Can you get back pay for unemployment benefits from NYS Department of Labor?

Yes, you should definitely be eligible for retroactive payments! When NYS Department of Labor approves a claim after adjudication, they're supposed to pay benefits back to your effective date, which is usually the week you filed. You need to call them and specifically ask about the retroactive payments. Make sure you have your confirmation number from when you originally filed.

same thing happened to me but it took like 3 weeks before they figured out the back pay thing. they said i had to keep filing weekly claims even during adjudication which i did so maybe thats why?

The technical term you want to use is 'retroactive benefits' when you speak to NYS Department of Labor. Your effective date should be the Sunday of the week you filed your initial claim, assuming you were unemployed through no fault of your own. If adjudication found in your favor, you're entitled to benefits for all eligible weeks from that effective date. However, you must have filed weekly claims during the adjudication period - if you missed any weeks, those cannot be paid retroactively.

I had major problems getting through to NYS Department of Labor about my back pay issue. Spent weeks calling and either getting busy signals or getting disconnected. Finally found this service called Claimyr that actually got me connected to a real person at claimyr.com. They have a video showing how it works at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI. Ended up getting my full retroactive payment within a week of finally talking to someone who could actually help.

This whole system is so messed up! Why should people have to jump through hoops to get money they're legally entitled to? I went through the same thing last year and it took MONTHS to get my retroactive benefits. The NYS Department of Labor acts like they're doing us a favor when it's literally our money that we paid into the system!

I went through something similar recently and here's what worked for me: call the NYS Department of Labor first thing in the morning (8am sharp) and keep trying until you get through. When you do connect, ask specifically for your "retroactive benefits calculation" and mention that your claim was approved after adjudication. Have your confirmation number ready from your original filing date. The rep told me that as long as you continued filing weekly claims during adjudication (which it sounds like you did), you should get back pay to your effective date. It took about 10 business days for the retroactive payment to show up in my account after they processed it. Don't give up - you're entitled to that money!

I'm going through the exact same situation right now! Filed in October, stuck in adjudication for almost 3 months, just got approved last week but they only started payments from the approval date. Reading through these comments is giving me hope that I can get my back pay. I've been afraid to call because I heard the wait times are horrible, but it sounds like I need to bite the bullet and try that 8am strategy. Has anyone had luck with the online messaging system, or is calling really the only way to resolve this? I'm worried about missing work to sit on hold all day, but I really need those retroactive payments to get caught up on everything.

I'm dealing with a similar back pay situation and wanted to share what I learned from my experience. After reading through all these comments, I called NYS Department of Labor yesterday using the 8am strategy and finally got through after about 45 minutes on hold. The rep was actually really helpful once I used the phrase "retroactive benefits calculation" - she immediately knew what I was asking about. She confirmed that since I kept filing my weekly claims during the entire adjudication period, I'm entitled to back pay from my original effective date. She said it would take 7-10 business days to process and gave me a reference number starting with "RBC" just like someone mentioned above. For anyone still struggling to get through, persistence really is key. Also make sure you have all your documentation ready before calling - they asked for my confirmation number from my original filing, my social security number, and the dates of my unemployment. Don't lose hope - the money you're owed is there, you just have to push to get it!

I went through this exact same situation last year and it was incredibly frustrating! After being stuck in adjudication for 10 weeks, I finally got approved but they only started benefits from the approval date. I called using that 8am strategy everyone's mentioning and it really does work - got through in about 30 minutes. The key phrase that worked for me was asking about "retroactive benefits for eligible weeks during adjudication period." The rep explained that as long as you filed every single weekly claim during adjudication (which it sounds like you did), you're absolutely entitled to back pay from your effective date. She told me it's actually a common issue and they have a specific process for it. Got my full retroactive payment as one lump sum about 8 business days later. Don't let them brush you off - you earned this money and they owe it to you. Keep calling until you get someone who knows what they're talking about!

I'm going through this exact situation right now and all these comments are giving me so much hope! I filed in early October and just got approved last week after being in adjudication limbo for nearly 4 months. Like everyone else, they only started my benefits from the approval date instead of my original filing date. I've been terrified to call because I've heard horror stories about the wait times, but reading all these success stories with the 8am strategy and using the right terminology is making me feel like I can actually get through this. I kept filing my weekly claims the entire time during adjudication, so it sounds like I should be eligible for the full back pay. The financial stress of waiting this long has been overwhelming - I'm behind on rent, utilities, everything. Has anyone who got their retroactive payment had any issues with taxes or anything like that when it comes as a lump sum? I want to make sure I'm prepared for everything when I hopefully get my back pay processed. Thank you all for sharing your experiences and giving the rest of us hope!

I just wanted to add my experience to help others going through this frustrating situation. I was stuck in adjudication for 3 months after filing in August, and when I finally got approved, they only started payments from the approval date. After reading similar advice in forums like this, I called at exactly 8am and got through after about 20 minutes on hold. The key was being prepared with all my information and using the phrase "I need help with retroactive benefits calculation for my approved claim after adjudication." The representative immediately understood and confirmed I was eligible for back pay since I had continued filing weekly claims throughout the entire adjudication period. She processed it right away and gave me a reference number. The retroactive payment showed up as one lump sum exactly 9 business days later, covering all the weeks from my original effective date. Don't give up - you ARE entitled to that money if you kept filing your weekly claims. The system is broken and slow, but the money is there waiting for you!

I'm dealing with this exact same issue right now and reading through all these experiences is giving me some hope! Filed my claim back in October, got stuck in the dreaded adjudication process for almost 4 months, and just got approved last week. Of course, they only started my benefits from the approval date instead of when I originally filed. I've been so frustrated because I kept filing my weekly claims the entire time like I was supposed to, thinking that would protect my eligibility for those weeks. It's such a relief to see that multiple people have successfully gotten their retroactive payments by calling and using the right terminology. I'm definitely going to try that 8am calling strategy tomorrow and ask specifically about "retroactive benefits calculation for my approved claim after adjudication." The financial stress of waiting this long while bills pile up has been overwhelming, but knowing that others have gotten their full back pay as a lump sum within 7-10 business days gives me hope. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences - it's exactly what people in our situation need to hear!

I just successfully got my retroactive payments last month after a similar situation! Filed in August, stuck in adjudication for 12 weeks, finally approved but only got benefits going forward initially. Here's exactly what worked for me: Called at 7:55am and got through around 8:30am. I said "I need assistance with retroactive benefits calculation for weeks during my adjudication period - my claim was approved but I haven't received back pay for eligible weeks." The rep immediately understood and pulled up my account. She confirmed that since I filed every weekly claim during adjudication (which is crucial!), I was entitled to full retroactive payment back to my effective date. She processed it right there on the call and gave me reference number RBC-followed by numbers. The entire retroactive amount hit my account as one lump sum exactly 8 business days later - it was a huge relief! Make sure you have your original confirmation number, SSN, and the exact dates you were unemployed ready when you call. Don't let them tell you it's not possible - you paid into this system and you're entitled to those benefits!