I went through something very similar last year - filed in December but they used an effective date two weeks later, which put me in a different base period and lowered my weekly benefit by about $160. What worked for me was calling the dedicated technical support line (518-457-9000) instead of the main claims line. They handle system errors and date corrections specifically. I got through on my second try and they fixed it immediately while I was on the phone. The backpay showed up in my account within 5 business days. Worth trying if the regular line isn't working for you!

I had a very similar experience with my NY unemployment claim - they used the wrong effective date which put me in a different base period and reduced my weekly benefits by about $125. After weeks of trying to get through the main phone line, I finally got it resolved by calling right at 8:00 AM on a Tuesday and staying on hold for almost 2 hours (I know, brutal). When I finally reached a representative, they were able to see the error immediately and corrected my effective date while I was on the phone. The key thing is to be very specific - tell them you need your effective date corrected to the Sunday of the week you originally filed, and ask them to recalculate your base period wages using the correct date. They should also process backpay for the weeks you were underpaid automatically once they make the correction. Don't give up! The system definitely has issues during high-volume periods, but once you reach someone who can actually help, they can usually fix it pretty quickly. The waiting is the hardest part.

The unemployment numbers are all manipulated anyway. They don't count people who gave up looking or people working part-time who want full-time work. The real unemployment rate is probably double what they report.

Same here tracking the numbers! I noticed my job search has been way harder than the unemployment rate suggests it should be. Maybe it's just my field but the competition seems fierce despite supposedly low unemployment.

This thread is super helpful! I'm dealing with a similar situation but mine is even older - I think I filed unemployment back in like 2008 or 2009. The system definitely recognizes my SSN but I have zero memory of what email I used back then (probably some old Yahoo account that doesn't exist anymore). Has anyone successfully recovered an account that old? I'm wondering if I should just bite the bullet and try the Claimyr service or if there are other options for really ancient accounts.

I went through this exact same nightmare in 2024! Had an old account from 2011 that I couldn't access. After weeks of frustration, here's what finally worked for me: The key is having ANY old information ready - even partial details help. When I finally got through to an agent, she was able to find my account using just my SSN and the fact that I remembered working at a specific company back then (even though I couldn't remember the exact dates). Pro tip: If you have any old tax returns from that time period, they might have your old address which can help with account recovery. Also, don't give up on the phone calls - I found that calling right at lunch time (around 12:30 PM) sometimes worked better than the early morning rush. The whole system is definitely outdated and frustrating, but the agents are actually pretty helpful once you get through to them. They deal with this old account recovery stuff all day long.

Just be prepared for potential delays if there are any issues with your application. Mine went into adjudication because my last employer disputed something and it took 6 weeks to resolve. The waiting is the worst part honestly.

I'm in a similar situation - just applied last week and feeling totally lost about the process! This thread is super helpful. One question though - when you file your weekly claims, do you need to have documentation ready of your job search activities right away, or is that something that comes later? I want to make sure I'm doing everything correctly from the start.

Restaurant separations can be tricky because NYS Department of Labor might need to verify if you were laid off due to business needs versus fired for cause. They also sometimes review tip reporting if your wages seem inconsistent. Keep filing your weekly claims even while pending - you'll get back payments once it's approved. The 2-3 week timeline is unfortunately pretty normal for initial claims that need review.

I went through something similar last year - my restaurant claim was pending for about 18 days before it got resolved. In my case, they were verifying my separation reason and cross-checking with my employer's report. One thing that helped was making sure I had documentation ready (like my final pay stub and any layoff notice if you got one). Also, keep doing those weekly certifications religiously even though it feels pointless right now. Once they approve it, you'll get all the back payments. The waiting is brutal but try not to panic - most restaurant claims do get approved eventually, they just take longer to process.