Just keep filing your weekly claims even while it says claim process pending, that's what they told me to do

I went through the same confusion! "Claim process pending" basically means NYS Department of Labor is doing their background checks - verifying your work history, wages, and eligibility. It's their standard review process before approving benefits. The key thing is to keep certifying weekly even while it's pending, because once approved, you'll get backpay for those weeks. Most people see it switch to "approved" within 2-4 weeks unless there's an issue that needs investigation. The waiting is nerve-wracking but it's totally normal!

Just wanted to update - I successfully reopened my claim online yesterday. The process took about 20 minutes. They did ask for detailed information about my temporary employment, so definitely have that ready. My first certification was processed without issues and payment is already pending in my account. So it definitely works!

I had a similar situation last year! You definitely want to reopen your existing claim rather than file a new one since you're still within your benefit year. When you log into your NY.gov account, look for "Unemployment Services" and then "Reopen a claim" - it should be pretty visible on the main page. Just make sure you have all your temp job details ready (start date, end date, reason for leaving, employer info) because they'll ask for everything. The good news is there's usually no waiting period for reopening, so you should get paid pretty quickly once you certify. Good luck!

dO NOT give up!! my identity was stolen for unemployment last year and it took 3 months but i got all my back payments plus interest. The system is broken but persistence pays off. document EVERYTHING!!

This exact same thing happened to my sister in Queens! Someone filed a fraudulent claim using her SSN in early 2022 while she was working full-time as a nurse. She didn't find out until she got laid off during hospital budget cuts and tried to file her own claim. The whole process was a nightmare but she eventually got it resolved. Here's what worked for her: 1. File the police report IMMEDIATELY - they need this for their investigation 2. Submit identity verification docs through their secure portal AND mail copies certified mail 3. Keep calling that fraud hotline (888-598-2077) every single day until you get through 4. Contact your local assembly member's office - they have direct contacts at DOL 5. File a complaint with the NY Attorney General's office too The most important thing is to keep certifying for benefits every week even while your case is under investigation, otherwise you'll lose those weeks permanently. My sister's case took about 10 weeks total but she got all her backpay. Don't give up - the system is overwhelmed but they will eventually get to your case. Document everything and stay persistent!

Wait I'm confused about something - if I work part time at a regular job vs doing freelance work, are the rules different? I thought there were different rules for W2 vs 1099 income?

@StarSurfer - One thing to keep in mind with freelance graphic design work is that you'll also need to set aside money for taxes since you won't have taxes withheld like with a regular job. As a freelancer, you'll be responsible for self-employment tax (15.3%) plus regular income tax on whatever you earn. So if you're making $200-300/week, consider putting aside about 25-30% for taxes. This might affect how much extra income you actually net after reporting to NYS Department of Labor and paying taxes later.

Hang in there! I know it's stressful but these delays happen more often than you'd think. Once your claim does get approved, you'll receive back pay for all the weeks you certified, so you won't lose out on any benefits. The waiting is the hardest part.

I went through something similar about 8 months ago - filed and waited 5 weeks with no updates. What finally helped was documenting everything and sending a formal inquiry through the my.ny.gov message center. I attached copies of my layoff notice and certification history. Got a response within a week saying they were waiting on wage verification from my employer. Turns out my former company was slow to respond to their requests. Once I knew what the holdup was, I was able to follow up more effectively. The whole process took 7 weeks total but I did get all my back pay. Don't give up - keep certifying and try the message center if you haven't already!