NY unemployment backpay delay after first payment - how long to receive previous weeks?

First, congrats on finally getting approved! The backpay should start coming soon, but it's not always immediate. In my experience (March 2025), I got my first payment and then the backpay came in chunks over the next 2-3 weeks. They don't always release all your backpay at once - they might send 2-3 weeks worth at a time. Keep certifying weekly while you wait. The system is completely overloaded right now.

It can take up to 4 weeks to receive backpay after your first payment. The system processes current claims first, then works backward to release the backpay for previously claimed weeks. However, if you don't see any backpay starting to arrive within 2 weeks after your first payment, you should definitely try to speak with an agent. The issue is that backpay claims sometimes get flagged for additional review, especially if there's a large gap between application and approval. If that happens, the system won't automatically release those funds until an agent reviews the case.

mine took 6 weeks to get all backpay and they never sent me any notification or anything. just randomly kept showing up in my account. NY unemployment system is a disaster. good luck!!!

I had a similar situation last month with missing backpay after my first payment. After struggling for days to get through on the phone, I used Claimyr (claimyr.com) and got connected to a rep in about 20 minutes. They resolved my backpay issue on the spot and I received all my owed weeks within 3 business days. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/Rdqa1gKtxuE Seriously saved my sanity after two weeks of constant busy signals. The agent I spoke with said backpay issues often need manual review, especially when there's a long gap between application and first payment like in your case.

Update: I tried calling again today - 23 attempts and still can't get through. I even tried calling right when they opened at 8am! This is beyond frustrating. Has anyone had success calling at a specific time or day of the week? I'm feeling completely stuck.

Important information about backpay for NY unemployment in 2025: 1. Backpay is typically processed in reverse chronological order 2. According to the latest NYSDOL guidelines, backpay should begin processing within 14 business days after your first payment 3. Large gaps between application and approval (like your 4-month wait) often trigger additional verification 4. You can check the status of each week by logging into your account and viewing your payment history 5. If any weeks show "pending" for more than 14 days after your first payment, that indicates a processing issue If you're still not seeing backpay by next week, you absolutely need to speak with an agent. The system won't auto-resolve certain holds.

When you say you claimed all the weeks since June, did you ever miss a certification window for any week? If you missed even one weekly certification period, that could explain why some of your backpay is held up. In that case, you'd need to request retroactive certification by phone. Also, check your NY.gov messages to see if they sent you any notices about additional documentation needed. Sometimes they require wage verification or employment separation proof before releasing backpay.

THEY R DOING THIS ON PURPOSE!!! make it impossible to reach anyone then deny backpay because "you didn't contact us within the timeframe" even tho YOU LITERALLY CANT GET THRU. my cousin lost 6 weeks of payments because of this exact thing. the whole system is rigged against us!!

Based on everything you've shared, it sounds like your backpay is stuck in verification limbo. When there's a long gap between application and approval (June to October), the system often flags those weeks for manual review - especially if you had any income during that period or if there were any discrepancies in your application. At this point, speaking with an agent is your best path forward. They can identify exactly what's holding up your backpay and often resolve it on the spot. I'd recommend trying during off-peak hours (mid-morning Tuesday-Thursday) or using a callback service if you continue having trouble connecting.

Final update: After trying that Claimyr service mentioned earlier, I finally got through to an agent yesterday! Turns out there was a "program transfer flag" on my account because I initially applied for regular UI but was moved to a different program during processing. The agent cleared the flag and said I should see all my backpay within 3-5 business days. Such a relief! Will update if the money actually shows up. Thanks everyone for your help and advice!

Congratulations on getting through and finding the issue! That "program transfer flag" sounds like something that happens way more often than it should - the system really needs better automation to handle these transitions. For anyone else reading this thread who might be in a similar situation, it's worth asking specifically about program transfer flags when you do get through to an agent. Seems like these flags can sit there indefinitely unless someone manually clears them. Really hope your backpay comes through as promised - keep us posted!

This thread is so helpful! I'm dealing with a similar situation - got my first payment 2 weeks ago but still waiting on backpay for 8 weeks. Reading about the program transfer flag issue is really eye-opening. I never would have known to ask about that specifically. It's frustrating that these technical flags can just sit there blocking payments without any notification to us. I'm definitely going to mention this when I finally get through to an agent. Thanks for sharing your experience and the detailed updates - it gives the rest of us hope that these issues can actually be resolved once you reach the right person!

Reading through this entire thread has been incredibly helpful - thank you all for sharing your experiences! I'm in a similar situation where I got my first payment about 10 days ago but still waiting on backpay for 12 weeks. What really stands out to me is how many different technical issues can cause these delays (program transfer flags, verification holds, etc.) and how there's basically no transparency about what's actually happening with our claims. @Keisha Jackson - your persistence really paid off and it's awesome that you found the root cause! For those of us still waiting, it sounds like the key takeaways are: 1) backpay timing varies wildly (2-6+ weeks), 2) specific technical flags can block payments indefinitely, and 3) speaking directly with an agent is often the only way to identify and resolve these issues. Has anyone noticed if certain application dates or circumstances make these flags more likely? I applied in May and I'm wondering if the longer processing times automatically trigger more review flags in the system.

This entire thread has been a lifesaver for understanding what's going on with NY unemployment backpay! I'm currently 3 weeks past my first payment with no backpay yet for 7 weeks I'm owed. After reading everyone's experiences, I'm realizing there are so many hidden technical issues that can block payments - program transfer flags, verification holds, processing queue mix-ups, etc. What's really frustrating is that the system gives us zero transparency about these issues. We're left guessing why our money isn't coming through while drowning in bills. @Keisha Jackson - huge congrats on getting your issue resolved! Your detailed updates about the program transfer flag are going to help so many people know what to ask about when they finally get through to an agent. For anyone still waiting like me, it sounds like persistence is key and we need to be prepared to ask about specific technical flags that might be blocking our accounts. The fact that these can sit there indefinitely without any notification to us is absolutely ridiculous, but at least now we know what questions to ask. Going to keep trying to get through this week and will definitely mention program transfer flags specifically. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences - this community is honestly more helpful than the actual unemployment office!

This thread is incredibly eye-opening! I'm dealing with the same backpay delays - got my first payment 2 weeks ago but still waiting on 9 weeks of backpay. Reading about these hidden technical flags like "program transfer flags" is both helpful and infuriating. It's crazy that the system can just hold our money indefinitely due to these behind-the-scenes issues without any notification. @Keisha Jackson - thank you so much for sharing your detailed journey and the specific flag issue you discovered! This kind of information is gold for those of us still stuck in limbo. I had no idea to ask about program transfer flags specifically when I finally get through to an agent. What really gets me is how we're essentially forced to become system experts just to get our own benefits. The lack of transparency is unacceptable - we shouldn't have to guess why our payments are delayed or crowdsource technical troubleshooting tips. But I'm grateful for communities like this where we can share experiences and help each other navigate this broken system. Definitely saving all these insights for when I can finally reach an agent!