Finally got through to NY unemployment by phone - here's what happened with my pending claim

congrats!! what time did u call? been trying for 10 days straight and NEVER get anyone

Thanks for sharing this positive experience. For those still struggling to reach an agent, I recommend calling first thing in the morning (8:00-8:30am) or late afternoon (3:30-4:00pm) when call volumes tend to be lower. Also, make sure you're selecting the correct options in the phone menu - for pending claims specifically, you'll want to choose option 1, then 2 when prompted. While waiting for your determination letter, continue certifying each week as instructed. This ensures you'll receive all eligible backpay once approved. The determination letters are currently taking 10-14 days to arrive via USPS.

This gives me hope! I've been trying to reach NYSDOL for 2 weeks about my pending claim. Did they give you any idea of what was causing the delay? My claim has been pending for almost a month now and I'm getting desperate.

I've been trying to call unemployment for THREE WEEKS without getting through. This is so unfair! My rent is due next week and I have NO MONEY because my claim has been pending since January 22nd. How am I supposed to live?? I've called at least 50 times a day and can never get past the automated system. Does anyone know if there's a special trick or time of day that works better?? I'm seriously about to lose my apartment over this.

Just to add some additional context - what you experienced is actually normal procedure. When a claim is pending review, NYSDOL needs to verify your employment status before issuing a determination. The fact that they're sending your letter already is a good sign. For anyone else waiting: determination letters are legally required to be sent within 21 days of filing, though with current backlogs they sometimes take 30-35 days. The letter will explain your weekly benefit amount (WBA) and eligibility period. If approved, payment typically begins 2-3 business days after the determination is finalized in their system, which can happen before or after you receive the physical letter. Continue certifying weekly while waiting - any eligible weeks will be paid retroactively once approved.

I just got approved yesterday after waiting 7 weeks! I also couldn't get through on the phone for the longest time. What worked for me was pressing 2 for Spanish (even though I don't speak it) and then I got an English-speaking rep anyway who didn't seem to mind. The wait was shorter too. Maybe a weird loophole but it worked for me lol.

This is ridiculous!!! Why should we have to spend WEEKS calling just to talk to someone?? My taxes pay their salaries!!! I've been trying to get my issue fixed since DECEMBER and still nothing. The whole system is designed to make us give up. AND DONT GET ME STARTED on their website that crashes every sunday when everyone tries to certify!! Someone needs to sue the entire department!!

Just wanted to share - I had a similar experience last month but was stuck in the endless calling cycle for over a month. What finally worked for me was using Claimyr (claimyr.com). They have a service that basically gets you connected with an unemployment agent without the endless redial nightmare. Saved me so much time and stress. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/Rdqa1gKtxuE Once I actually spoke with someone, they fixed my pending claim status in about 10 minutes. Turns out it was just waiting for manual review because of a small discrepancy in my employment dates.

One important thing to remember: when you do finally reach an agent, make sure to get their ID number or name. This is helpful if you need to follow up later and can reference the previous conversation. Also, if they tell you they're sending a determination letter, note the exact timeframe they give you. If you don't receive it within that window plus 3-5 business days, you should call back. Also, for anyone waiting on payments - once your claim is approved, payments are typically processed on the Tuesday or Wednesday following your weekly certification. Direct deposits usually appear 2-3 business days after processing, while debit cards may take 5-7 business days to receive funds.

My sister had the same situation last year where she couldn't get anyone on the phone for weeks. Eventually what worked for her was calling right at 7:58am (a couple minutes before they officially open). Apparently their phone system sometimes connects calls slightly early, so she got in before the massive 8:00am rush. Might be worth trying if anyone is still struggling!