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!

To answer your original question more specifically - you need both the $2,600 minimum AND wages in at least 2 quarters of your base period. You can check your wage history by logging into my.ny.gov and looking at your unemployment services account. This will show exactly what quarters NYS Department of Labor has on record for you.

One thing that might help clarify your base period - it's usually the first 4 of the last 5 completed calendar quarters before you file your claim. So if you file in January 2025, your base period would typically be January 2024 through December 2024. But if you don't have enough wages in that period, you might be able to use an "alternate base period" which would be the last 4 completed quarters. The my.ny.gov portal should show you exactly which quarters they're using for your calculation once you log in.

I actually just went through this process last week and found a workaround that might help! If you're having trouble with the verification questions on my.ny.gov, try clearing your browser cache and cookies first, then use a different browser entirely. Sometimes the system gets glitchy with stored data. I had the same issue where it wouldn't accept my answers, but after switching from Chrome to Firefox and starting fresh, the verification worked perfectly. Also, make sure you're answering based on what you originally put on your unemployment application - sometimes people's answers change over time (like if you moved or changed jobs) but the system still expects your original responses. If that still doesn't work, the early morning phone call strategy others mentioned really is your best bet. I called at exactly 8:00 AM on a Tuesday and got through after just 5 minutes on hold. Good luck!

I just dealt with this issue myself about two weeks ago! If the verification questions aren't working for you online, there's actually a "forgot security answers" link that's pretty small and easy to miss - it's usually at the bottom of the verification page. That will let you reset your security questions using your email or phone number on file. Once I did that, I was able to get into the Payment Information section and update my direct deposit. The whole process took maybe 10 minutes once I found that link. If you still can't get in that way, definitely try the 8am phone call strategy - I had to do that for a different issue and it really does work better than calling during busy hours. Also, since your old account is already closed, you might want to check if NYS DOL has your current mailing address in case they need to send you a paper check while this gets sorted out. Better safe than sorry!

Update: I just checked my account this morning and another batch of backpay hit my account! Looks like everyone who said to be patient was right. There are still a few weeks missing but I'm guessing those will come in the next batch. Thanks for all the advice!

That's great news that you got another batch! I'm in a similar situation - got my first backpay installment about 6 days ago and have been anxiously checking my account every morning since. It's really reassuring to hear that yours continued to come through. How many weeks are you still waiting for? I think I have about 4-5 weeks left based on my calculations but it's hard to know for sure without the system showing a clear breakdown.

Just filed my second claim last month after working for about 6 months between claims. Super easy process, took maybe 15 minutes online. Your previous claim history doesn't affect your ability to file again as long as you worked and earned enough money.

I was in almost the exact same situation last year! My UI ran out, I worked part-time for about 7 months, then that job ended. I was able to file a new claim right away with no issues. The important thing is that your part-time work should count toward establishing a new base period, so you should definitely be eligible. When I filed my new claim, my weekly benefit amount was actually a bit higher because it included wages from both my previous full-time job and the part-time work. Don't overthink it - just go ahead and file online as soon as possible since there's usually a one-week waiting period before benefits start anyway.