How to solve unemployment claim issues with NYS Department of Labor - need guidance
I've been dealing with unemployment claim problems for the past month and I'm at my wit's end trying to figure out how to solve this mess. My claim got stuck in adjudication after I reported some part-time work from December, and now I can't get anyone at NYS Department of Labor on the phone to explain what's happening. I've tried calling dozens of times but either get disconnected or told the wait is over 2 hours. My weekly claims are pending and I'm behind on rent. Has anyone found a reliable way to solve unemployment claim issues like this? I need to talk to someone who can actually help me understand what documents they need or what I did wrong.
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Amina Bah
The adjudication process can take 4-6 weeks depending on the complexity of your case. When you reported part-time work, NYS Department of Labor needs to verify your earnings and determine if you're still eligible for benefits. Make sure you're continuing to file your weekly claims even while it's pending - this preserves your place in line for payments once the adjudication is resolved.
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Paolo Marino
•Should I keep certifying every week even though nothing is getting paid out? I'm worried I'm doing something wrong.
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Oliver Becker
I had the exact same problem last year with part-time work reporting. What solved it for me was getting through to an actual NYS Department of Labor representative who could see my file. I ended up using a service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that helped me get connected to an agent. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI that shows how it works. Cost me way less than the rent I was about to miss, and the agent was able to tell me exactly what documentation I needed to upload.
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Natasha Petrova
•How long did it take once you got through to someone?
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Oliver Becker
•The actual call took about 15 minutes once I got connected. The agent looked at my account and told me I needed to submit my pay stubs through the online portal, which I had no idea about.
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Javier Hernandez
ugh the NYS Department of Labor phone system is THE WORST. I've been trying to call for three weeks about my disqualification and I swear they just hang up on people when the call volume gets too high. It's like they don't want us to get help!
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Emma Davis
•Same here, so frustrating
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LunarLegend
Wait, are you sure you reported the part-time work correctly? You have to report gross earnings, not net, and it has to be for the week you actually worked, not when you got paid. A lot of people mess this up and it triggers an adjudication review. Also check your online account to see if there are any questionnaires you need to complete.
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Paolo Marino
•I think I reported it correctly but now I'm second-guessing everything. Where do I find these questionnaires you mentioned?
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Isabella Santos
•@Paolo Marino When you log into your NY.gov unemployment account, look for a section called Correspondence "or" To "Do List -" that s'where any questionnaires or forms you need to complete will show up. They re'usually labeled something like Fact "Finding Questionnaire or" Work "Search Requirements. If" you see anything there, complete it ASAP as it could be holding up your claim. Also double-check that you reported the gross amount before (taxes for) the actual week you worked, not the week you got paid.
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Jamal Harris
I went through something similar last year and what finally worked was contacting my local assembly member's office. They have staff who specifically help with NYS Department of Labor issues and can escalate your case. I called my representative's district office, explained the situation, and they had someone from their constituent services team reach out to the Department of Labor on my behalf. Got a call back within 3 business days with my issue resolved. It's worth trying if the regular phone lines aren't working - these offices exist to help with exactly these kinds of bureaucratic problems.
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Jamal Brown
•That's really smart advice about contacting the assembly member's office! I never would have thought of that approach. How do you find out who your local representative is and get their office contact info? Is there a specific way you're supposed to explain the situation to their staff, or do they already know how to handle unemployment issues?
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Lauren Zeb
Another option that worked for me was reaching out through the NY.gov website's "Contact Us" form rather than calling. I submitted a detailed message explaining my adjudication issue with my claim number and got an email response within 5 business days with specific instructions on what documents to upload. Sometimes the written route gets better results than the phone system. Also, if you have a local One-Stop Career Center (American Job Center), they often have staff who can help you navigate the NYS Department of Labor system and may even be able to make calls on your behalf. Worth checking if there's one near you!
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Natalie Khan
•@Lauren Zeb That s'really helpful advice about using the written contact form! I ve'been so focused on trying to call that I didn t'even think about submitting through the website. Do you remember roughly how detailed you had to be in your message? I want to make sure I include everything they need without writing a novel. Also, when you mention uploading documents - is that something you can do directly through the NY.gov unemployment portal, or did they send you a separate link? I m'definitely going to try this approach since the phone situation has been impossible.
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