How to reopen claim for unemployment with NYS Department of Labor after gap in filing

Thanks! I found the reopen option but it's asking for a lot of details about why I stopped filing. Should I mention the temp work even though it was only for a few months?

Oh no, I definitely don't want an adjudication delay. I'll make sure to include all the employment details when I reopen it.

This is exactly what happened to me. I had to wait almost a month for them to review my temp work and decide whether to reopen my old claim or start a new one. If you can't get through to NYS Department of Labor on the phone to check status, I used a service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that helped me get connected to an actual agent. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI that shows how it works. Way better than sitting on hold for hours.

I only made about $4,800 total over the three months, so probably not enough for a new claim. I think reopening is my best option.

This is really helpful, thank you! I'm glad to hear it only took about a week for you. I was worried it might take much longer. I have all my employment details ready - exact dates, employer info, and the reason for separation. Did you have to do anything special to track the status of your reopened claim, or did they just notify you through the my.ny.gov portal when it was approved?

@f10af460c3a4 They sent me updates through the my.ny.gov message center, but I also got email notifications when there were status changes. You can check the status anytime by logging in and going to your unemployment services dashboard - it will show "Pending" until it's processed. Just make sure your contact info and email are up to date in your profile so you don't miss any important notifications. The waiting is definitely the hardest part, but sounds like you have everything ready to go!

@Lorenzo McCormick They notified me through the my.ny.gov portal - you ll'get a message in your inbox there once it s'processed. I also got an email notification that there was an update to check. Just make sure to keep logging in every few days to check for updates. The status will change from pending "to" approved "and" then you can resume your weekly certifications. One thing I forgot to mention earlier - make sure you certify for the week you became unemployed again, even while your reopen is still processing. You don t'want to miss claiming any eligible weeks!

@Lorenzo McCormick They sent me email notifications to the address linked to my my.ny.gov account whenever there were status updates. You ll'also see the progress in your unemployment dashboard - it shows whether it s'pending review, approved, or if they need additional info. I checked my account every couple days just to be safe, but the email notifications were pretty reliable. One thing to watch out for - if they need any additional documentation or have questions, respond immediately because that can add extra processing time to your claim.

@Lorenzo McCormick They notified me through the my.ny.gov portal - I got a message in my inbox when the claim was approved and I could start filing weekly claims again. I checked the portal every couple days just to see if there were any updates or if they needed additional information. The status also changed on the main unemployment page from claim "needs to be reopened to" active. Just make sure you don t'try to file a weekly claim until you get that approval notification, otherwise it might mess things up!

@Natasha Kuznetsova They mainly notify you through the my.ny.gov portal - you ll'get a message in your inbox there when the status changes. I also signed up for text notifications which helped me know right away when it was approved. Just check your account every day or two during the review period. The status will change from pending "to" approved "and" then you can start filing your weekly claims again. Make sure your direct deposit info is still current too since it s'been a while since your last claim!

@Lorenzo McCormick They mostly notify through the my.ny.gov portal, but I d'recommend checking your account every couple days for updates. You ll'get a determination notice once they review everything. Also, don t'panic if you see pending "status" for a few days - that s'totally normal while they process the reopening request. The system will automatically calculate whether reopening your existing claim or filing a new one gives you better benefits, so you don t'have to worry about making the wrong choice.

I had the same timeout issue when I reopened my claim! The my.ny.gov site can be really glitchy, especially during peak hours. Try using Chrome or Firefox instead of Safari if you're on Mac, and definitely avoid filing during busy times like Monday mornings or late afternoons. I found that early morning (around 7-8 AM) or late evening worked best. Also, make sure to save your progress frequently if the form allows it - some sections let you save as draft. If it keeps timing out, you might want to try the mobile app version which seemed more stable for me. Don't give up, those unused benefits are still there waiting for you!

This is incredibly reassuring, thank you! I was so worried about losing those benefits after the temp work situation. It's great to know that my original weekly benefit amount will stay the same and that the unused weeks are still accessible. I really appreciate the tip about saving screenshots - I'll definitely do that since others have mentioned timeout issues with the my.ny.gov site. Having all the specific details you mentioned (exact dates, employer info, wages, etc.) ready beforehand sounds like the key to making this process smooth. Thanks for taking the time to share your experience - it really helps to hear from someone who went through the exact same situation recently!

This is exactly the reassurance I needed to hear! I've been stressing about this whole situation, but knowing that others have successfully navigated the same process makes me feel much better. I really appreciate the detailed breakdown of what documents to have ready - I'm going to make sure I have everything organized before I even log into the system. The tip about filing the weekly certification immediately after approval is so valuable - I definitely would have made the same mistake of waiting for paperwork. It's also really good to know that my original benefit amount will stay the same. Thanks for sharing your experience and helping ease my anxiety about this whole process!