if ur really desperate (which sounds like u are) and have a few hours to spare, try this trick: call the spanish language line and then ask to be transferred to english services. the wait times are usually waaaaay shorter 👀

I'm dealing with something similar right now - my ID.me worked fine for months then suddenly started showing as invalid last week. After reading through all these suggestions, I think I'm going to try the assembly representative route first since that seems to have worked for multiple people here. The automated calling services like Claimyr also sound promising if the political route doesn't pan out. It's honestly insane that we have to jump through all these hoops just to access benefits we're entitled to. Hope you get it sorted out soon - the stress of not knowing when your next payment is coming is brutal.

I'm dealing with a similar situation right now - been waiting 5 weeks for my seasonal landscaping unemployment to process. What's really frustrating is that I've been doing seasonal work for 3 years and never had these kinds of delays before. Something definitely changed with their system this year. Has anyone had luck with the online chat feature? I noticed they added it recently but every time I try to use it, it says "all agents are busy" and never connects me to anyone. At this point I'm willing to try anything to get my claim moving. Also wanted to mention for anyone filing in the future - make sure you have your employer's federal tax ID number ready. I didn't have mine when I first applied and had to call my old boss to get it, which probably contributed to my delays. They use it to verify your work history automatically instead of having to wait for employer responses.

I'm going through something similar right now - worked at a waterfront restaurant that closed for the winter season in November, and I've been waiting almost 4 weeks for my first payment. Reading through all these responses has been really eye-opening about the seasonal work complications. I think I made the same mistake as Ethan - I probably didn't clearly mark my work as seasonal when I filed, and I definitely didn't know about that buried "seasonal work patterns" question that Jean Claude mentioned. That would explain why my claim is stuck in review limbo. The advice about getting a letter from your employer beforehand is brilliant - wish I had thought of that. And the tip about having the federal tax ID ready is something I'll definitely remember. I had to email my old manager to get employment verification info, which probably added to my delays. At this point I'm seriously considering trying that Claimyr service. It's frustrating that we have to pay extra just to access benefits we're entitled to, but if it actually works and gets me connected to someone who can resolve this, it might be worth it. The regular phone system is completely impossible - I've tried calling probably 20+ times and never gotten through to a human. Has anyone else noticed if certain times of day work better for getting through? I've been trying mostly afternoons but maybe I should try those early morning slots that Amara suggested.

THE WHOLE SYSTEM IS A MESS! I waited 7 weeks for my claim to get approved and when I finally got through to someone they said there was a 'computer glitch' that held up my case. Meanwhile I'm behind on rent and can barely afford groceries. NYS Department of Labor needs to get their act together!

To answer your earlier question about adjudication - it can be triggered by several things: if you were fired vs laid off, if there are discrepancies in your work history, if you had multiple employers, or if your employer contests your claim. The good news is that most claims do get approved eventually, it just takes patience unfortunately.

oh wow i need to file soon too, my last day is next friday. good to know it might take a while. do you have to wait until after your last day to file or can you do it before?

I filed my claim about 3 weeks ago and just got my first payment last week, so it was right around that 2-4 week timeframe that Clay mentioned. One thing that helped speed up my process was making sure I had all my employment documentation ready - like pay stubs and your separation notice from your employer. Also definitely set up direct deposit if you haven't already, it's faster than waiting for a check in the mail. Hang in there, I know the waiting is stressful but it does come through eventually!

Final advice: When you do get through to someone, request that they place a "fraud alert" flag on your file in their system. This will prevent any future claims from being automatically processed under your SSN without additional verification steps. Also, for future reference, you can set up an account on the NYSDOL website even if you're not currently claiming benefits - this allows you to monitor if anyone tries to file using your information again.

I went through something similar last year and it was absolutely terrifying at first. The key thing that helped me was realizing this is actually pretty common with identity theft cases. Don't panic - you have rights and there are clear steps to resolve this. A few things that helped me specifically: - When you call, ask to speak to a "Benefit Payment Control" specialist - they handle overpayment disputes - Request a "wage crossmatch report" which shows what employers reported wages under your SSN during those weeks - If you have any bank statements from March-April 2025, gather them now to prove you weren't receiving UI deposits The identity theft angle is definitely your strongest defense here. The fact that you haven't been collecting benefits makes this pretty cut and dry once you get the right person to look at your case. Hang in there - I know it feels overwhelming but once you get through to someone who can actually help, these cases usually get resolved faster than you'd expect. The system is broken but the individual workers I dealt with were actually pretty helpful once I could reach them.