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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.
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.
Yes, calling right at 8 AM is definitely your best bet! I had the same issue and finally got through on my fourth try calling exactly at opening time. The agent was really helpful and explained that there's been a backlog with PIN mailings lately. They were able to expedite a replacement PIN and it arrived within 5 business days. Don't worry about missing your weekly claims - they told me you can backdate them once you get access to your account. Just make sure you have all your paperwork ready when you call (Social Security number, confirmation number from when you filed, etc.) to speed up the verification process.
@KhalilStar That's really encouraging to hear! I'm definitely going to try the 8 AM strategy tomorrow. Did you have to go through the whole automated phone system or is there a direct number to reach an agent? I've been getting stuck in those endless phone menus and then it just hangs up on me when the call volume is too high.
The NYS Department of Labor system is so unnecessarily complicated with this stuff. You'd think taking a job would be straightforward but no, they have to make it confusing with all these formulas and requirements. At least you found out before starting work instead of after - I've seen people get overpayment notices because they didn't report earnings correctly.
Congrats on getting the job offer! Just want to add that you should also keep track of your hours worked each week, not just earnings. NYS Department of Labor considers you "partially unemployed" if you work less than 4 days in a week OR earn less than your weekly benefit amount. The key is being completely honest on your weekly certification - report every penny you earn and every hour you work. Also, make sure your part-time employer knows you're collecting benefits so they can provide any documentation you might need if questions come up later.
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.
Astrid Bergström
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.
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Freya Andersen
•Is that legitimate? I'm always suspicious of third-party services for government stuff.
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Astrid Bergström
•Yeah it's legit, they just help you get through the phone queue faster. You still talk directly to NYS Department of Labor agents, they don't handle any of your personal info.
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PixelPrincess
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.
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Freya Larsen
•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.
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