Had this exact same issue last year when I switched carriers! The MFA lockout is so frustrating. One thing that helped me was having all my documents ready before calling - not just SSN and old phone number, but also your last few weeks of claim confirmations if you have them. The tech support person asked for those to verify my identity. Also, if claimyr doesn't work out, try calling right at 7:59 AM - sometimes you can get in the queue before they officially open. The system is definitely broken but you'll get through eventually!

I'm dealing with this exact same issue right now! Changed my phone number last week and completely forgot about the MFA setup until I tried to log in yesterday. Been trying to call since then but keep getting the busy signal. Really appreciate everyone sharing their experiences here - definitely going to try the claimyr service and the early morning calling strategy. It's so frustrating that there's no way to update your phone number online, especially when that's literally the thing preventing you from accessing your account. Hopefully I can get this sorted out soon, really need to certify my benefits this week! 😅

Just make sure you file your claim right away after your seasonal job ends. Don't wait thinking you need to look for work first - you can start the process immediately and then do your job search while your claim is being processed.

I'm in a similar situation - just finished my seasonal job at a resort in the Catskills. One thing I learned is that you should gather all your employment documents before filing. NYS Department of Labor will want to see your wages from all employers in your base period, not just the seasonal job. Also, if you worked for the same seasonal employer in previous years, that history can actually help establish your work pattern and eligibility. Don't let the seasonal nature of the work discourage you from applying - you earned those wages and paid into the system.

Check if you had any weeks where you certified late or had issues. sometimes they do adjustments months later. mine had a random $400 show up and it was back pay from May that finally got approved in September.

I've been dealing with NY unemployment for months and honestly their system is so unpredictable. Last month I got a random $280 deposit that turned out to be legitimate back pay from a week in April where my claim got stuck in "pending" status. The frustrating part is they never sent any notification explaining what it was for - I had to dig through my payment history to figure it out. My advice would be to screenshot everything and maybe set that money aside for a couple weeks just to be safe. If it was a mistake they'll usually catch it pretty quickly, but if it's legit back pay then you're good to go. The whole system is a mess but at least when they owe you money they eventually pay up!

This happened to my cousin - ended up being just that 1 week. But def appeal it since it wasnt your fault!

Had the EXACT same situation happen to me 2 months ago! Got the job fair notice 4 days late and they tried to cut my benefits. Here's what worked for me: 1. Take photos of EVERYTHING - the envelope, postmark, the notice itself 2. File your appeal ASAP (don't wait!) 3. In the appeal, be super clear about the timeline - when you received it vs when the event was 4. Keep a log of all your job search activities to show you're still actively looking They ended up only stopping 1 week for me and I got it back after the appeal went through (took about 3 weeks). The key is proving you got the notice late through no fault of your own. Don't stress too much - this happens way more often than it should and they usually side with you if you have documentation. Just make sure to keep certifying every week even while it's under review!

Just wanted to say thanks for asking these questions! I'm starting my claim next week and this thread has been super helpful.

I've been dealing with NYS Department of Labor for about 6 weeks now and can share what I've learned. For the pending status - mine stayed pending for almost a month before switching to approved, so don't panic yet. Make sure you're doing your weekly certifications on the same day each week if possible. One tip that helped me: when you do your job search activities, save screenshots or confirmation emails from applications as backup proof. I learned this the hard way when they asked me to verify some of my job search activities. Also, if you're doing any freelance or gig work (even just a few hours), you MUST report it - they cross-reference with other databases and will catch discrepancies.