NY unemployment BYE period ending - do I need to contact DoL about backdated weeks?

You definitely need to contact them specifically about backdating. It's not automatic - they won't look at weeks before you applied unless you request it. Call the claims center and tell them you need to backdate your claim to January. Be prepared to explain why you didn't file earlier (usually needs to be a good reason). Make sure you have your exact employment dates and earnings for those weeks ready when you call. And yes, they'll want documentation about why you were eligible during that period but didn't file.

same thing happened 2 me last yr. u def need 2 call them about it, they wont do it automatically

From my experience, you need to request backdating within 14 days of filing your initial claim to have the best chance. After that, it gets much harder to get approved. There's actually a form on the NY.gov site you can complete for this - go to your account dashboard, look under "Additional Resources" and you should see "Request Claim Backdating" link. You'll need to provide a valid reason why you didn't file earlier. Common acceptable reasons are: - You weren't aware you were eligible - You had technical issues with the system - You were ill and unable to file Just saying you didn't know you could file isn't usually enough - you need to explain why you reasonably didn't know (like if your employer gave you incorrect information). Hope this helps! The form is definitely easier than trying to call.

I went through this exact situation in February 2025. You absolutely NEED to call for backdating. The online system won't let you claim weeks before your application date without agent intervention. Here's what worked for me with getting through to an agent - I used a service called Claimyr that got me connected to a NY unemployment agent in about 20 minutes instead of spending days trying to get through. Their website is claimyr.com and you can see how it works in this video: https://youtu.be/Rdqa1gKtxuE When I finally got through, the agent was able to release my backdated weeks right away. Had to explain that I didn't know I was eligible because my employer told me I wouldn't qualify (which wasn't true). They accepted that reason and I got all my backdated payments about a week later.

Pretty sure you can ONLY get backdated payments if you had a really good reason for not applying earlier. Like hospitalization or something. They won't just give you money for weeks you didn't claim unless you can prove there was something preventing you from filing.

When I got laid off last year I had a similar issue with my BYE period and missing some weeks. The whole system is deliberately confusing to prevent people from collecting what they're actually owed. They make it almost impossible to reach anyone and then put the burden on us to somehow know all these technical details about unemployment insurance. The form someone mentioned DID exist before but they removed it from the system in January 2025 when they "upgraded" everything. Classic NY unemployment - make things worse and call it an improvement. Good luck getting through on the phone, I spent TWO WEEKS trying every day before I finally reached someone.

Unemployment insurance professional here. Yes, you need to specifically request backdating, and there are strict requirements for approval: 1. You must have a qualifying reason for not filing when initially eligible 2. You must have been otherwise eligible during those weeks (able to work, available for work, actively seeking work) 3. You must provide documentation supporting your reason for late filing The best approach is to call the claims center and make a formal backdating request. Document the date/time of your call and get the agent's ID number if possible. Follow up with any requested documentation promptly. Backdating requests don't typically affect current benefit payments unless the investigation reveals eligibility issues that would impact your entire claim. Just be honest and thorough with your explanation.

Just wanted to follow up and mention I had success with my backdating request after using Claimyr to reach an agent. They processed my request on the spot and I received my backdated payments within 5 business days. Good luck with yours!