Got NY unemployment back pay but weekly benefits stopped - is this normal?
I finally got approved for NY unemployment benefits after waiting forever! They deposited all my back pay on 3/12/2025, which was a huge relief. But here's the problem - I've been certifying every week since then (about 3 weeks now), and I haven't received ANY weekly payments after that initial back pay deposit. The system shows I've certified but nothing's getting deposited. Is this normal or did something get messed up with my claim? Should I call NYSDOL or just keep waiting? Getting worried since bills are coming due...
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Brianna Schmidt
not normal. same thing happened to me and i had to call. turns out there was a flag on my account they needed to clear.
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Andrew Pinnock
•Thanks for the quick response! How long did it take you to get through to someone when you called? I've tried a couple times already but gave up after being on hold for like 45 minutes.
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Alexis Renard
This actually happened to me too! So frustrating, right? I got all my backpay and then nothing for like a month even though I was certifying every Sunday. Turns out my claim had some sort of "review flag" on it after the backpay went through.
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Andrew Pinnock
•A month?! I can't wait that long. Did you have to call to get it fixed or did it eventually sort itself out?
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Alexis Renard
•Had to call 😩 There was no way around it, the system won't automatically fix whatever is wrong.
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Camila Jordan
What you're experiencing isn't normal. After receiving back pay, your weekly benefits should continue as long as you're certifying correctly. There are a few possible issues: 1. There might be an identity verification issue that got triggered after the back pay 2. Your claim might be under review (common after large back payments) 3. There could be a technical glitch in how your certifications are being processed Check your NY.gov account messages to see if there are any notices. Also verify your payment history to confirm your certifications are showing as "processed" rather than "pending." Unfortunately, you'll likely need to contact NYSDOL directly to resolve this.
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Andrew Pinnock
•Thanks for the detailed explanation. I checked my account and my certifications are showing as "processed" but with $0 payment amounts. No messages in my inbox either. Guess I'm going to have to find a way to get through to someone on the phone...
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Tyler Lefleur
I went through something nearly identical in February! After I got my back pay (around $4,800), my weekly benefits just stopped processing. I tried calling for TWO WEEKS and couldn't get through - it was absolutely maddening. Finally I used this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that got me through to an agent in about 40 minutes. They basically call for you and then connect you when they reach a real person. Saved me hours of frustration. There's a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/Rdqa1gKtxuE Turns out there was an "earnings verification" flag on my account that got triggered by the large back pay amount. The agent removed it in like 2 minutes once I actually spoke to someone, and my payments started again the next week.
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Brianna Schmidt
•i've heard about that service but wasn't sure if it actually worked. might try it next time i need to call them.
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Andrew Pinnock
•Thank you! I'm going to check this out right now. I've already wasted so much time trying to call them directly. Did they actually fix your issue the first time you called or did you have to call multiple times?
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Madeline Blaze
NONE of this is normal!!! The NY unemployment system is COMPLETELY BROKEN and they do this ON PURPOSE to discourage people from collecting benefits they're ENTITLED TO!! I had the EXACT same issue last month - got backpay then NOTHING for 5 weeks even though I was certifying!!! I called 47 TIMES before getting through!!! The lady told me it was a "system flag" whatever that means!!! They're just making excuses!!!!!
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Max Knight
•While I understand your frustration, this is actually a fairly standard verification procedure. Large back payments often trigger automatic reviews to prevent fraud. It's not designed to discourage legitimate claims, but rather to protect the integrity of the system. The real issue is the understaffing at NYSDOL that makes resolving these flags take too long.
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Emma Swift
My cousin had his payments stop after backpay too. His landlord was threatening to evict him and everything. Super stressful situation.
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Andrew Pinnock
•Did your cousin get it resolved? What did he have to do?
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Emma Swift
•Yeah he had to talk to someone on the phone. Took a bunch of tries but he got through eventually. Something about needing to verify employment history again.
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Max Knight
This is a common issue that happens with NYSDOL claims. After a large back payment is processed, the system often places a temporary hold on subsequent payments for further verification. This is part of their fraud prevention measures but unfortunately creates hardship for legitimate claimants. You'll need to contact NYSDOL directly. When you call, ask specifically about a "payment hold following back pay disbursement." The representative will need to manually clear this flag on your account. Once resolved, your weekly payments should resume with your next certification, though you may need to wait 2-3 business days for processing. In the meantime, document all your certification confirmations and keep track of the dates. This will help if you need to provide evidence of continued certification during this gap period.
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Andrew Pinnock
•Thank you for explaining exactly what's happening! I feel like I understand the issue better now. This is so stressful though - I've been trying to call for days without getting through. I'm going to try that Claimyr service someone mentioned above. Is there anything specific I should say to the agent once I get through?
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Max Knight
•When you get through, be sure to mention: 1) The exact date you received your back pay, 2) The exact dates you've certified since then, 3) Ask specifically about a "payment hold" or "administrative review flag" on your account following the back pay. Also request that they check if there are any outstanding documents or verifications needed. Be sure to get the representative's ID number and the time/date of your call for your records.
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Alexis Renard
Hey have you checked if your benefit year expired? Sometimes people get their backpay right around when their benefit year ends and then need to file a new claim to keep getting payments.
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Andrew Pinnock
•My benefit year shouldn't be ending yet - I only filed my initial claim in January 2025. Good thought though!
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Camila Jordan
Just following up - were you able to resolve this issue? I ask because many other claimants are experiencing similar problems right now. There appears to be a systematic issue with payments following large back pay distributions in March 2025.
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Andrew Pinnock
•Yes! Finally got it resolved yesterday. Used that Claimyr service to reach someone after failing for days on my own. Turns out there was a "program integrity review" flag on my account after the back pay. The agent cleared it and processed all my missed payments while I was on the phone. They said they should arrive in 2-3 business days. Also said this is happening to lots of people because they implemented a new verification system in February that's flagging accounts that receive large back payments. Thanks everyone for your help!
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Dmitry Popov
Glad to hear you got it resolved! This is super helpful information for anyone else dealing with the same issue. It sounds like NYSDOL really needs to do a better job communicating when these "program integrity reviews" are triggered - people shouldn't have to stress out for weeks wondering if their benefits just disappeared. Thanks for updating us on what worked!
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