FINAL UPDATE: Just wanted to let everyone know the money came through this morning! Full backdated amount including all the extra $435 payments. Literally went from $0 to over $9,000 in my account. After 3 months of stress and financial hardship, I can finally breathe again. For anyone else stuck in pending limbo: don't give up, keep certifying weekly, and definitely find a way to speak to a human agent who can see what's actually happening with your claim.

Congratulations on finally getting your benefits! Your story is so encouraging for others dealing with similar situations. $9,000 after 3 months of waiting must feel incredible. It's crazy that it took using a third-party service to get through to someone who could fix what was apparently a simple system glitch. Really shows how broken the communication is when people are left in limbo for months without any explanation. Thanks for sharing your journey and keeping everyone updated - stories like yours give hope to others still waiting!

The whole system is so confusing!! I don't understand why they make it so hard to get benefits when you really need them. Good luck with your claim.

I went through something similar last year when I was terminated from my job. The key thing to remember is that NYS Department of Labor looks at whether your actions were willful misconduct versus just poor performance or circumstances beyond your control. Transportation issues that caused tardiness might not be considered misconduct if you were making good faith efforts to get to work. When you file your claim, definitely mention the transportation challenges - it shows you weren't being deliberately negligent. Also, keep records of any documentation from your employer about the termination reason. The whole process can take a few weeks, so file as soon as possible. Don't let the "fired for cause" label discourage you from applying - many people in similar situations still qualify for benefits.

Just file the claim online through my.ny.gov and let the system work. Being fired doesn't automatically disqualify you - only if it was for gross misconduct like theft or violence. Attendance issues usually fall into a gray area that gets decided case by case.

I went through something similar last year when I was fired from my restaurant job for being late too often. The NYS Department of Labor approved my benefits because I could show that most of my tardiness was due to my second job running late (I was working two jobs to make ends meet). The key is being completely honest in your application and providing context for why the attendance issues happened. Don't just say "I was late" - explain the transportation problems, childcare issues, etc. Also, start your claim immediately even if you're unsure about eligibility. You can always appeal if they deny you initially, but you can't get backpay for weeks you didn't file. The worst thing that happens is they say no, but you won't know until you try.

File ASAP!! Even if you think they might deny you. I made the mistake of waiting because I thought I wouldn't qualify and lost out on like 3 weeks of benefits while I was overthinking it.

I went through something similar about 6 months ago - also fired for "performance issues" after 2+ years at my job. I was terrified to file but I'm so glad I did. The NYS Department of Labor approved my claim because performance issues alone usually don't qualify as misconduct. The key is being honest in your application but not over-explaining. Just state the facts: you were terminated due to performance concerns. If your employer contests it, you'll get a chance to tell your full story during the phone interview. Don't let fear stop you from filing - you've been paying into this system and deserve to use it when you need it. Good luck!

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!