adjudication! If your claim gets approved, you'll receive back pay for all those weeks you certified. If you stop filing, you could lose those weeks entirely. Keep documenting your job search activities too since you'll need that information when the adjudication is resolved.

I went through this same nightmare last year and it took about 10 weeks to resolve. The key thing is to document EVERYTHING - save screenshots of your claim status, keep records of all your attempts to contact them, and definitely keep filing your weekly claims like others mentioned. Also, check if you received any mail or notices that might explain what specific issue they're investigating. Sometimes the notices get lost or buried in paperwork. The waiting is brutal but most adjudications do eventually get resolved in the claimant's favor if you were legitimately laid off. Hang in there!

I had this exact same problem a couple months ago and it was such a headache! What ended up working for me was actually going through the "Forgot Password" process on the ny.gov login page. Even though it wasn't really a password issue, when you go through that process they give you options to verify your identity in different ways that bypass the security questions. You can choose to get a verification code sent to your phone or email instead. Once I got back into my account that way, I was able to go to the security settings and update my mother's maiden name to the correct one. It's kind of a roundabout way but it saved me from having to wait on hold forever. Worth trying before you spend hours on the phone!

I went through this exact same frustrating situation about 6 months ago! I had mixed up my mother's maiden name with her stepfather's surname when I first applied, and it completely locked me out of my account. After trying to call the main customer service line countless times with no success, I discovered a few strategies that actually worked. First, try the "Forgot Password" route on the ny.gov login page - even though it's not technically a password issue, this process gives you alternative verification options that bypass the security questions. Choose phone verification if given the option, as it's much faster than email. If that doesn't work, call the Teleclaim line at 888-581-5812 instead of the main customer service number. I found the wait times were shorter, especially if you call between 2-3 PM on weekdays. When you explain that you can't file your weekly claims due to the security question error, they prioritize your call. Have your SSN, confirmation number, and recent employer information ready for identity verification. The whole process took about 25 minutes once I got through to someone. Don't give up - there are definitely ways to get this fixed without waiting weeks!

I've been following this thread closely because I'm in the exact same boat - stuck trying to reach NYSDOL for weeks with that useless 888-209-8124 number just hanging up constantly. This has been the most helpful resource I've found anywhere! I wanted to share one additional tip I discovered yesterday: if you have a pending appeal or overpayment issue, there's actually a separate Appeals Division number (518-402-0205) that sometimes has shorter wait times. The agent I eventually reached told me they can often resolve issues that the regular unemployment line can't handle directly. Also, I found success using the NY.gov live chat feature during off-peak hours (around 2-3 PM on weekdays). It's not specifically for unemployment, but they can sometimes transfer you or provide direct contact information for NYSDOL supervisors. Reading through everyone's success stories here gives me so much hope! I'm definitely going to try the mobile app callback feature tonight along with sending another secure message mentioning my 6+ week timeline. The combination approach seems to be key rather than relying on just one method. Thank you to this entire community for sharing strategies and keeping each other motivated. This thread should be pinned as a resource for anyone dealing with NYSDOL issues!

This thread has been an absolute lifesaver! I've been stuck in the same frustrating cycle for about 2 months now - calling that 888-209-8124 number and getting immediately hung up on every single time. My unemployment benefits were suddenly cut off in January with absolutely no explanation, and I was starting to feel completely helpless. Reading through everyone's experiences and all these different strategies has given me the first real hope I've had in weeks. I had no idea about the mobile app callback feature with the separate queue, or that there was a priority callback system for people who've been trying for 30+ days, or that contacting state representatives could actually expedite things. Based on all the incredible advice shared here, I'm planning to: 1. Download the NY DOL mobile app tonight and use that callback request feature 2. Send a detailed secure message through my NY.gov account mentioning my 8+ week timeline 3. Call my assemblyman's office tomorrow morning instead of just sending emails 4. Start keeping detailed documentation of all my contact attempts 5. Try that Appeals Division number (518-402-0205) since my issue might involve an overpayment question The explanation about the system upgrade running through April finally makes sense of why everything has gotten exponentially worse since the beginning of the year. It's still incredibly frustrating, but at least knowing there's an actual reason helps. Thank you to everyone who took the time to share what worked for them - Isaiah, Paolo, Max, and all the others who posted success updates. This community support is exactly what people need when dealing with an impossible bureaucratic system. I'll definitely come back and share my own update once I make progress to help keep this amazing resource current!

Thanks for all the helpful info everyone! I'm definitely going to set up automatic withholding to avoid a nasty surprise at tax time. For anyone else wondering about the math - at $504/week that's about $26,208 if you collect for a full year. Using a standard tax calculator and assuming you're single with no other major deductions, you're probably looking at around 12-22% federal tax rate plus NY state taxes. So Mateo's 25% rule seems pretty reasonable. Better safe than sorry!

Just wanted to share my experience - I've been collecting NYS unemployment for about 6 months now and initially didn't have any taxes withheld. Big mistake! When I finally did the math halfway through, I realized I was going to owe around $3,000 at tax time. I immediately called (well, tried to call) NYS Department of Labor to set up withholding but like others mentioned, getting through was nearly impossible. I ended up using that Claimyr service someone mentioned and was able to get my withholding set up within a few days. Now I have 10% federal and the 2.5% state automatically taken out. It's definitely worth the peace of mind, even if it means smaller weekly payments. Don't wait like I did - set it up from the beginning if you can!