Just checking back - were you able to get through to NYSDOL? Make sure to have your NY.gov ID and all your claim information ready when you call. Also, check if you received any DocuSign emails - sometimes they require additional documentation for the Extended Benefits program that wasn't needed for regular UI.

That's awesome @Aisha Abdullah! So glad you got it sorted out. For anyone else dealing with this issue, it sounds like the key takeaways are: 1) "Benefits exhausted" usually means your regular 26-week UI ran out, not that FPUC ended early, 2) You should qualify for Extended Benefits but the system often doesn't auto-enroll you, 3) Calling NYSDOL is necessary but can be really tough - services like Claimyr can help you actually get through, and 4) Make sure to check for any ID verification or documentation requests that might be blocking your transition to EB. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences - this thread will probably help a lot of people in the same situation!

I got disqualified for 'misconduct' even though all I did was show up 15 minutes late a few times. The NYS Department of Labor system is so broken, they'll find any excuse to deny claims. Make sure you appeal if they try to disqualify you!

For the hostile workplace situation, you'll want to gather as much documentation as possible - emails, text messages, witness statements, any HR complaints you filed, performance reviews that suddenly changed, etc. The key is showing a pattern of behavior that made continuing work unreasonable. NY does recognize "constructive dismissal" where conditions become so bad you're essentially forced to quit. Also keep in mind that you have to show you tried to resolve the situation first (like reporting to HR) before quitting, unless the situation was so severe that wasn't possible.

Update: I decided to try Claimyr this morning after reading the recommendations here. Got connected to an agent within an hour! The agent was actually really helpful and said my account had a "pending adjudication" flag due to an employer response that needed manual review. She cleared it right away and said my payments should process within 2-3 business days. So relieved! Thanks everyone for your suggestions.

Wow, this thread has been incredibly helpful! I'm dealing with a similar situation - been trying to reach NY unemployment for 2 weeks about delayed payments. The phone system is absolutely brutal. After reading everyone's experiences here, I'm definitely going to try the Claimyr service and also attempt calling my local career center. It's frustrating that we have to resort to third-party services just to reach our own state agencies, but if it works, it works. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences and solutions - this community is a lifesaver when dealing with these bureaucratic nightmares!

wait so if i started working in january this year would i qualify now? im so confused about these quarters

I went through something similar last year. The base period calculation is definitely confusing - I recommend checking your wage statement on the NYS Department of Labor website to see exactly what quarters and earnings they're counting. You can log into your NY.gov account and view your wage and benefit statement to see if you meet the minimum requirements. If you're close but not quite there, definitely ask about the alternative base period like Sebastián mentioned. Also, if you had any other jobs during that time period, even short-term ones, those wages might count toward your total too.

Just wanted to add - make sure you're documenting your job search activities during this time too. NYS Department of Labor requires proof of work search efforts and some people forget about this requirement while focused on the adjudication issue.

I went through this exact situation 3 months ago and completely understand your anxiety. "Pending adjudication" typically means they're verifying details with your employer or reviewing something in your file that requires human review rather than automated processing. Even straightforward layoffs can trigger this if there were any unusual circumstances or if their system flagged something for manual verification. The waiting is the hardest part, but try to stay patient - most cases do get resolved favorably. In the meantime, definitely keep filing your weekly claims as others mentioned, and consider reaching out to your state assemblyperson's office if it goes beyond 6 weeks. They sometimes have direct contacts at DOL who can check on case status.