You can try contacting your state representative's office. They sometimes have connections to get help with unemployment issues when you can't get through yourself. Just google your district rep and give their office a call.

Same thing happened to me back in December - zero warning, just suddenly hit zero effective days after being on UI for about 6 months. Turns out NY regular unemployment is exactly 26 weeks and that's it. No extensions available right now since the pandemic programs ended. I ended up having to scramble for temp work and food assistance. The lack of communication from NYSDOL is seriously messed up - they should at least send you a heads up when you're getting close to exhaustion. Really feel for you with rent coming up, that stress is real. Definitely try calling your local rep's office like someone mentioned above, sometimes they can at least clarify if you have any other options or help you get through to someone at DOL.

Just wanted to add that sometimes adjudication happens because there's a question about your job separation. Like if your employer contests your claim or if there's any confusion about whether you quit or were fired. NYS Department of Labor has to investigate these situations to make sure benefits go to the right people.

I went through this same process last year and it's definitely nerve-wracking! One thing that helped me was checking the NY Department of Labor website regularly for any updates or requests for additional information. Sometimes they'll ask for documents or clarification and you might miss it if you're not checking. Also, if you were laid off or fired, make sure you have any documentation from your employer (like a termination letter) ready in case they need it. The waiting is the worst part but try to stay patient - most claims do get approved eventually if you're eligible.

So I was about to throw my phone after 3 hours on hold when my neighbor told me about Claimyr. It's this service where they wait on hold for you and then call you when they get an actual human. It was the only thing that worked after weeks of trying. claimyr.com saved my sanity and got my claim fixed.

I've been dealing with this nightmare too! After reading all these comments about Claimyr, I'm definitely going to try it. Seems like multiple people here have had success with it. @Mateo - definitely try calling at exactly 8am like @Zoe suggested first, but if that doesn't work, the Claimyr thing seems legit based on all these testimonials. The fact that so many different people are vouching for it makes me think it's not a scam. Good luck with your claim!

honestly the whole unemployment tax system is confusing AF. why can't they just make it simple and tell you straight up if you need to pay or not instead of all these weird exceptions and thresholds

Just went through this exact situation with my business last month! As an LLC with employees, you're definitely required to register for unemployment insurance if you meet the wage threshold. The key thing to remember is that it's not just about number of employees - if you pay $300+ in wages in any calendar quarter, you need to register within 10 days of meeting that threshold. Don't wait like I did! I had to pay some back taxes because I thought I had more time to figure it out. The registration process itself isn't too bad once you get started, but definitely don't delay if you think you might already be over that $300 quarterly limit.

After reading through this thread, it sounds like your back payments are likely stuck with a system flag or hold. Based on my experience and what others have shared, here's what I recommend: 1. Use Claimyr or keep calling until you reach an agent 2. Specifically request a tier 2 specialist who can check for payment holds 3. Ask them to check for quarterly review flags, payment blocks, or pending certifications 4. File the formal complaint as suggested above 5. If all else fails, contact your state representative The system is frustrating but persistence usually pays off eventually. Keep documenting everything and don't give up!

I'm dealing with a similar situation right now - been waiting 5 weeks for my backpay after they said it was "approved and being processed." Reading through all these responses is both helpful and terrifying! It sounds like there are so many different things that can go wrong in their system. I'm definitely going to try that formal complaint process that Olivia mentioned since I'm already past the 21 business day guideline. Has anyone had success with contacting their local assemblyperson or state senator? I'm wondering if political pressure helps move things along faster than just dealing with the DOL directly.