have u tried calling the automated phone system? sometimes it has more updated info than the website

@OP - any updates? Did your backpay come through yet?

I'm going through the same thing right now!! Filed 2 weeks ago and still pending. It's so stressful not knowing when the money will come. Did you get laid off or were you fired? I'm worried because I was technically terminated but it was just because our whole department got eliminated.

I went through this process about 6 months ago and it took exactly 18 days from filing to receiving my first payment. The key thing that helped speed mine up was making sure I had all my employment documentation ready - like pay stubs from the last 6 weeks and my termination letter. Also, definitely start filing your weekly claims now even though your initial claim is pending! I made that mistake and it delayed my payments by an extra week. The online system updates usually happen overnight, so check your status first thing in the morning rather than throughout the day.

After waiting 5 weeks for this mysterious interview, I finally broke down and paid for claimyr.com to get me through to an agent. The agent I spoke with actually completed my interview right there on the phone and approved my claim! Apparently sometimes the regular agents can do the interview if they have the authority. Worth a try instead of waiting for a call that might never come.

I'm going through this exact same situation right now! Filed 2 weeks ago and got the dreaded "pending" status. The uncertainty is killing me - I have bills piling up and no idea when this interview will happen. Reading everyone's experiences here is both helpful and terrifying at the same time. Sounds like it could be anywhere from days to months 😰 Has anyone had luck with calling at specific times of day? I've been trying to get through in the mornings but the hold times are brutal. Also wondering if there are any other documents I should be gathering while I wait for this interview call?

The WORST part is you can't even talk to someone about it because you can't get past their stupid phone system 😡 I've been dealing with NY unemployment for years and it never gets better. The system is designed to make you give up.

I'm dealing with the exact same issue! Been locked out since Tuesday as well. The frustrating thing is I have my weekly certification due tomorrow and I can't even access it. Has anyone tried contacting their local assembly member or senator's office? Sometimes they can help cut through the bureaucracy when state agencies aren't responding. I'm about to try that route since I can't afford to wait weeks for this to get resolved.

Based on everything you've shared, I believe your claim is stuck in what's called 'adjudication limbo' - where it requires manual review but hasn't been assigned to an adjudicator. Multiple employers plus the holiday backlog are likely culprits. The good news is that once you get through to someone, these issues can often be resolved quickly. Please come back and let us know what works for you - it helps others in similar situations.

I'm dealing with a similar situation right now - applied in December and still waiting! It's so frustrating how broken the system is. From reading all these responses, it sounds like your best bet is definitely talking to a real person. I'm going to try the assembly member route too after seeing how many people recommended it. The fact that you've been certifying every week is smart - at least you'll get that backpay when this gets sorted out. Keep us posted on what works!