Friendly reminder that its illegal for them to withhold your benefits once approved. Document EVERYTHING. Dates you called, who you spoke with, what they said. If you end up needing to file a complaint or get legal help, this documentation will be crucial.

Man, reading all these stories makes me realize how widespread this issue is! I'm dealing with something similar - approved for benefits in October but still waiting for my KeyBank card. The most frustrating part is when you log into the system and it shows you have money sitting there that you just can't access. I've tried calling probably 50+ times and either get disconnected or sit on hold for hours with no answer. Seeing all the different solutions people have tried gives me some hope though. Definitely going to try the direct deposit route and contacting my state rep. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences - at least we know we're not alone in this mess!

My sister went through this exact thing with her teaching job. Appeal got denied too. She ended up finding work at a private school that didn't have the same requirements. Maybe look into smaller healthcare providers or private practices?

I'm really sorry you're going through this. The whole situation with vaccine mandates and unemployment has been such a mess for so many people. From what I've been reading in these comments, it sounds like your best bet is to file that appeal ASAP since you only have 30 days. Even if the success rate is low, you've got nothing to lose at this point. The fact that you have documentation showing they didn't properly review your religious exemption could actually work in your favor - that's a procedural issue rather than just refusing the vaccine outright. I'd definitely talk to that paralegal who commented earlier about how to frame your appeal around the improper exemption process. Hang in there and keep applying for jobs in the meantime. This whole thing has been unfair to a lot of good people who just wanted to stand by their beliefs.

Higher unemployment also means more job search requirements scrutiny. They're checking job search logs more carefully when there are lots of claimants. Make sure you're documenting everything properly because they're cracking down during high-volume periods.

I'm going through the same thing right now - filed my claim 7 weeks ago and still waiting on adjudication. It's really frustrating because I keep hearing different timelines from different people. Some say it's normal during high unemployment periods, others say to be concerned if it goes past 6 weeks. Has anyone had success getting updates by calling the main number or is it better to try reaching out through the website? I'm trying to stay patient but my savings are running low and I need to know if there's anything I can do to speed up the process.

Look, if your rent is due and you're desperate, don't just wait. USE CLAIMYR. claimyr.com seriously - I was in your position and going crazy. Paid for their service and got a rep on the phone that day who fixed my claim. Sometimes you gotta spend money to get your money, ya know?

I'm in a similar situation - filed in early April, approved quickly, but been waiting 5 weeks now with everything showing "pending." The stress is unreal, especially with bills piling up. I've been reading through all these comments and it sounds like there are a few things that might help: checking for hidden messages in your online account, making sure your employer isn't contesting the claim, and trying different ways to get through to an actual person. The Claimyr service people keep mentioning sounds promising if you can afford it. Also going to try contacting my state rep like others suggested. Hang in there - seems like most people eventually get their backpay when it finally gets resolved.

Ugh the whole system is designed to screw over workers. Companies pay pennies into unemployment compared to what they save by fighting legitimate claims. Even if they lose the fight they've delayed your benefits for weeks. It's all about protecting corporate profits over helping people who lost their jobs through no fault of their own.

I went through something similar and it's so stressful! One thing that helped me was requesting a phone hearing instead of just submitting documents - it gave me a chance to tell my side of the story directly to the adjudicator. Also, if you have any coworkers who were laid off at the same time or can verify it was budget cuts, their statements could really strengthen your case. The system is definitely frustrating but don't give up - most legitimate claims do get approved eventually.