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I got fed up with the phone system and used claimyr.com - had my issue resolved the same day after weeks of trying. Just sharing what worked for me - talking to an agent got my $ unlocked so fast. Their youtube explains how it works: https://youtu.be/Rdqa1gKtxuE
I went through something similar last year - had to quit due to a medical condition and waited months with $0.00 showing. The key is getting proper medical documentation that clearly states your vaccine reaction made it impossible to continue working at that job. You'll also need to show you tried to work with your employer first (like requesting accommodations or medical leave). Once I finally got through to an agent with all my paperwork ready, they were able to approve my claim and I got all the back pay. The $0.00 definitely just means it's pending review, not denied. Don't give up - medical reasons CAN qualify for unemployment in NY, but you need to advocate for yourself and get that documentation submitted properly.
Update us when you get that determination letter! The exact wording will determine your next steps. While you're waiting, compile a chronological list of every interaction you've had with both NYSDOL and your former employer including dates, times, and names. This timeline will be extremely valuable during your appeal hearing. Also, if you're struggling financially while this gets resolved, you can request an emergency hearing due to financial hardship. This can sometimes speed up the process by 2-3 weeks.
The determination letter came today - it says I was denied because "claimant voluntarily left employment without good cause." But I was fired! I never quit! Now I'm even more confused.
This changes things. Now you need to focus your appeal on proving you were terminated rather than quitting. Get a written statement from your former employer confirming you were terminated (they don't need to state the reason). This single document could resolve everything without a lengthy appeal process.
Wow, this is exactly why I always tell people to document EVERYTHING when dealing with NYSDOL - they seem to have serious communication issues between departments. The fact that your determination letter says "voluntarily left" when you were clearly terminated shows there's a major disconnect somewhere in their system. Since you now have the official reason for denial in writing, you definitely need to appeal this within 30 days. Focus your appeal on two main points: 1) You were terminated, not quit voluntarily, and 2) Your termination was due to disability discrimination which would qualify as "good cause" even if you had quit. Get that written statement from your former employer ASAP confirming you were terminated. Also, since this involves disability discrimination, make sure to mention in your appeal that you're filing a complaint with the NYS Division of Human Rights - this adds weight to your case and shows the termination wasn't legitimate. Don't give up! Cases like yours with clear documentation usually get resolved in favor of the claimant once you get in front of an actual hearing officer who can review everything properly.
The whole system is so frustrating!!! I've been waiting 18 days and still nothing. Meanwhile bills are piling up and they act like we're asking for charity instead of benefits we earned. The NYS Department of Labor needs to do better with their processing times.
I just went through this process last month and it took 9 business days from filing to getting my first payment. The key things that helped speed it up were: 1) Making sure all my employer info was accurate when I filed, 2) Responding immediately to any requests for additional documentation, and 3) filing my weekly claims right away even while waiting for approval. The "under review" status is normal - mine stayed that way until the day it suddenly switched to approved. Keep checking the portal daily and don't panic if it seems slow, the system is actually working better than it used to. Good luck!
Not sure if this helps, but when I FINALLY got through to someone after trying that Claimyr service, the agent told me they're prioritizing DocuSign emails for people who call in because there's a backlog of over 15,000 waiting to be sent automatically. So if you just wait, you might be waiting a LONG time. Just something to keep in mind if your benefits are on hold until you complete those forms.
I'm dealing with this exact same issue right now - got the text on November 3rd but still no DocuSign email. Reading through everyone's experiences here, it sounds like calling with the "online account access issues" option is the way to go. @Mei Wong thanks for sharing that tip about which phone option to choose, that's super helpful! It's honestly ridiculous that we have to jump through all these hoops just to get basic unemployment benefits, but at least now I know I'm not the only one dealing with this mess.
Vanessa Figueroa
Sometimes there are delays if they're reviewing something on your claim. Did you report any work hours or earnings this week? That can slow down processing.
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Christian Burns
•No work hours to report, just the usual job search activities. Hopefully it's just the normal processing time then.
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Ravi Patel
I've been getting mine pretty consistently on Thursdays when I certify on Tuesday. The NYS Department of Labor seems to process most payments mid-week. If you're still within that 2-3 business day window, you should be good. Just make sure you didn't miss any questions during certification that might flag your claim for review.
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