NY unemployment backpay request rejected after 12 weeks - need urgent help

same thing happened 2 me last month! took FOREVER to reach someone. the unemployment system is totally broken rn

How long did it take you to finally reach someone? I've been trying every day this week.

like 4 days of calling non-stop... gave up eventually & just filed the appeal form

You absolutely need to file an appeal ASAP. Don't wait to reach someone by phone - the appeal deadline is only 30 days from the determination date. Go to your online account, find the determination notice, and there should be instructions for appealing. Make sure to upload all your hospital documentation again with the appeal form. In my experience, backpay denials often happen automatically when there's a gap in claiming, but they can be successfully appealed with proper documentation.

Thank you! I'll start the appeal today. Do you know how long the appeal process typically takes? I'm getting really worried about making next month's rent.

Appeals are taking about 4-6 weeks right now based on what I've seen. Make sure your appeal is very specific about the dates you were hospitalized and eligible. Include admission/discharge papers if possible. The more documentation, the better your chances.

When I was trying to fix my back pay issue I couldnt get thru for DAYS!!! Then I found this service called Claimyr that got me through to an actual NY unemployment rep in like 25 mins. It worked when nothing else did! Theres a video showing how it works here: https://youtu.be/Rdqa1gKtxuE The website is claimyr.com if you wanna check it out. I was skeptical but it saved me from waiting weeks for my appeal to be processed.

Is that service legit?? Sounds too good to be true honestly. Has anyone else tried it??

I actually used Claimyr last month when my benefits suddenly stopped. It does work - got me through to a rep who fixed my issue on the spot. I was worried about having to wait for the appeal process too. Sometimes talking to an actual person can resolve things immediately vs waiting weeks for an appeal decision.

Thanks for confirming. I'll try calling one more time on my own today, but might try that service tomorrow if I still can't get through.

The EXACT SAME THING happened to me in February!!!!! I was denied backpay after submitting everything correctly. The system is RIGGED to deny claims automatically!!! They WANT you to give up and not fight it. DON'T GIVE UP!!! I filed an appeal AND kept calling every day until I finally got through to someone who actually helped. Took 3 weeks of daily calls but I finally got my money last week.

That's actually really encouraging to hear. Did you have to submit any additional documentation with your appeal that wasn't in your original request?

YES!! I had to get a DETAILED letter from my doctor with SPECIFIC dates and reasons why I couldn't file. Also submitted screenshots of the error messages I got when I tried to claim late. The more evidence the better!!! They try to DENY EVERYONE hoping most people just give up!!!

this is so true. i work in healthcare and write these letters for patients all the time. be super specific about dates and medical necessity. unemployment is really strict about documentation since 2025 started.

Quick update on timeframes - I just helped my brother with an appeal last month, and it took exactly 27 days from submission to decision. They're actually moving faster now with the new processing system. Make sure you check your message center daily, as sometimes they request additional info which can delay things if you don't respond quickly.

That's good to know about the timeframe. I'll keep a close eye on my message center. Was his appeal successful?

Yes, his appeal was approved. The key was providing very specific documentation about why he couldn't file during the eligible period (in his case, it was technology issues while traveling). The more specific you can be about why you couldn't file during your hospitalization, the better your chances. The NY unemployment system has become more understanding about medical situations in 2025.

my cousin had his backpay denied too and he just kept calling till he got someone who fixed it on the spot. sometimes u get lucky and get the right person who can override the system. its all about who u get on the phone tbh

This is why the whole system is so frustrating! It literally depends on which rep you get? How is that fair?? One person says no and another can just override it?? Makes no sense!

update ur appeal with bank statements showing u were broke during that time. they denied me at first but when i showed i had no income during those weeks they approved it

That's clever, I wouldn't have thought to include bank statements. I'll definitely add those to my appeal package.

Based on the NY Unemployment Insurance Appeal Board's current policies, you have two concurrent options:\n\n1. File a formal appeal within 30 days (absolute deadline, don't miss it)\n2. Continue trying to reach a claims specialist who might be able to resolve it faster\n\nFor the appeal: Be extremely specific about your hospitalization dates, include admission and discharge documents, and explicitly state why you were unable to file weekly claims during that period. Under current regulations, medical emergencies are considered good cause for backdated claims, but you need to thoroughly document everything.\n\nAlso, make sure you're using the correct appeal form - for backpay denials specifically, you need Form TC-403E (not the general appeal form).

Thank you for mentioning the specific form! I was about to use the general appeal form. Where can I find Form TC-403E? Is it on the main NY unemployment website?

You should be able to find it in your online account under

Perfect, found it! Going to fill it out right now. Really appreciate the specific guidance.

Just wanted to mention my friend with a similar situation got her backpay after filing an appeal and ALSO sending a message through the contact form specifically asking for a 'claim review by a supervisor' - apparently that sometimes gets your case flagged for faster review instead of sitting in the general appeal queue. Might be worth trying both approaches.

That's a great tip. The supervisor review request can sometimes bypass the standard appeal timeline. Just be sure to include your claim ID number and the specific determination date you're contesting when you submit that request.

Will definitely try this approach too. At this point I'm willing to try anything to speed up the process. Thank you!