NY unemployment approved 2 months ago but still no payments - help please!

Same boat here. Got approved in January 2025, its now March and ive been claiming but no $$$. Think they're backed up maybe? The system is so frustrating!!

did u check ur payment history on the website? sometimes it says pending for weird reasons. also make sure ur not answering any questions wrong when u certify each week

This is unfortunately common right now. There are a few possible issues: 1) Your claim might be flagged for identity verification 2) There could be an employer dispute that hasn't been communicated to you 3) The system might have a technical hold on your account The key is reaching a live agent who can see what's happening behind the scenes. Your monetary determination letter confirms you're eligible, but something is blocking the actual payments.

THEY ARE DOING THIS ON PURPOSE!!!! I had the EXACT same issue last year and it took FOUR MONTHS to get my money!!! They hope people just give up and go away. The system is DESIGNED to be difficult. I called 127 times in one day (yes I counted) and never got through. This is how they save money - by making it IMPOSSIBLE to actually get the benefits you deserve!!!

I was in this exact situation back in January. After weeks of trying to call, I finally used Claimyr (claimyr.com) to get through to an agent. They have this system that holds your place in line and calls you when an agent is available. Saved me hours of redial hell. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/Rdqa1gKtxuE When I finally spoke to someone, turned out my claim had an "administrative hold" that only an agent could remove. Got my backpay two days after the call. Worth every penny not to deal with the busy signals anymore.

Benefit delays usually fall into several categories, and yours sounds like what we call an "administrative hold." These require manual intervention by a claims specialist. Here's what you need to do: 1. Continue certifying weekly without fail 2. Document all your attempts to contact NYSDOL (dates, times) 3. Contact your state representative's office - they have special channels to escalate unemployment issues 4. When you do reach an agent, request "backdate payments" for all weeks properly certified The good news is that if you've been approved and are certifying correctly, you WILL eventually receive all payments, including retroactive ones. The system is backlogged, but your claim is protected as long as you keep certifying.

I had to tweet at NYSDOL to get help lol. Seriously, try their social media accounts. Sometimes the public embarrassment gets them moving faster.

UPDATE: I managed to get through to a real person! I used the Claimyr service that @user3 recommended, and it worked perfectly. Turns out there was an "identity verification flag" on my account that I was never notified about! The agent cleared it and said I should receive all my backpay within 2-3 business days. Thank you all for your help and suggestions!

Congratulations on finally getting through! This is such a common issue and your experience will definitely help others in similar situations. The identity verification flag seems to be happening to a lot of people lately - it's frustrating that they don't send any notification about it. I'm bookmarking that Claimyr service for future reference. Fingers crossed your backpay comes through quickly!