just had a friend go thru this, took forever but she got approved eventually. hang in there!

I'm currently going through a very similar situation! I've been on SSDI for a back injury but my doctor cleared me for desk work and light duties. When I filed my unemployment claim with NYS Department of Labor after getting laid off, I made sure to include a letter from my doctor explaining my work capacity limitations and that I'm actively seeking employment within those restrictions. The key thing I learned is to be completely upfront about your social security benefits during the initial application and provide any medical documentation that shows you can still work. My case worker told me that partial disability cases are evaluated individually, and they mainly want to verify that you're genuinely able and available for suitable work despite your limitations. It's been about 4 weeks in adjudication for me, but I've heard back from them requesting additional documentation, which I take as a positive sign that they're seriously considering my case rather than just denying it outright.

anyone else think it's crazy that in 2023 the default payment method is still these stupid debit cards instead of direct deposit? the whole system is designed to be difficult on purpose.

I went through this exact same situation about 6 months ago and it was incredibly stressful. Here's what worked for me: First, definitely call KeyBank back and use the words "financial hardship" - they have expedited replacement options they don't advertise. I got mine in 3 days instead of 2 weeks. Second, absolutely switch to direct deposit for future payments. Log into your NY.gov unemployment account and update your payment method. It takes about 1-2 payment cycles to kick in, but it's so much more reliable than these cards. For the money already on your lost card - that stays tied to the card account, so you'll still need the replacement to access it. But some people have had luck going to a KeyBank branch with ID to get emergency cash access. If you're really struggling to get through to anyone by phone (which is super common), your local state representative's office can sometimes help cut through the red tape. They have direct contacts at the unemployment office that regular people can't reach. Hang in there - the system is frustrating but there are ways to get your money. The direct deposit switch will save you from this headache in the future!

I went through something similar last year and what finally worked for me was a combination approach. First, I called my state senator's office AND assembly member's office on the same day - don't just leave messages, keep calling until you speak to a real person in constituent services. Tell them it's an urgent financial hardship. Second, I filed complaints with BOTH the Governor's office (there's an online form at ny.gov under "File a Complaint") AND the NY State Inspector General's office. The Inspector General complaint seemed to carry more weight. Third, and this was key - I wrote a formal letter (not just email) to the DOL Commissioner with copies to my elected officials stating that I was being denied due process and considering legal action. I sent it certified mail so they had to sign for it. Within 10 days of doing all three things, I got a call from a DOL supervisor who resolved my claim immediately. The key is hitting them from multiple angles at once so they can't ignore you. Don't do just one thing - do everything simultaneously to create pressure. Also keep detailed records of every contact attempt with dates and times. Good luck!

I'm dealing with a similar situation - been waiting 10 weeks for my claim to process with zero movement. Reading through all these responses, it sounds like the multi-pronged approach that @Yara Assad outlined is the way to go. I had no idea about the expedited hardship review for claims over 6 weeks or that the Inspector General's office handles DOL complaints. One question - for those who successfully got through to elected officials, did you call their local district offices or the Albany/Capitol offices? I want to make sure I'm contacting the right numbers when I start making calls tomorrow. Also, when you sent that certified letter to the DOL Commissioner, did you include specific legal language about due process violations, or just explain your situation? This thread has been incredibly helpful - feels good to know I'm not alone in this nightmare and that there are actually concrete steps I can take beyond just waiting on hold for hours every day.

Same thing happened to me! Was so stressed when I got the denial letter. Turns out I had filed too early - you have to wait until your last day of work plus any severance period ends. Also if you're getting any kind of pension or retirement payments that can disqualify you even if you're young. Really recommend reading through the whole denial letter carefully, sometimes the reason is buried in legal language at the bottom.

I went through the same thing with NYS DOL last year. The most important thing is to request your "Notice of Determination" if you haven't already - it should have more specific details than just "not meeting eligibility requirements." Also check if you filed during the right base period. Since you worked 8 months but some was part-time, you might need to look at wages from 15-18 months ago, not your recent employment. The timing of when you file matters a lot for which quarters they count. Don't give up - many denials are overturned on appeal if you have the right documentation.

UGH the NYS Department of Labor processing times are ridiculous!! They expect us to survive on nothing while they take their sweet time reviewing obvious cases. Meanwhile they're quick to send overpayment notices if you make the slightest mistake later on.

I'm going through the same thing right now - filed 12 days ago and still showing "under review." What I've learned from calling different offices is that 10 days is still within the normal range, especially if you filed correctly with all your documents. The system automatically flags certain claims for additional review even when there's nothing wrong. Try not to panic yet, but definitely keep checking your online account daily for any requests for additional info. If you hit the 3-week mark with no updates, that's when I'd start making more aggressive attempts to contact them directly.