Missed certifying for NY unemployment this week - can I still get paid?

Don't worry too much! NY unemployment allows you to claim missed weeks, but you'll need to follow their specific process. You can certify for previous weeks by selecting the "Claim weekly benefits" option, then choose "Claim benefits for previous weeks" when prompted. However, you might need to call and speak with an agent if the system doesn't let you do this online. Just explain you forgot to certify, and they can usually help you.

same thing happened 2 me last month... no big deal just call them they'll fix it

Im pretty sure ur OK!!! The system lets you go back and claim previous weeks u missed, but ONLY IF its within 7 days of when u were supposed to do it!! So hurry up and try to do it online TODAY!!! After that u gotta call and its a NIGHTMARE to get through on phone these days!!!

I had a similar issue back in February when I completely forgot to certify. The online system wouldn't let me backdate my claim, so I had to call. Spent literally THREE DAYS trying to get through to someone. The lines are constantly busy, and when I finally got in the queue, it disconnected me after 2 hours of waiting! I ended up using this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that holds your place in line and calls you when an agent is available. Totally worth it because I got through in about 40 minutes. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/Rdqa1gKtxuE - saved me days of frustration and I got my missed payment released within 24 hours after talking to someone.

The NY DOL has specific rules about missed certifications. You're allowed to certify for previous weeks, but there's a process to follow: 1. First try doing it online through your NY.gov account 2. If that doesn't work, you'll need to call 888-209-8124 3. You may need to request a "docent review" if it's been more than a week Most importantly, don't wait! The longer you wait, the harder it becomes to get those benefits retroactively. Technically you have until Saturday at midnight of the following week to certify, but it's always better to resolve these issues immediately. Also, set a weekly reminder on your phone for certifications so this doesn't happen again. The DOL is strict about the certification process because it confirms you were actually unemployed during that period.

I HATE our unemployment system!!! It's designed to trip people up I swear. One little mistake and they make it impossible to fix without jumping through a million hoops. Last year I missed certifying because I was in the HOSPITAL with pneumonia and they still made me wait 3 weeks to get that money. Called like 50 times before getting through. System is broken!!!!!

guys you can also use the automated phone system to certify sometimes if the website isn't working! 1-888-581-5812 i think

Just to update everyone - the rules changed slightly in January 2025. Now you have up to 14 days to claim a missed week before you need to speak with an agent. You should be able to certify online until Sunday night, but after that you'll definitely need to call. The automated phone system unfortunately doesn't allow for missed week certifications anymore.

UPDATE: I was able to get through to someone at NYSDOL! I called right when they opened this morning and only waited about 45 minutes. The agent was super nice and helped me certify for last week. She said the payment should arrive in 2-3 business days. Thanks everyone for all your help and advice!

wow u got lucky! usually takes me like 4 hours minimum to get someone on the phone

Just a tip for the future - I set TWO different alarms on my phone for certification day. One in the morning and one at night in case I forget. Haven't missed a week since I started doing that!!

So glad you got it sorted out @Keisha Johnson! This thread is super helpful for anyone dealing with missed certifications. I've been collecting unemployment for about 6 months now and learned the hard way that it's worth calling early in the morning right when they open - the wait times are usually much shorter then. Also wanted to mention that if anyone else is having trouble getting through on the phone, try calling on Tuesday or Wednesday instead of Monday - Mondays are apparently their busiest day since everyone tries to resolve weekend issues then. The agents are usually pretty understanding about honest mistakes like forgetting to certify, especially if it's your first time missing it.

This is such a helpful thread! I just started collecting unemployment in February and had no idea about the 14-day rule or that calling early in the morning makes such a difference. @Keisha Johnson I'm so glad you got it resolved quickly! I've been super paranoid about missing my certification days, but it's reassuring to know that if I ever mess up, there are ways to fix it. Definitely going to set up those multiple reminders that @Amina Sy mentioned - better safe than sorry! Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences and tips.

Just wanted to add another tip for anyone who might find this thread in the future - if you're having trouble getting through on the phone lines, try calling during lunch hours (around 12-2pm). I know it sounds counterintuitive, but I've noticed the wait times are sometimes shorter then because fewer people think to call during typical lunch break times. Also, make sure you have all your information ready before you call - your social security number, the weeks you're trying to claim, and a clear explanation of what happened. The agents can process things much faster when you're prepared. Really glad this community exists to help each other navigate this confusing system!

This thread has been incredibly helpful! As someone who's been on unemployment for about 8 months now, I can confirm that calling right when they open (8am) really does make a huge difference in wait times. I've had to call a few times for various issues and learned that having a backup plan is crucial. One thing I'd add is to make sure you keep detailed records of when you certify each week - I use a simple notebook where I write down the date and time I certified, plus any confirmation numbers. It's saved me twice when there were system glitches that made it look like I hadn't certified when I actually had. Also, for anyone worried about this happening again, you can sign up for email reminders through your NY.gov account. They'll send you a notification every Sunday morning to remind you to certify. Really glad everything worked out for you @Keisha Johnson!

This whole thread is a goldmine of information! I've been collecting unemployment since December 2024 and somehow missed seeing the email reminder option in my NY.gov account settings. Just went and enabled it - thank you @Zara Ahmed for mentioning that! I also love the idea of keeping a certification log. I'm one of those people who gets anxious about whether things actually went through properly, so having written proof would definitely give me peace of mind. @Keisha Johnson I'm so glad you were able to get everything resolved quickly! It's stories like yours that remind me how important this community is for sharing real experiences and practical solutions. The NY unemployment system can be so intimidating to navigate alone, but having all these tips and knowing that the agents are generally understanding about honest mistakes makes it feel much more manageable.

Just wanted to share my experience from last month when I missed my certification too! I was traveling for a family emergency and completely forgot about it. Like others mentioned, I tried the online system first but it wouldn't let me backdate. Called at exactly 8am on a Wednesday (great tip about avoiding Mondays!) and got through in about an hour. The agent was super understanding and processed my missed week immediately. One thing that really helped was having my travel confirmation ready to explain why I missed it - they seemed to appreciate having a clear reason. Also wanted to echo what others said about setting up multiple reminders. I now have a recurring Google Calendar event every Sunday at 8am AND 6pm, plus the email notifications from NY.gov. Haven't missed a week since! This thread is such a great resource for anyone dealing with this situation.

As someone who just went through the whole unemployment application process in NY, this thread is incredibly valuable! I'm still in my first month of collecting benefits and was terrified about potentially missing a certification week. Reading everyone's experiences and tips has been so reassuring - especially knowing that the agents are understanding about honest mistakes and that there are multiple backup systems to prevent this from happening. I'm definitely implementing the multi-alarm system that several people mentioned, plus I just signed up for those email reminders through NY.gov that @Zara Ahmed and others recommended. The tip about calling right at 8am or during lunch hours is gold too. It's amazing how much practical knowledge gets shared in communities like this that you just can't find on the official websites. @Keisha Johnson so glad everything worked out for you! Thanks to everyone who contributed - this thread should honestly be pinned as a resource for anyone dealing with missed certifications.

This has become such an amazing resource thread! I've been on NY unemployment since November 2024 and wish I had found advice like this earlier. Had a close call myself a few weeks ago when I almost forgot to certify - was rushing out for a job interview and it completely slipped my mind until 11pm Sunday night. Luckily got it done just in time! But reading all these experiences has made me realize how important it is to have backup systems in place. Just set up the email notifications through NY.gov (can't believe I didn't know about those) and created recurring reminders in my phone. The tips about calling early morning or during lunch hours are brilliant too - definitely keeping those in mind just in case. @Keisha Johnson so happy you got it resolved quickly! This whole thread is proof that this community really looks out for each other. Thanks everyone for sharing such practical, real-world advice!

This thread has been incredibly helpful! I just started collecting unemployment last month and have been so paranoid about missing certification deadlines. Reading through everyone's experiences really shows how supportive this community is. @Keisha Johnson I'm so relieved you got everything sorted out quickly! The advice about calling right at 8am seems to be the key - I'll definitely remember that if I ever need to call. I just went through and set up the email reminders through NY.gov that several people mentioned, plus added multiple phone alarms for Sunday mornings. The certification log idea that @Zara Ahmed suggested is brilliant too - I'm starting one this week to track everything. It's amazing how much practical knowledge gets shared here that you just can't find on the official websites. Thanks to everyone who took time to share their tips and experiences - this is exactly the kind of real-world guidance that makes dealing with the unemployment system feel so much less intimidating!

This thread has been such a lifesaver! I'm collecting unemployment in NY too and had a similar panic moment last week when I thought I missed my certification deadline (turns out I was just confused about the timing). Reading everyone's experiences here really shows how common these concerns are and how helpful this community is. @Keisha Johnson so glad you got it resolved quickly! The consistent advice about calling right at 8am when they open seems to be the real secret sauce. I just enabled the email reminders through NY.gov that multiple people recommended - can't believe I didn't know about that feature! Also setting up the multiple alarm system that @Amina Sy and others mentioned. The certification log idea from @Zara Ahmed is genius too - definitely starting one to track everything. It's incredible how much more useful this real-world advice is compared to trying to navigate the official websites alone. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences and tips - you've turned what could be a nightmare situation into a manageable one with clear action steps!

This thread is absolutely incredible! As someone who's been collecting NY unemployment since October 2024, I wish I had found this kind of detailed, real-world advice earlier. I've had a few close calls myself but never actually missed a certification - reading everyone's experiences here makes me realize how lucky I've been! The consistency in everyone's advice is amazing - calling right at 8am, avoiding Mondays, having documentation ready. I just went through my NY.gov account and enabled those email reminders that multiple people mentioned (seriously can't believe I didn't know about this feature!). Also love the certification log idea from @Zara Ahmed - I'm a bit of a worrier so having written proof of everything would definitely give me peace of mind. @Keisha Johnson your original post and quick resolution really shows that while the system can be confusing, there are definitely people willing to help when you need it. This whole thread should be required reading for anyone starting unemployment in NY - the practical tips here are so much more valuable than anything on the official websites. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences and made this such a comprehensive resource!