NY unemployment backdated claim stuck in pending for 5 weeks - need help!

Backdated claims always take longer to process because they have to verify all those past weeks individually. But 5 weeks is definitely excessive. Try calling right when they open at 8:00 am - I had to do this when my claim was stuck for 3 weeks. Also, make sure you're still certifying every week even though you haven't been approved yet!

same thing hapend to me last month, my claim was stuck for almost 6 weeks!!! the system is completly broken, they dont care about ppl who r desperate for $$$. i finaly got it fixed but only after i called my state assembly person and they intervened. try that maybe

Backdated claims do typically face longer review periods, but you shouldn't be waiting 5+ weeks with no communication. There are several steps you can take: 1. Continue certifying weekly even while pending 2. Try reaching your local Department of Labor office rather than the main number 3. Contact your state representative or assembly member (they can escalate cases) 4. Check if there's a flag on your account requiring additional verification Most commonly with backdated claims, there's an identity or employment verification flag that someone needs to manually review. The system won't tell you this is happening, but it's very likely the cause of your delay.

I got stuck in pending purgatory for nearly 7 weeks in January!!! I was FREAKING OUT because my landlord was threatening eviction and I couldn't get through to ANYONE at unemployment!!! I kept getting disconnected or put on hold for 2+ hours only to get disconnected. What if there was something wrong with my claim but I couldn't find out what??? What if I missed some document they needed??? The anxiety was UNBEARABLE!!!! 😫

After trying for weeks to get through to an agent about my backdated claim, I finally used this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that got me connected to a NY unemployment agent in about 18 minutes. They have this system that navigates the phone tree and waits on hold for you, then calls you when an agent picks up. Saved me so much frustration. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/Rdqa1gKtxuE. My backdated claim had a simple flag that needed to be removed, and the agent cleared it in one call. Might be worth it in your situation with rent coming due soon.

My girlfriend works for the DOL (not in claims processing tho). She says backdated claims are always flagged for manual review and the system is super backed up right now because they switched software in February and there's been problems. She said theres no way to speed it up from your end unless you get someone on the phone who can manually push it through

I just got through the exact same situation! My backdated claim was stuck for 6 weeks with no updates. What happened was there was an issue with my identity verification that nobody bothered to tell me about. When I finally reached an agent, she saw the problem right away and fixed it. Two days later all my payments came through at once. Keep trying to reach someone - it's the only way to resolve these issues.

UPDATE: I finally got through to someone at NY unemployment! I tried the Claimyr service that someone recommended here and got connected to an agent in about 25 minutes. Turns out there was a flag on my account because my former employer disputed my reason for separation (they claimed I quit, I was actually laid off). The agent was able to schedule an expedited fact-finding interview for tomorrow morning to resolve the dispute. She said once that's cleared, my payments should process within 3-5 business days for all backdated weeks. Thank you to everyone who offered advice - will update again after my interview tomorrow!

FINAL UPDATE: Had my fact-finding interview this morning. It was quick - about 15 minutes. I presented my termination letter which clearly stated "position eliminated due to departmental restructuring" and the interviewer seemed satisfied. My former employer didn't even show up for the call. The interviewer said my claim should be processed within 3 business days and all backdated weeks will be paid at once. Such a relief! Thanks again everyone - if anyone else is dealing with a stuck claim, definitely try to speak with an actual person. The online system just doesn't handle complex situations well.