i swear they do this on purpose hoping people will just give up. stay persistent! keep calling! the squeaky wheel gets the grease with these ppl 🤡

Same exact situation here! Green card holder, been stuck in "review" limbo for 2.5 months now. Called 8 times and got 8 different explanations - first it was employer verification, then document authenticity, now they're saying it's a "secondary review" that could take another month. The most frustrating part is my green card doesn't even expire until 2027! I've been authorized to work in the US for over 3 years now. This system is absolutely broken and seems designed to exhaust people into giving up. Going to try some of the suggestions here like contacting my assembly person and that specialized documentation department. Thanks for posting this - at least I know I'm not alone in this nightmare!

Same boat here! Filed two weeks ago and still waiting for my first payment. The whole system is a mess but at least we're all suffering together lol. Good luck with your claim!

One more tip - when you file online, try to do it early in the morning or late at night when fewer people are using the system. The website tends to be more stable during off-peak hours. Also, don't panic if you make a small mistake on dates or details - you can usually correct minor errors later. The most important thing is to get your claim started as soon as possible. Take screenshots of each page as you go through the process in case you need to reference something later!

I'm currently going through a furlough situation too - started last Monday. Just wanted to confirm what others have said: yes, you can definitely file for unemployment benefits in NY as a furloughed employee! I filed my claim online the day after my last work day and it was pretty straightforward. The system asks about your employment status and there's an option for "temporarily laid off" which covers furloughs. One tip that helped me - when they ask for your employer's information, make sure you have their full legal business name and FEIN number ready. You can usually find this on your pay stub or W-2. Also, don't stress too much about the job search requirement - I've been applying to a few positions each week just to meet the requirement, but you're not expected to take another job if your employer calls you back early. The benefits have been processing normally for me so far. Hang in there - this situation is stressful but the unemployment system does work for furloughed workers!

I went through a furlough last spring and want to add one more important tip - when you file your unemployment claim, make sure to keep a copy of any communication from your employer about the furlough (emails, letters, etc.). NYS Department of Labor may ask for documentation proving that you were indeed furloughed and not just laid off or fired. Also, if your employer offers any kind of partial pay or benefits during the furlough, you'll need to report that when you do your weekly certifications. Even small amounts can affect your benefit calculation. The good news is that most furlough situations are pretty clear-cut for unemployment eligibility - you're not working, not getting paid, but still technically employed. Just be honest and thorough in all your reporting and you should be fine!

One thing to keep in mind is that even though there's no limit on how many times you can file, each new claim will be based on your most recent work history and earnings. So if you've been working on and off, your benefit amount might vary between claims depending on how much you earned during each base period. Also, make sure you report any work you did between claims when you file - even part-time or temporary work counts toward meeting the requirements for a new claim.

I'm in a similar situation and this thread has been super helpful! Just wanted to add that when you file your new claim, the NYS system will automatically determine which base period gives you the highest benefit amount - either the standard base period or an alternate base period that includes more recent earnings. This can be really beneficial if you worked consistently during those 8 months between claims. Also, don't forget that you can usually start certifying for benefits the week after you file your initial claim, even if there's a waiting week. The online system at labor.ny.gov makes it pretty straightforward once you get through the initial application.

I just wanted to jump in and say how incredibly helpful this entire thread has been - reading through everyone's experiences and strategies has given me so much hope after months of feeling completely stuck with my own unemployment claim issues. For anyone else who might be reading this and feeling overwhelmed by all the different approaches, here's what I'm taking away as the most promising strategies to try in order: 1. Call the Spanish line (1-888-209-8124) early morning around 8:00-8:02am 2. If that doesn't work, immediately try the main line from a landline phone 3. Use the separate "Contact Us" form on the website (not just portal messaging) 4. Visit local career center on Tuesday/Wednesday with all documents 5. Consider Claimyr service if desperate 6. Contact state representative if all else fails The key seems to be persistence with multiple approaches rather than relying on just one method. Also making sure to check for any missed document requests in the portal and keeping detailed logs of all attempts. Diego, I really hope one of these strategies breaks through for you soon. The housing pressure must be incredibly stressful on top of everything else. This community has shown that people ARE getting through the system - it's just a matter of finding the right combination of timing, phone line, and approach. Thank you to everyone who shared their experiences and strategies - this kind of mutual support makes such a difference when dealing with broken government systems!

I've been dealing with a nearly identical situation since June - stuck claim, immediate hangups, the whole nightmare. This thread has been absolutely incredible to discover! The collective wisdom here is better than anything I've found through official channels. I wanted to add one more strategy that worked for my sister last month: she had success calling during her lunch break around 12:15pm on Wednesdays. Apparently there's sometimes a brief window when call volume drops while people are at lunch. She got through after trying this timing for about a week. Also, for anyone considering the Claimyr service that Henrietta mentioned - I was skeptical too but ended up trying it after six weeks of failed calls. It worked exactly as described and I felt comfortable with their process. They just need your phone number to connect the call, then you speak directly with the NYSDOL agent yourself. Diego, with your timeline since May and housing pressure, you absolutely need to mention "financial hardship" and "potential eviction" in the first 30 seconds of any call. They have special protocols for housing emergencies that can fast-track your case significantly. The Spanish line strategy (1-888-209-8124) seems to be the breakthrough method based on multiple success stories here. Definitely try that at 7:59-8:01am with all your documents ready. This community has given you an incredible toolkit - you're going to get through this!