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THE WHOLE PIN SYSTEM IS RIDICULOUS!!! Why can't we just use the same login as my.ny.gov for everything? I've been waiting 3 weeks for my PIN and my bills are piling up. The NYS Department of Labor needs to modernize their systems instead of making us jump through all these hoops.
I'm going through the exact same thing right now! Filed my claim 3 weeks ago and still no PIN in the mail. I've been checking my mailbox religiously every day. The worst part is not being able to file my weekly claims while waiting - I'm afraid I'm going to lose out on benefits because of this delay. Has anyone had success getting through to the NYS Department of Labor early in the morning? I'm thinking of trying to call right when they open at 8 AM.
If you're having trouble getting through to NYS Department of Labor to check your eligibility, I recently used this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that helps you actually reach a live agent. They have a demo video at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI showing how it works. Was super helpful when I needed to verify my wage history before filing my claim.
Just make sure if layoffs do happen that it's actually a layoff and not a firing for cause, because that makes a huge difference for eligibility. Even if you have enough wages, you can still be disqualified if you're terminated for misconduct.
That's a really good point I hadn't thought about! @Freya Andersen since you mentioned your manager talked about potential layoffs, it sounds like it would be a legitimate layoff due to business reasons rather than anything performance-related, which should be fine for unemployment eligibility. Just document any conversations about the layoffs in case you need to reference them later.
Make sure you're keeping detailed records of all your job search activities. Even if regular benefits end, having good documentation might help if any new programs become available. Also, some people don't realize they might qualify for other assistance programs through the state.
I'm in a similar situation and just found out that you can check your exact benefit year end date by logging into your NY.gov account and looking under "Payment History" - it shows when your claim was established and the benefit year end date. Mine runs out next month too and I'm stressed about it. From what I've read, there aren't any federal extensions right now like there were during COVID, so we're pretty much on our own after 26 weeks unless the unemployment rate spikes dramatically.
Since you've been waiting so long, make sure you're documenting everything. Keep a log of all your call attempts (dates/times), take screenshots of your pending claim status, and save any communications. If there's eventually a favorable resolution, you should be entitled to all backdated payments, but having documentation helps if there's any dispute about how long you've been trying to resolve this. Also, when you do finally reach someone, get their employee ID or first name and last initial for your records.
Just checking back - any progress with your claim? Did you try any of the suggested methods to reach a representative?
UPDATE: I actually got through! I tried the 8am call method but still couldn't get through. Then I used that Claimyr service someone mentioned above, and it worked! Got connected to an agent in about 45 minutes. Turns out there was an issue with my identity verification documents from when I first filed. The agent was able to clear it right there on the phone, and she said I should receive all my backpay within 3-5 business days. I'm cautiously optimistic! Thank you all for your help and suggestions during this stressful time.
That's fantastic news! So glad you finally got through and got it resolved. Identity verification issues are super common but they never tell you that's what's holding things up. Hope your backpay comes through quickly - 11 weeks is a lot of money to catch up on. Thanks for updating us, gives hope to others dealing with the same nightmare!
Liam Duke
26 weeks is NOTHING when you're actually trying to find decent work in this economy!! I burned through mine so fast and now I'm stuck with nothing. The whole system is ridiculous - they expect you to take any minimum wage job just to get off benefits.
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Manny Lark
•I feel you on this. It's really stressful watching those weeks count down when good jobs are so hard to find.
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Dominic Green
I'm in a similar situation - been on unemployment for about 18 weeks now and getting anxious about the time limit. One thing I learned is that you should also check if you qualify for any job training programs through NYS Department of Labor while you still have benefits. Some of them can extend your eligibility or provide additional support. Also, if your benefit year ends and you haven't used all 26 weeks due to gaps in claiming, you might be able to establish a new claim if you've earned enough wages since your last claim started.
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