The whole system is set up to fail people. 26 weeks isn't enough time to find decent work especially in specialized fields. Meanwhile they make it nearly impossible to even talk to someone at NYS Department of Labor about your options.

Have you looked into other assistance programs while job searching? Even though UI extensions aren't available right now, you might qualify for SNAP benefits, emergency rental assistance, or job training programs through your local workforce development office. I know it's not the same as unemployment benefits, but it could help bridge the gap. Also worth checking if any local nonprofits or community organizations have emergency assistance funds for people transitioning between jobs.

I'm having this exact same issue right now! Just finished my ID.me verification on my iPhone about 10 minutes ago and I'm stuck at that "Return to the other open browser tab" message. Reading through all these comments, it's clear the manual workaround is the way to go - opening a new tab and going directly to labor.ny.gov while keeping the ID.me tab open. It's absolutely ridiculous that such a basic redirect function has been broken for so long and they haven't fixed it! This thread has been more helpful than hours of searching the official site. About to try the workaround now - really hoping it works because I can't afford to wait much longer for my benefits. Thanks everyone for sharing actual solutions! 🙏

This exact same thing happened to me about 2 weeks ago! I was so frustrated I almost threw my phone. The mobile redirect from ID.me is completely broken - you're definitely not alone in this. Here's what finally worked: After you get stuck at that "return to other browser tab" message, DON'T close that ID.me tab. Open a brand new tab in your browser, manually type labor.ny.gov into the address bar, and log back in with your NY.gov ID credentials like you normally would. The system should immediately recognize that you completed ID.me verification and let you continue. I know it sounds too simple but that's literally all you have to do - the automatic redirect just doesn't work on mobile browsers. Keep that ID.me tab open as backup until you successfully get back into the unemployment portal though! It's honestly embarrassing that NY hasn't fixed such a basic bug but at least this workaround gets you unstuck without having to start over. You're almost there! 💪

I've been dealing with the same frustration! After reading through everyone's advice here, I'm going to try a combination approach: calling right at 8 AM on a Tuesday or Wednesday (avoiding Mondays and Fridays), using the main 1-888-209-8124 number, and having my phone ready to dial at exactly 7:59:59 AM. If that doesn't work, I might look into that Claimyr service someone mentioned. It's ridiculous that we have to strategize this much just to reach our own state unemployment office, but at least this community has some solid practical tips. Will report back on how the early morning strategy works!

I've been struggling with this exact same issue! Reading through everyone's strategies here is incredibly helpful. I've been calling around 4:30 PM after work and always getting that "we are currently closed" message, so knowing they actually close at 5 PM explains why I keep missing them by just a few minutes. The 7:59:59 AM precision timing approach that Malik suggested sounds intense but honestly might be what it takes. I'm going to try the Tuesday morning 8 AM strategy with the main 1-888-209-8124 number. It's frustrating that getting basic help requires this level of tactical planning, but I really appreciate everyone sharing what actually works. This community is saving me from weeks more of failed attempts!

This entire thread has been absolutely incredible to follow! As a newcomer to this community, I'm blown away by how Maxwell's journey unfolded and how everyone came together to help troubleshoot the delays. The progression from initial confusion about the 3-week wait to discovering the "employer dispute - pending hearing" status code to final resolution really illustrates how important it is to dig deeper when payments are delayed beyond the normal timeframe. What strikes me most is how the system seems deliberately opaque - getting a monetary determination letter that makes you think approval is imminent, but then having to hunt through payment history for cryptic status codes to understand what's actually happening. Without this community's collective knowledge about checking those codes, Maxwell might still be wondering what was wrong. The documentation advice everyone shared is invaluable - creating timelines, saving all written communications, keeping coworker contacts, even screenshotting company portals. I'm definitely implementing all of these strategies proactively for my own claim. The 5-week timeline for employer disputes gives much more realistic expectations than the initial hope for quick approval after the monetary letter. Huge thanks to Maxwell for documenting the entire journey and to everyone who shared their experiences and wisdom. This thread is a perfect example of why communities like this are so essential for navigating confusing government processes!

Wow, what an amazing journey to follow from start to finish! As someone completely new to unemployment claims and this community, Maxwell's experience has been like a masterclass in navigating the system. The progression from that initial 3-week panic to systematically identifying the employer dispute issue to final resolution shows how crucial community knowledge is for these processes. What really strikes me is how the NY unemployment system seems designed to be confusing - getting that monetary determination letter creates the expectation of quick approval, but then you have to dig through payment history to find cryptic status codes to understand delays. Without this community's collective wisdom about checking those codes, so many people would just be left wondering what went wrong. The documentation strategies everyone shared throughout this thread are pure gold - creating detailed timelines, saving all written communications, keeping coworker contacts for potential witnesses, even screenshotting company portals. I'm implementing all of these proactively for my own claim that just started. The realistic 5-week timeline for employer disputes is so much more helpful than unrealistic expectations. This thread perfectly demonstrates why communities like this are essential - experienced members sharing hard-earned knowledge with newcomers facing the same confusing systems. Maxwell, thanks for documenting every step of your journey, and thanks to everyone who contributed their experiences. This should honestly be pinned as the definitive guide for handling employer dispute cases!

I'm also new to this community and just filed my unemployment claim 4 days ago! This thread has been absolutely incredible - I was feeling so overwhelmed and confused trying to navigate the my.ny.gov portal on my own. The interface is definitely not user-friendly for first-time filers like us. I just followed all the step-by-step guidance everyone shared and found my claim status (also showing "Adjudication in Progress" - seems like we're all in the same boat!). It's such a relief to read that this status is completely normal and not something to panic about. I was starting to worry I had made some mistake in my application. I've now bookmarked the direct unemployment services link, set up notifications, and made sure I'm continuing to file my weekly claims during the review process. The advice about regularly checking the Messages section is so important - I would have completely overlooked that without this thread. Thanks to everyone for sharing such detailed and helpful guidance - this community is exactly what newcomers like me need when trying to figure out this confusing system!

I'm also completely new to unemployment and just filed my claim 2 days ago! This thread has been such a lifesaver - I was getting so stressed trying to figure out the my.ny.gov portal interface. Like everyone else here, I was totally lost until I found all this step-by-step guidance. I haven't even seen my status update yet since it's so recent, but reading about everyone's "Adjudication in Progress" experiences has really prepared me for what to expect. It's so reassuring to know that this seems to be the completely normal path rather than something to worry about! I've already bookmarked the direct unemployment services link, set up notifications, and made sure I understand that I need to keep filing weekly claims even during review. The Messages section tip is huge - I would have totally missed checking that regularly without this thread. Thanks to everyone for creating such an amazing resource for newcomers like me who are trying to navigate this confusing system for the first time. It's really comforting to know so many others are going through the same learning process!