NY unemployment backpay denied for June-September claim - need help with appeal letter

yep same thing happend to me in January. they said i needed to write a letter but never told me where to send it lol

You need to write what's called a "Request for Backdated Benefits" letter. I had to do this last year. In the letter, you need to include: 1. Your full name 2. Last 4 of SSN 3. NY.gov ID 4. Current mailing address 5. Phone number 6. The exact dates you're requesting payment for (June 10-Sept 5) 7. Detailed explanation of why you didn't file during that period 8. Any supporting documentation you have Mail it to: NYS Department of Labor PO Box 15130 Albany, NY 12212-5130 Make sure to keep a copy of everything you send them!

I'm dealing with EXACTLY the same situation right now!!! They approved my claim from August onward but denied April-August. Makes absolutely no sense because I was eligible the whole time!! I've been trying to call them for weeks to get answers. Did the agent explain WHY they're not paying that period? Was there something wrong with your initial application??

write the letter AND call them back tomorrow. you might get a different agent who gives you better info. sometimes they just say whatever to get you off the phone quick

This is fairly common with NY unemployment. What likely happened is that there was a gap or discrepancy in your certification history for that period. By law, they can only backdate benefits if you can demonstrate good cause for not claiming those weeks timely. Your letter should specifically explain: - Why you were unable to certify for those specific weeks - Any technical issues, medical problems, or misinformation that prevented you from filing - Documentation supporting your explanation (medical records, error screenshots, etc.) The most common reasons they accept are: 1. Technical issues with the NY.gov website/system 2. Medical incapacity 3. Misinformation from a DOL representative 4. Death in the immediate family Be very specific about dates and what prevented you from filing each week. They're looking for a legitimate reason beyond simply forgetting or not understanding the process.

I had this EXACT problem last year. Spent WEEKS trying to get through to someone about my backpay. Kept calling that stupid automated line that never connects to a real person. Finally I found this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that got me through to an agent in under 20 minutes when I'd been trying for days. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/Rdqa1gKtxuE After talking to an actual agent, I found out I needed to submit specific documentation with my letter that proved why I couldn't certify during those weeks. Without those documents, they were just going to deny it. The agent I spoke with actually helped me figure out exactly what to include in my letter. Got my backpay about a month after sending everything in.

Ugh the NYSDOL is the WORST!!! I went through something similar and they ended up denying my backpay because they said I didn't have "good cause" for not certifying on time. Fight this hard now because once they make a final decision it's nearly impossible to appeal. Their whole system is designed to deny you money you're entitled to!!

One more important thing I forgot to mention - make sure to send your letter via certified mail with return receipt requested so you have proof they received it. I've heard too many stories of people's letters getting "lost" in the system.

my cousin had this happen last year with her claim from may to august. she wrote the letter like they said and got approved for all the back weeks! took about a month to get the money but she got it all in one big deposit. don't give up!!

Does anyone know if there's a time limit for requesting backdated benefits? Like can they deny you if you wait too long to send in the letter?

make sure u follow up every week after u send the letter. call them and ask for status update. if u dont bug them they will just ignore it trust me

Thank you everyone for all the helpful advice! I'm going to write the letter today and include all the documentation I have about the technical issues I experienced. Will definitely send it certified mail and follow up regularly. Will update when I hear back from them!