Is the 599 training approval really backlogged to December 2021 in NY unemployment?

Yeah the 599 program is a complete disaster right now. I applied last November and didn't hear ANYTHING for 4 months. When I finally got through on the phone, they said my application was still 'in queue' whatever that means. Ended up having to drop my class because I couldn't keep paying tuition without the benefits. The whole system is broken af.

After struggling with this exact same issue (waiting forever for 599 approval), I ended up trying this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) and it actually got me through to a real person who was able to escalate my application. Talking to an agent got my benefits flowing again within a week! It was the only way I could talk to a live agent after spending days trying. Check out this video of how it works: https://youtu.be/Rdqa1gKtxuE

I'm actually part of the 599 program and got approved, but it took almost FIVE months from when I applied in October 2021 till approval in March 2022. The whole time I was stressing about money and almost quit my program too. What they don't tell you is that once you DO get approved, they'll backpay you for all those weeks you were waiting (as long as you kept certifying). So if you can somehow stick it out financially, you'll eventually get the money.

Here's what you need to know about 599 right now: 1. Yes, the backlog is real and it's horrible. My career counselor told me they lost a ton of staff during covid and never replaced them. 2. KEEP CERTIFYING EVERY WEEK even while waiting! If you get approved they'll backpay, but only for weeks you certified. 3. If you really need to speed things up, get someone on the phone who can look at your file directly. Regular calls won't help, but if you can get to a supervisor they sometimes can move your application up. 4. For getting through on the phone, I had success with claimyr.com - it's a service that waits on hold for you then calls when they get a rep. Best money I've ever spent to finally get my benefits paid. 5. Document EVERYTHING - dates you called, who you spoke with, confirmation numbers, etc. I needed this documentation later when proving I'd been trying to resolve the issue. Don't give up! The 599 program is worth it once you get through the ridiculous bureaucracy. I went from making $14/hr to a $72k job after my program.

anyone know if applying in person at a ny career center helps speed things up? I'm willing to physically go somewhere at this point 😭

The 599 program is completely overwhelmed rn. Their official wait time is "8-12 weeks" but thats total BS. Me and 4 classmates all applied around the same time (January) and only 1 of us has been approved so far (in May). The rest of us are still waiting

my 599 got approved after 3.5 months. here's what I did to speed it up: - called every single day for 2 weeks (I know, insane) - when I finally got through, I asked for a supervisor immediately - explained I was facing eviction without benefits (I actually was) - the supervisor found my application and manually flagged it - approval came 10 days later its exhausting but persistence worked for me. the phone system is designed to make you give up.

I work (used to work) at NYSDOL and can confirm the 599 backlog is catastrophic right now. The team that processes those applications went from 12 people to 3 after budget cuts, and they're getting about 4x the applications they did pre-pandemic. They're literally drowning in paperwork. Not making excuses, just explaining why it's such a mess.

Whatever you do, DO NOT STOP CERTIFYING FOR BENEFITS while waiting for 599 approval!!! I made this mistake thinking I wasn't eligible during the waiting period. When I finally got approved 4 months later, they would only backpay for the weeks I had certified. Lost out on thousands of dollars because no one told me this.

i just called about my 599 application from January and they said they're still on November 2021 applications?! How is that even possible? At this rate I'll be done with my program before they approve me 💀

After many failed calls, I tried claimyr.com and it worked! I talked to a live agent who checked my application status (submitted in December, still pending in April), and they were able to expedite it due to financial hardship. Approval came through 2 weeks later. If you're stuck in this awful backlog, get to a real person somehow - it makes all the difference.

Just wanted to give some hope - my 599 approval FINALLY came through yesterday after waiting since early December 2021. Almost 5 months of waiting but the backpay hit my account all at once. It was a huge relief. Sending good vibes to everyone still stuck in this horrible waiting game.

lmao love how NY unemployment wants us to 'learn new skills' but makes it impossible to actually survive while doing it. make it make sense 🤡

I've been on both sides of this (former DOL employee, now 599 participant). The problem is systemic. The approval process requires manual review of each application and cross-referencing with approved training providers. With the surge in applications and staff cuts, it's a perfect storm. Your best bet is getting a specific agent to champion your case internally. That's literally the only way to jump the line.