That's excellent news! This is exactly why it's crucial to regularly check the online messaging system. I'm glad you were able to identify and resolve the issue. Once the claim is approved, he should receive all backpay for the weeks he's been certifying since February. Make sure to continue certifying weekly while waiting for final approval.

So glad to hear this! It's amazing how often the solution is something relatively simple that just wasn't communicated well. Hoping you get that backpay soon!

this almost sounds like a scam letter tbh. did ur friend check the phone # on the letter matches the official nysdol number? there were fake unemployment letters going around a few months ago trying to get ppl to call sketchy numbers

EVERYONE AFFECTED BY THIS NEEDS TO REPORT IT TO THE STATE COMPTROLLER'S OFFICE!!! If enough of us report this predatory practice, they'll be forced to investigate. I filed a complaint last week and received confirmation they're looking into these "systematic errors" - which I think is just their excuse for trying to squeeze extra money out of desperate people. The more complaints they get, the more pressure there will be to fix it and potentially refund those bogus interest charges to people who paid them out of fear.

Just wait till you have a REAL problem with your claim and need to actually talk to someone! I spent THREE WEEKS trying to get a human on the phone when they randomly decided to

That sounds awful! I hope they get it sorted out for you soon. I'll definitely appreciate the smooth sailing while it lasts!

I think we're all missing the most important thing here - screenshot EVERYTHING when dealing with unemployment! I screenshot every page, every confirmation, every submission. I even take pictures of physical mail they send me. The system is so broken that the only way to protect yourself is having evidence of everything you did and when you did it.

Just checking back in - any updates? Did you ever receive a confirmation email or has your status changed from "Processing"?

have they actually been offered a lower salary yet or is this just a rumor? might be getting worried over nothing

One last piece of advice - if your family member does end up in this situation and needs to apply for unemployment benefits, documentation and timing are absolutely critical. Make sure they: 1. Don't formally resign - instead, they should clearly communicate in writing that they are not accepting the substantially reduced compensation offer 2. Apply for benefits immediately after the last day of work 3. Be prepared to appeal if necessary (many of these cases get denied initially but approved on appeal) 4. If they have trouble reaching a live person at the NYSDOL (which is unfortunately common), consider using a service that helps you get through the phone systems 5. Consider consulting with an employment attorney before making any final decisions, especially with 25 years of service involved Best of luck to your family member - company acquisitions are always stressful, but knowing your rights helps tremendously.

i had same problem last month. whats worked for me was calling exactly at 8:01 am (not 8:00, not 8:05) and press options 1, then 5, then 2, then 1 again when prompted. got thru to someone in like 15 mins this way. good luck!!

UPDATE: I got through!!! Used the 518-485-8589 number at exactly 7:30am and only waited 22 minutes. The agent was actually super helpful and fixed my pending payments. They said there was a "verification flag" on my account that needed to be removed. Should get all my backpay within 3 business days! Thanks everyone for your help!

My sister had this exact same issue but with her 2024 1099-G. She never bothered to get it fixed and ended up paying taxes on money she didn't keep. Don't make the same mistake! The IRS doesn't know you paid money back unless the 1099 is corrected or you specifically claim it on your tax return.

Any update on your situation? Were you able to get the corrected 1099-G?

I've been on disability for 3 years now. Just wanted to say don't get discouraged if you get denied at first. Almost everyone does. That's just how the system works unfortunately.

No lawyer for the initial application, but I did get one for the appeal. They only take payment if you win (from your backpay), so it didn't cost anything upfront.

One more thing - if you're still struggling after trying these approaches, New York State has a Claimant Advocate Office that can help with complex cases. They're specifically there to help when you're running into bureaucratic walls. Their number is (855) 528-5618. They won't be able to approve your claim directly, but they can guide you through the appeal process and sometimes expedite cases where there are clear system limitations at play.

UPDATE: Just wanted to let everyone know what worked! I tried the identity verification line with no luck, but then used Claimyr as suggested and got through to an agent in about 25 minutes. When I mentioned Code 117-N and asked for a "name field exception" the agent immediately knew what I was talking about! They took down all my information and verified my identity with my marriage certificate and social security card (I had to email photos of them). They put a note in my file and told me they would reprocess my claim. Got an approval email this morning! Thank you all so much for your help. This group literally saved me from having to go 3 months without income!

The system has been total garbage since they "upgraded" it in January 2025. My cousin lost 6 WEEKS of benefits because of their document upload problems and had to appeal! They make it IMPOSSIBLE on purpose so they can deny claims!!!

UPDATE: I finally got this resolved! After trying everything suggested here, I ended up using that Claimyr service to reach an agent (took about 30 mins). The agent explained that my account had a technical glitch where the document upload module wasn't linking properly to my dashboard. She sent me a direct link through my message center and I was able to upload everything! Apparently this is happening to a lot of people after their system update. Thanks everyone for your help - I was having panic attacks about losing my benefits!