I had this same exact problem when Bank of America suddenly closed my account! Here's what I learned after dealing with this mess: If you're getting stuck on the verification questions, try using the "I forgot my username" option instead of just the security questions - sometimes that pathway works better. Also, when you do get through (either online or by phone), make absolutely sure to ask them for the EXACT date your new direct deposit will start. They told me "1-2 payment cycles" but didn't specify if that meant the very next payment or the one after. Turns out my next payment was already processed to the old account and bounced back, causing a 10-day delay while they reissued it as a debit card. If I had known the timing better, I could have requested that temporary hold everyone's mentioning. Also pro tip: take a screenshot of any confirmation pages if you do manage to update it online - I didn't do this and later had to prove I had actually made the change when there was confusion about my payment method. The whole experience was super stressful but it does get resolved eventually!

I went through this exact situation about 6 months ago when my local credit union unexpectedly closed! After trying everything mentioned here, what ultimately worked was a combination approach: First, I tried the "forgot security answers" link that @276e8b10c4c3 mentioned - that got me past the verification but then the site kept timing out when I tried to save the new bank info. So I called the DOL tech support line (different from regular unemployment line) at exactly 8:00 AM and got through in about 12 minutes. The key thing I learned is to specifically ask them to walk you through updating it in your online account while you're on the phone with them - they can see what's happening on their end and help troubleshoot any website errors. This way you get the change made AND learn how to do it yourself for future reference. They also confirmed the exact payment date when the new direct deposit would start (super important!) and put a note in my file about the bank closure so there wouldn't be any confusion later. The whole call took maybe 25 minutes but saved me weeks of stress. Also definitely screenshot everything once it's working - I've had to reference those screenshots twice now for other issues. Don't give up, it's totally fixable with a little persistence!

Congrats to everyone who finally got approved! This thread has been super helpful - I'm dealing with the same issue and filed in early February. Still stuck on pending review. Going to try the UI-578E form today and also look into Claimyr. It's ridiculous that we have to jump through all these hoops just to get benefits we're entitled to, but at least there are some workarounds. Really appreciate everyone sharing what actually worked for them instead of just complaining. Fingers crossed I'll have good news to share soon too!

Just wanted to add my experience - I filed in mid-January and was stuck on pending for 7 weeks. What finally worked for me was a combination of things: submitted the UI-578E form, contacted my state assemblyman's office, AND used Claimyr to get through to an agent. The agent discovered my claim was flagged because I had worked in both NY and NJ in the past year, which triggered their multi-state verification process. She was able to clear it up immediately once we spoke. One thing I learned - don't just submit the UI-578E form and wait. Follow up with multiple approaches because sometimes these claims get stuck for really specific technical reasons that only a human can resolve. The whole process is frustrating but there ARE ways to get through it. Keep pushing and don't give up!

I'm currently in the exact same situation - my benefits ended about 6 months ago and I've been working part-time at a retail store since then, but they just cut my hours to almost nothing so I need to file again. Reading through everyone's experiences here has been incredibly helpful! It's such a relief to see so many people confirm that you can file immediately without any waiting period between claims. I was really anxious about whether working part-time would somehow complicate things, but it sounds like having those earnings actually helps establish eligibility for a new claim. The tip about making sure to select "file a new claim" instead of "reopen existing claim" is really important - I definitely would have been confused about that. Planning to gather all my pay stubs this weekend and file online early next week. Thank you to everyone who shared their experiences - this thread is going to save me so much worry and confusion!

I was in this exact situation about 3 months ago! My UI benefits ended last year, I worked part-time at a warehouse for about 10 months, then got let go when they downsized. I was really nervous about filing again because I thought there might be some kind of restriction, but it turned out to be super straightforward. I filed online as a new initial claim (definitely don't try to reopen your old one) and was approved within 5 days. The best part was that my weekly benefit amount was actually calculated using wages from both my previous full-time job AND the part-time warehouse work, so it ended up being higher than I expected. Just make sure you have all your employment info from the part-time job ready - dates, wages, reason for separation. There's absolutely no waiting period between claims as long as you have qualifying earnings, which you definitely do after working for 8 months. Don't stress about it - the system is designed to help people who are actively working between claims!

Wait are we talking about the same thing? I thought payment released meant it was already in your account? I'm so confused by all this unemployment terminology. My claim status says pending but I filed my weekly claim on Sunday like always.

Don't panic! I've been on unemployment for about 6 months now and the timing can definitely vary. If your payment was released yesterday and you have direct deposit set up, you should see it by tomorrow or Friday at the latest. Banks typically process unemployment deposits in the early morning hours, so check your account first thing when you wake up. Since you mentioned rent is due soon, you might also want to reach out to your landlord to let them know there could be a day or two delay - most are understanding about unemployment timing issues. Keep an eye on your bank account and if you don't see anything by Friday evening, then I'd start making calls to your bank.

I'm in a really similar situation - been on unemployment for about 6 weeks after getting laid off from my job in Buffalo, and I'm considering moving back home to Pennsylvania to stay with my parents while I get back on my feet. Reading through everyone's experiences here is super helpful, especially the advice about calling NYS Department of Labor BEFORE making the move. I had no idea that was so important - I was just going to update my address online and figure it out later. Does anyone know if there's a best time of day to call them to actually get through? I've tried calling a few times about other issues and could never get past the automated system. Also wondering if the process is any different for people who are moving to stay with family versus those who are moving for other reasons - do they ask about your living situation or is it more just about confirming you'll still be available for work?

I went through something similar about 18 months ago when I moved from Long Island to my cousin's place in Connecticut after my retail management job ended. The biggest thing I learned is that you absolutely MUST call NYS Department of Labor before you move - don't just update your address online first like I did. That caused a 2-week delay in my payments while they sorted everything out. When I finally got through to them (calling right at 8 AM helped), they were actually pretty reasonable about it. They just wanted confirmation that I understood I still needed to be available for work in NY if something suitable came up. For the job search requirements, I found that mixing remote positions, local CT jobs, and some NY-based remote roles worked well. The agent I spoke with said as long as I was genuinely looking for work and could reasonably get back to NY for interviews or work, I'd be fine. My weekly benefit amount stayed the same throughout the whole process. Just make sure to keep detailed records of all your job search activities - date, company, position, how you applied - because they can request that information at any time.