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!

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!

Keep certifying weekly no matter what - if you miss weeks you'll lose those payments even after your claim gets approved. Also document everything in case you need to appeal later. The adjudication process is frustrating but most claims do get approved eventually if you're eligible.

I'm dealing with the same situation right now - filed 4 weeks ago and still waiting on my first payment. The uncertainty is the worst part because you can't plan anything when you don't know if or when the money will come. I've been checking my account obsessively every day hoping to see some progress. At least seeing all these comments makes me feel less alone in this process. Has anyone here actually gotten through the adjudication and received their backpay eventually?

The unemployment system is so messed up right now. I had to call like 50 times before getting someone who actually knew what they were talking about. Don't believe the "wait 10 days" line - that's what they tell everyone to get them off the phone. Keep calling until you get someone competent who can actually help.

Ugh, this is so frustrating! I'm dealing with something similar right now. After reading everyone's responses, it sounds like the "10 day wait" is basically their way of hoping you'll just give up. I've been seeing claimyr.com mentioned by multiple people here - has anyone who's NOT affiliated with that service actually tried it? I'm getting desperate enough to consider paying for help, but I want to make sure it's legit before I spend money I don't have while waiting for unemployment benefits. Also, @NeonNebula, your step-by-step advice about asking for a "claim adjustment specialist" is super helpful - I'm going to try that approach first before looking into other options.