Update: I decided to try Claimyr this morning after reading the recommendations here. Got connected to an agent within an hour! The agent was actually really helpful and said my account had a "pending adjudication" flag due to an employer response that needed manual review. She cleared it right away and said my payments should process within 2-3 business days. So relieved! Thanks everyone for your suggestions.

Wow, this thread has been incredibly helpful! I'm dealing with a similar situation - been trying to reach NY unemployment for 2 weeks about delayed payments. The phone system is absolutely brutal. After reading everyone's experiences here, I'm definitely going to try the Claimyr service and also attempt calling my local career center. It's frustrating that we have to resort to third-party services just to reach our own state agencies, but if it works, it works. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences and solutions - this community is a lifesaver when dealing with these bureaucratic nightmares!

wait so if i started working in january this year would i qualify now? im so confused about these quarters

I went through something similar last year. The base period calculation is definitely confusing - I recommend checking your wage statement on the NYS Department of Labor website to see exactly what quarters and earnings they're counting. You can log into your NY.gov account and view your wage and benefit statement to see if you meet the minimum requirements. If you're close but not quite there, definitely ask about the alternative base period like Sebastián mentioned. Also, if you had any other jobs during that time period, even short-term ones, those wages might count toward your total too.

yeah layoffs definitely count, that's like the main reason unemployment exists lol. just don't mess up your weekly claims once you start getting them

Don't panic - you're definitely eligible since you were laid off due to downsizing (not misconduct). File your claim immediately at labor.ny.gov, don't wait even a day. You'll need your SSN, employer info, last day worked, and reason for separation. The weekly benefit amount is based on your earnings history. Also, start looking for work right away since you'll need to certify weekly that you're actively job searching. Sorry this happened to you, but the system is there for exactly this situation.

Just a quick follow-up tip: When you call, if you reach an agent who seems unsure about how to help with ID.me verification issues, politely ask to be transferred to a Tier 2 specialist. The frontline agents sometimes don't have the system access needed to see the verification status or to push it through the review process. The Tier 2 specialists have more tools at their disposal for these specific issues.

Any update? Did you get through to them? I'm curious if they're still having the same issues with ID.me that they had when I dealt with them.

Same thing happened to me with a restaurant closure. Turns out I had checked the wrong box during filing and it made it look like I quit instead of being laid off when the business shut down permanently. The appeal was straightforward once I provided the closure notice from my employer.

The key thing to remember is that NYS Department of Labor has very specific wording they look for when processing claims. "Position eliminated" should absolutely qualify as involuntary separation, but sometimes their automated system flags certain phrases incorrectly. I'd recommend gathering your layoff documentation (termination letter, final pay stub showing reason) and filing an appeal immediately. When you appeal, be very clear that you were "laid off due to lack of work/position elimination" rather than using terms like "restructuring" which can sometimes be misinterpreted. The appeal process usually takes 2-4 weeks, and you can request expedited processing if you're facing financial hardship. Don't let this denial discourage you - many people have to appeal their first decision.