NY Unemployment asking me to recertify despite $0.00 benefit amount - still showing "application in progress" status since November 2022

It's actually a good sign. When I got that same message back in August they were just verifying my employment history. Two weeks after I got that message I was approved for benefits. Just be patient!

I was stuck in this exact situation for almost 3 months - constant recertification with $0 showing. Finally got tired of waiting and tried this service called claimyr.com that put me through to an actual human at unemployment. Best money I've spent to get my benefits flowing! They connected me to an agent who fixed my claim in 10 minutes. Here's a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/Rdqa1gKtxuE

The system is beyond broken and this happens all the time. I had zeros for almost 6 weeks. Keep certifying anyway. Don't miss a week of certification even if your amounts are still at zero because they'll eventually backpay you once your case is fully processed. They're extremely backlogged right now.

This JUST happened to my cousin last month. It's because they need to verify your wages with your employer and that takes time. The $0 is just a placeholder. Keep recertifying every week so when they do approve you (which they probably will) you'll get all your back pay.

Unpopular opinion maybe but the NY unemployment system isn't THAT bad 🤷‍♂️ I had the same situation happen (benefit amount showing 0) but they were just processing. Got approved after 3 weeks and got all my backpay in one lump sum. Just hang tight.

Here's what's happening: When they send recertification emails, it's an automated system that doesn't know the status of your claim. The $0.00 means they haven't calculated your benefit amount yet, NOT that you're denied. A denial would say something else entirely. Keep certifying weekly and check your message inbox daily. If nothing changes in 2 weeks, you need to get on the phone with them.

If you're seeing 104 effective days remaining, that means your claim is active! The $0.00 is just temporary until they calculate your proper benefit amount based on your work history. This is totally normal.

Oh wow they actually emailed you? 😲 I got ghosted by ny unemployment for 6 weeks before I finally heard anything. That email is a good sign. At least they remember you exist lol.

Listen, I worked for NYSDOL (recently quit). Here's whats happening: your claim is in pending status waiting for wage verification. The $0 is just a placeholder until they finish processing. The recertification email is automatically sent to EVERYONE with an active claim, even if it's not fully processed yet. Keep certifying weekly and you should be fine. If it takes more than 3 weeks, then start calling.

I had this EXACT situation back in December! Yes, it's actually a good sign they're asking you to recertify. My account showed $0.00 for about 3 weeks while they processed my application. Then one day I logged in and it showed my actual benefit amount and all my back pay was processed the next day. Keep certifying each week!

I'm not trying to be negative, but I was in this same boat for 2+ months and it turned out my former employer was contesting my claim. The $0 stayed there the whole time until I finally got through to someone who explained what was happening. Had to do an appeal hearing. If yours doesn't change soon, you need to get a human on the phone somehow.

To answer your question directly: YES - them asking you to recertify means your claim is active in their system. If you were flat-out denied they wouldn't ask you to recertify. This is normal procedure while they're calculating your benefit amount. I had zeros for almost a month before mine updated with the correct amount.

Look at your correspondence inbox on the portal. If there's nothing saying you've been denied, you're still in process. The $0.00 is just their system's way of showing a pending claim. Keep certifying and be patient (which I know is super hard when you need the money). If it stays at $0 for more than 3 weeks, you need to try to reach someone.

i swear the NY unemployment system was built in 1995 and never updated 💀 those $0.00 placeholders confused me so much too. in my case i had them for about 4 weeks and then suddenly everything updated with the correct amounts and i got paid all the back weeks at once. just keep certifying!

THE MOST COMPREHENSIVE GUIDE TO FIXING YOUR $0 BENEFIT SITUATION: 1. First, understand that this is EXTREMELY common. The $0 is a placeholder while your claim is being processed. 2. Continue to certify weekly without fail. This builds your backlog for when approval comes through. 3. Check your online inbox daily for correspondence. Sometimes they need additional documents. 4. After 3 weeks with no change, you NEED to speak with a representative. This is the hard part. 5. For getting through on the phone: Call at 7:30am exactly when they open, try the last few minutes before closing, or use a service like claimyr.com (which I personally used after 6 weeks of frustration - they got me connected to an agent who fixed my claim in minutes). 6. Once you reach a human, ask them specifically what is holding up your claim. Common issues: wage verification, identity verification, former employer disputes. 7. If they say "just wait longer" ask for a specific timeframe and request they note your account that you called. 8. If you've waited over 6 weeks, mention that you're experiencing financial hardship and ask if your claim qualifies for expedited processing. Don't give up! The system is frustrating but persistence pays off eventually.

You're overthinking this. Almost everyone sees $0.00 at first. It's just how their system works. The fact they're asking you to recertify means your claim is in the system and being processed. Be patient and keep certifying.

Ugh, the dreaded $0.00 screen. Been there! Don't panic tho. My benefit amount was stuck at zero for almost 5 weeks, but I kept certifying every sunday like clockwork. Then suddenly one day everything updated at once and I got a huge backpay deposit. The system is slow but it works... eventually.