Been there! The waiting is the worst part but hang in there.

I went through fact-finding last year and it took about 5 weeks for my case. The NYS Department of Labor did call me once during the process to clarify some details about my separation, but mostly it was just waiting. One thing that helped me was checking my online account regularly - sometimes there would be updates in the system before I got any official notification. Also make sure you respond quickly to any requests they send you, as delays on your end can really extend the timeline. The good news is that once they make a determination, if it's in your favor, you'll get all the back payments pretty quickly.

Let me give you the full rundown on unemployment hearings cuz I just went through this whole process. These hearings are actually pretty formal but don't stress. You'll get a notice with the date/time about 2-3 weeks before. It'll probably be over the phone. The judge will swear everyone in and your employer HAS to be there. Have your evidence ready and organized. Talk clearly and stick to the facts. Don't get emotional (even tho its hard). The fact that you have phone records is HUGE. Judges love that kind of solid evidence. Timeline is usually: appeal filed -> hearing notice in 2-3 weeks -> hearing in another 2-3 weeks -> decision in 1-2 weeks. While you wait, keep filing your weekly claims! If you need to talk to someone at unemployment about your case, use claimyr.com - they'll wait on hold and connect you to a rep. Worth the $20 when ur dealing with something this important. Good luck!

Ugh this is so frustrating! I'm going through something similar right now - my employer is claiming I was a no-show but I have text messages proving I called out sick. It's crazy how they think they can just lie to unemployment and get away with it. I'm definitely going to look into that claimyr thing people are mentioning because I've been trying to get through to someone at DOL for weeks with no luck. Stay strong and keep fighting it - sounds like you have solid evidence on your side! 💪

I remember studying this in college too. The unemployment system also serves workforce development goals by connecting people to retraining programs and career services. NYS Department of Labor doesn't just pay benefits, they also help with job placement and skills training to match workers with available opportunities.

Thanks everyone for all these detailed explanations! As someone who's been navigating the system for 6 weeks now, it's really eye-opening to understand that my weekly certifications and job search requirements are part of this bigger economic framework. I had no idea that UI serves as an automatic economic stabilizer - that's fascinating that it kicks in during recessions without needing new legislation. It makes me feel like I'm participating in something more meaningful than just getting temporary help while job hunting.

After weeks of frustration, I bit the bullet and used claimyr.com last week. Got connected to an agent in about 40 minutes. They resolved my missing payments issue on the spot. It was the best money I've spent to finally get my benefits flowing again. Highly recommend if nothing else is working.

This is absolutely insane! I've been dealing with the exact same thing for over 6 weeks now. The system is completely broken and it feels like they don't even care that people are struggling to get their benefits. I'm going to try some of the suggestions mentioned here - contacting my assembly rep and maybe that callback form if I can find it. It's ridiculous that we have to jump through all these hoops just to talk to someone about benefits we're legally entitled to. Thanks everyone for sharing what's worked for you, at least now I know I'm not alone in this nightmare.

Just to follow up on this thread with official information: NYSDOL has a dedicated page about fraud attempts at https://dol.ny.gov/report-fraud. They specifically warn about these phone scams. If you've received a suspicious call: 1. Do not share any personal information 2. Report the call to NYSDOL through your online account 3. Change your NY.gov ID password if you're concerned 4. Check your claim status directly through your account Stay vigilant everyone!

I'm new to unemployment claims and this is really helpful info! I haven't gotten any suspicious calls yet but now I know what to watch out for. Quick question - if NYSDOL does legitimately need to contact me, will they always send a message through my online account first? I want to make sure I don't accidentally hang up on a real call if they ever need to reach me about something important.