I went through this exact same thing a few months ago! Don't panic - you can definitely get your missed week paid out. Here's what worked for me: First, try calling right at 8am when they open - that's your best shot at getting through without waiting forever. If that doesn't work, honestly consider using one of those callback services like Claimyr that others mentioned. I was skeptical at first but it saved me literally hours of hold time. When you do get through, be super polite and have a good reason ready. Internet/phone issues actually do count as "good cause" - I used that exact excuse when my certification wouldn't go through on the app. Also have your work search records ready for that missed week because they'll definitely ask. Most importantly - if the first agent says no, hang up and call back. Different agents interpret the rules differently and some are way more helpful than others. It took me 3 calls but I eventually got someone who backdated it for me. The payment showed up about 2-3 days after they fixed it in the system. You got this! Just be persistent and don't give up.

I'm dealing with this exact same situation right now - missed my certification for the first week of September and just noticed it when doing this week's claim. Reading through all these responses is giving me hope that it's fixable! Based on what everyone's saying, it sounds like the key things are: 1. Having a good reason (internet issues should work) 2. Being super polite to the agent 3. Being willing to call multiple times if the first person says no 4. Having work search records ready I'm definitely going to try the 8am calling strategy first, but if that doesn't work I'll check out this Claimyr service that so many people are recommending. It's frustrating that we have to jump through all these hoops for what should be a simple fix, but at least there's a path forward. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences - this thread is way more helpful than anything on the official DOL website!

I had trouble getting through to NYS Department of Labor to change my tax withholding settings last year. If you're having issues reaching them by phone, I found this service called Claimyr that helped me get connected to an actual agent. Check out claimyr.com - they have a demo video at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI that shows how it works. Made dealing with the phone system so much easier.

Just to add - if you didn't have taxes withheld and you're getting substantial unemployment benefits, you might want to make quarterly estimated tax payments to avoid owing a big chunk at tax time. I learned this the hard way when I was on unemployment for 6 months.

Wait so there's really no annual limit? That seems weird because I thought there was some kind of cap on total benefits you could collect in a year. Maybe I'm thinking of something else though.

Just wanted to add that when you reapply, make sure to report all your work and wages from your temporary job accurately. NYS DOL will verify this with employers anyway, so being upfront about everything helps avoid delays. Also, if you're eligible to reopen your existing claim from January, that's usually faster than filing a brand new application. You can check your benefit year end date by logging into your my.ny.gov account - it should show when your current benefit year expires.

Has anyone tried using the chat function on the website? I've had better luck with that than calling (tho it still sucks). maybe you can get an answer about EB that way

I'm in almost the exact same situation - exhausted my 26 weeks last month and have been wondering the same thing. Reading through all these responses, it's pretty clear that continuing to certify is the way to go. Even if there's only a small chance of EB being approved, the downside of not certifying seems way worse than taking 5 minutes each week to stay in the system. The job market really is brutal right now. I've been applying everywhere and getting nothing back. It's so frustrating when you're doing everything right but the opportunities just aren't there. At least if we keep certifying and documenting our job searches, we'll be ready if any extensions do get approved. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences - this thread has been super helpful in making the decision to keep going with the weekly certifications!

Just keep in mind you still have to do job searches even with partial unemployment. Some people think since they have a job they don't need to look for other work but NYS Department of Labor still requires it unless you're on standby status.

@Mia Green I was in almost the exact same situation last month! Restaurant hours got slashed due to slow business and I was panicking about rent. Filed for partial unemployment through my.ny.gov and it was honestly pretty straightforward. The weekly certification is key - just be super honest about every dollar you earn that week. NYS calculates it automatically and you'll usually get a partial payment that helps bridge the gap. Definitely worth applying since involuntary hour reduction totally qualifies you. Don't stress about "getting in trouble" - you're doing exactly what the system is designed for!