Can I still claim NY unemployment backpay from 2021 now in 2023?
I was laid off from my retail job in July 2021 and filed for unemployment immediately. I received benefits for about 3 months but then they suddenly stopped in October. I called several times but could never get through to anyone. Eventually I found a new job in December 2021 so I just gave up trying to get the missing 9 weeks of payments. Now I'm wondering if there's any way to still claim that backpay from 2021? It's about $3,870 that I never received and could really use right now with my rent going up. Has the deadline passed? Is it even worth trying to contact NY unemployment about this or am I just wasting my time? Anyone successfully get backpay for claims that are over a year old?
34 comments
Ava Martinez
Unfortunately, your probably out of luck. The deadline for backpay claims is usually within a year of the original claim date. I tried to get backpay from 2021 a few months ago and they basically told me its too late. The system is designed to make this stuff as difficult as possible 🤬
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StarSurfer
•Ugh, that's what I was afraid of. But did you actually get through to a human being on the phone? Maybe there are exceptions?
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Ava Martinez
•Yeah I actually talked to someone... took me like 4 days of calling. They said there's very few exceptions and most are related to like military service or serious medical issues with documentation.
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Miguel Castro
•this is y we need to vote differently. the unemployment system is BROKEN by design. they make it impossible to get wat is urs!!
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Zainab Abdulrahman
I had a similar issue and thought I'd never get my money. Spent weeks trying to call with no luck. Then I found this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that got me connected with an actual agent! They held my place in the phone queue and called me when an agent picked up. Talking to a real person made all the difference - I explained my situation and they processed my backpay within a week. Best money I've ever spent to get my benefits paid out. Check out this video about how it works: https://youtu.be/Rdqa1gKtxuE
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Connor Byrne
•Sounds sketchy af... does this thing actually work or just another scam trying to profit off desperate people? 🤔
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Zainab Abdulrahman
•I was skeptical too but I was desperate after trying for weeks. It seriously worked - got through to someone who actually helped. The unemployment office doesn't make it easy to talk to humans on purpose. This service just gets you past that barrier.
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Yara Elias
•wait is this for real? ive been trying to get someone on the phone for 3 weeks!!!
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Zainab Abdulrahman
•100% real. I was ready to give up on my benefits when I found it. Talking to an actual agent changed everything. The website is claimyr.com if you wanna check it out yourself.
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QuantumQuasar
•how much does it cost tho?
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Zainab Abdulrahman
•honestly whatever it costs was worth it to finally get my benefits. I was owed over $4k and was about to just give up on it. Would have been the most expensive phone call I never made lol
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Keisha Jackson
You should 100% try to get ur money. I filed for backpay from Nov 2021 in Feb 2023 and got it! But here's the key - you NEED to talk to an agent directly. The website and emails do nothing. Call right when they open at 8am and keep calling. Eventually you'll get through and they can help with backpay claims.
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Miguel Castro
From my experience, they make these arbitrary rules to discourage people from getting what they're entitled to. I had a gap in my payments from September-November 2021 and fought for 14 months to get my backpay. Finally got it in January 2023. Don't listen to people saying it's impossible. Be persistent!
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StarSurfer
•That gives me hope! How did you finally get through to them? Did you have to submit any special documentation?
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Miguel Castro
•I wrote to my state rep who helped me get in touch with someone higher up at unemployment. Also sent in all my original claim info, screenshots of attempted contacts, etc. It was a TON of work but worth it.
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Connor Byrne
•This is why the system is broken. You literally needed a politician to get your money 🤦♂️
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Paolo Moretti
There's actually a specific form for retroactive payments on the NY unemployment website. Look for "Request for Backdated Claim" form. You need to explain why you didn't certify during those weeks. Technically there's a 60-day limit but I've heard if you have good reason they can still process it. Worth a shot!
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StarSurfer
•Thank you! I'll look for that form. Do you know where exactly on the site it is? The navigation is so confusing.
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Amina Diop
•that form doesnt exist anymore. they changed the system last year. now you need to talk to someone directly for backpay issues.
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Yara Elias
Here's what you need to know about NY unemployment backpay requests in 2023: Backpay is definitely still possible, but the process has changed significantly since the pandemic. To successfully claim backpay from 2021, you need to: 1. Document EVERYTHING. Gather all evidence that you were eligible during those weeks - original claim info, any emails/communications, proof you were looking for work, etc. 2. You MUST speak with an actual claims specialist. The regular customer service people can't help with backdated claims older than 6 months. This is where most people fail because getting through to a specialist is nearly impossible. 3. You'll need to file a formal appeal for the missed weeks. This requires specific documentation explaining why you didn't receive payments or why you couldn't certify properly. 4. Be prepared to be persistent. The system is designed to make you give up. I successfully helped my sister get 11 weeks of backdated payments from 2021 just last month. The key was using claimyr.com to actually connect with a specialist who could help. Without talking to the right person, you're just wasting time. You have nothing to lose by trying - that's YOUR money that you're entitled to receive!
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StarSurfer
•This is incredibly helpful, thank you! Did your sister have to provide any special documentation for her appeal?
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Yara Elias
•Yes! She needed her original claim confirmation, proof she was job searching during those weeks (saved emails from applications), and she wrote a detailed explanation of why she couldn't get through to certify properly. The specialist had her upload all of this to her portal.
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QuantumQuasar
•I don't think step 3 is always needed. Sometimes if you get the right agent, they can just reactivate the weeks in the system without a formal appeal. Happened to my cousin last year.
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Yara Elias
•Good point! It totally depends on your specific situation and which agent you get. Some are definitely more helpful than others.
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Amina Diop
Bruh its been almost 2 yrs... they aint giving you that money. The unemployment office is laughing all the way to the bank with ur unclaimed funds. Just look at how impossible they make everything - its by design! 🤡
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QuantumQuasar
Call your state representative!!! I couldn't get my backpay for 8 months, called my assemblymember's office, and they resolved it in 3 weeks. Seriously, this is what worked for me. They have special contacts at unemployment who actually answer their calls.
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Connor Byrne
•This works sometimes. Depends on your district tho. My rep's office basically just sent a form email and nothing happened.
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QuantumQuasar
•True it can depend but ALWAYS worth trying. What worked for me was actually going IN PERSON to their local office. They took me more seriously then.
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Oliver Weber
i tried to get backpay from 2021 earlier this year and they told me no because i didnt have proper documentation. what worked for you might not work for someone else. the whole system is a mess and changes depending on who you talk to that day.
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Natasha Romanova
Just an FYI - NY unemployment has a special backpay unit now that handles all claims from previous years. You need to specifically ask to be transferred to them when you call. Regular agents will just tell you it's too late because they don't know how to process these claims.
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StarSurfer
•That's really good info! Do you know what hours they work? Same as the regular unemployment office?
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Natasha Romanova
•They're only available Mon-Thurs 9am-2pm from what I understand. And getting transferred to them is like winning the lottery 😂
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Zainab Abdulrahman
•This is where Claimyr really helped me - I was able to specify I needed the backpay department when I got connected. Made all the difference! claimyr.com saved me so much time.
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NebulaNinja
they changed the rules after covid. you used to have a year but now its only 3 months to claim backpay unless you have special circumstances. medical problems, documentation of website errors, or proof you tried to contact them during that time could help your case.
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