anyone else notice they're way slower processing claims this year compared to last year?? my claim in 2024 was way faster

Just wanted to update everyone - I FINALLY got through to someone at NYSDOL! I used the Claimyr service mentioned above and got connected to an agent in about 20 minutes (after trying for weeks on my own with no luck). Turns out my claim had a random "additional verification needed" flag on it, even though I'd already done ID.me. The agent was able to clear it immediately and said I should see all my back payments within 3-5 business days. She couldn't explain why it got flagged or why nobody contacted me about it. Thank you all for your help and suggestions! For anyone else stuck in ID.me verification limbo - definitely try to speak with an actual person rather than just waiting. The system doesn't seem to resolve these issues automatically.

To summarize for anyone finding this thread later: 1. If your BYE date passes but you can still certify for benefits, it means you're on an automatic extension 2. The system will notify you when you actually need to file a new claim 3. This is a change implemented in January 2025 4. Make sure to check your online inbox for notifications 5. If you're uncertain, calling NYSDOL is still the best option The important thing is to keep certifying weekly as long as the system allows you to.

I went through this exact same situation back in December! My BYE date passed and I panicked when I couldn't find the "file new claim" button anywhere. Turns out the system had automatically extended my benefits and I just kept certifying as normal. What really helped me was checking the "Payment History" section - it showed my benefit year had been extended with new dates. The key is as long as you can still certify weekly, you're good to go. Don't stress too much about it, the NY system actually handles this pretty smoothly now compared to the chaos it used to be!

my company went through similar situation last year. had to lay off 12 people and our rate went from like 1.2% to 3.8%. it's not immediate but it definitely hits your bottom line the following year. make sure you're putting money aside for the increase

Just went through this exact scenario with my small business last month. One thing to keep in mind is that NYS also looks at your "benefit ratio" - the total benefits paid out to your former employees divided by your total taxable payroll over the past 3 years. So even if you've had low turnover historically, 6 claims at once will definitely move the needle. I'd recommend reviewing your separation documentation carefully - if any of those layoffs involved performance issues or policy violations, you might want to consider whether they should have been terminations for cause instead. Also, start setting aside funds now because that rate increase will hit your 2026 tax bills pretty hard.

just want to add that even if you qualify for benefits after quitting, you still have to meet all the other requirements like doing job searches and being available for work. don't forget about that part!

I went through this exact situation about 8 months ago - quit due to a hostile manager who was creating an unbearable work environment. The key thing I learned is that NYS Department of Labor takes "constructive discharge" seriously if you can prove it. Document EVERYTHING - not just the obvious stuff like inappropriate emails or comments, but also things like sudden schedule changes designed to make you quit, being excluded from meetings, having your responsibilities stripped away, etc. I kept a daily log of incidents with dates and times. It really helped my case during the adjudication interview. The whole process was stressful but I did get approved eventually. Start your claim as soon as possible even while you're gathering documentation - the sooner you file, the sooner your potential benefit period starts.

Anyone else notice how they're quick to take our money for overpayments but slow af to pay out benefits? 🙄 Make it make sense.

I went through something similar last year! In my case, they automatically deducted from my weekly benefits until the overpayment was cleared - took about 6 weeks total. The key thing is to make sure you keep certifying each week even while they're deducting, otherwise you might miss out on benefits once the overpayment is resolved. Also, definitely check your online account regularly for any notices or updates. Sometimes they send important info there that doesn't come by mail. Hope this helps and that you get it sorted out soon! 🤞