Check with 211 by dialing 2-1-1 for local emergency assistance programs. Many areas have rapid rehousing programs specifically for people experiencing unemployment-related housing crises. Some programs can provide temporary rental assistance while you wait for your NYS Department of Labor benefits to start. Also contact local homeless prevention services - they often have emergency funds for situations exactly like yours.

same boat here, been waiting 6 weeks for my claim to get approved and behind on everything. landlord is threatening eviction too. this whole thing is a nightmare

anyone else's anxiety go 📈📈📈 when trying to explain your situation in 30 seconds before they hang up?

I feel your pain! Been in the same boat for weeks. What finally worked for me was calling the technical support line (518-457-9000) instead of the main claims line. They can sometimes transfer you directly to a claims specialist without the usual wait. Also try calling right before lunch (11:30am) - found the hold times are shorter then. Don't give up, you'll get through eventually! 💪

Just curious - are you sure you're reporting everything correctly on your weekly claims? Sometimes employers get suspicious if they hear through the grapevine that someone might be working under the table or something. Not saying you are, just wondering if there's something that triggered their interest.

Your former employer is likely just trying to intimidate you. In New York, unemployment benefit records are confidential and protected under state privacy laws. They cannot access your individual payment history, weekly certifications, or any personal details about your claim through public records requests or FOIL. The only information employers typically receive is notification that a claim was filed against their account (which affects their unemployment insurance tax rate) and the opportunity to contest the claim if they believe it was filed inappropriately. If they continue to harass you about this, I'd recommend documenting their communications and potentially reporting the harassment to the Department of Labor. Stay confident - you're protected by privacy laws here.

Thank you everyone for all this advice. I've made a to-do list from your suggestions: 1. Contact DOL about extensions (using Claimyr to get through) 2. Visit the career center for training options 3. Call 211 for food resources 4. Check out community fridges and that Too Good To Go app 5. Look into part-time retail/grocery work 6. Expand my job search to include lower positions 7. Research rent assistance programs Feel a little less hopeless now knowing there are options I haven't tried yet. Will update if I have any luck.

I went through this exact situation last year and I know how scary it feels. One thing that really helped me was applying to temporary staffing agencies - companies like Kelly Services, Manpower, and Robert Half. They often have immediate placements and some temp jobs can turn permanent. The pay isn't always great but it's income while you keep looking for something better. Also, if you haven't already, make sure you're signed up for job alerts on Indeed, LinkedIn, and your state's job board. Set them to email you daily so you can apply to new postings as soon as they go up. The early applicants often get the most attention. For food, check if your area has a Sikh temple (Gurdwara) - they serve free meals to anyone regardless of religion or background. It's called langar and it's an amazing community resource that not many people know about. Hang in there - this job market is brutal but you will get through it. The fact that you're getting interviews means your resume is working, so something will click soon.

UPDATE: I tried using Chrome instead of Safari and clearing my cache like someone suggested, but still got the same error. I ended up using the Claimyr service that was mentioned and got through to an agent in about 15 minutes. The agent confirmed there's a known issue with the direct deposit verification system affecting some banks. They took my information and set up the direct deposit manually on their end. Problem solved! Thanks everyone for your help!

Glad you got it sorted out! This is really helpful to know that there's actually a confirmed system issue on NYSDOL's end. I've been dealing with the same problem for the past week and was starting to think I was going crazy. It's frustrating that they haven't posted any notice about this known issue on their website - would save people a lot of time and stress. Thanks for sharing the update and the solution that worked!