NY unemployment claim pending since September - car about to be repossessed

I'm sorry you're going through this. Unfortunately, 4-month pending claims aren't uncommon right now with NYSDOL. When you call, are you trying the main unemployment number or have you tried the alternative line at 888-209-8124? Some people have better luck if they call exactly at 8:00am when they open or after 4:00pm when call volume decreases. Also, have you checked your online account for any alerts or messages requesting additional documentation? Sometimes they need more info but the notification gets lost.

same thing happened to me last year except mine was stuck for 3 months. turned out they had flagged my account for 'identity verification' but never sent me the notice. you should email them too not just call

Your situation sounds very stressful, and I completely understand your frustration. Based on my experience working with claimants in similar situations, here's what I'd recommend: 1. Document everything - dates of calls, names of representatives you've spoken with, and any reference numbers. 2. File for hardship consideration. When your claim has been pending over 8 weeks AND you're facing imminent loss of housing, vehicle, or utilities, you qualify for expedited processing. This requires filling out Form UI-640 (Financial Hardship Acceleration Request). 3. Contact your state assembly member or senator's office. They have direct lines to DOL liaisons who can often resolve these issues much faster than calling the general line. 4. Submit a message through your online account specifically mentioning "financial hardship" and "expedited processing request" in the subject line. The repossession threat should qualify you for expedited review, but you need to formally request it.

NYSDOL is COMPLETELY BROKEN!!! I waited SIX MONTHS last year and only got paid after I threatened to call the governor's office. The whole system is designed to make people give up. They're probably hoping you'll just find a job and stop claiming so they don't have to pay you. It's disgraceful how they treat people who are just trying to get benefits they EARNED and are ENTITLED TO!!!

After two months of getting nowhere with my claim by calling, I used Claimyr (claimyr.com) and finally got through to an actual claims specialist who fixed my issue in one call. They basically call NYSDOL for you and connect you when they get through. Cost me a bit but saved me from losing my apartment. There's a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/Rdqa1gKtxuE. With your car about to be repossessed, it might be worth it just to get this resolved immediately.

have u tried going to an actual unemployment office? sometimes face to face works better than phone... my cousin had a 3 month pending claim and got it fixed in 1 day when she went in person

My claim was stuck too but i got approved last week thank goodness. What worked for me was sending a message through my ny.gov account every single day asking for status update. i think they got annoyed lol. but seriously try that + the assembly member suggestion someone else gave. also make sure your id.me verification is complete, that holds up a lot of claims.

Based on what you've described, this sounds like your claim might be stuck in adjudication, which happens when there's a question about your eligibility that needs to be resolved before payments can be released. Since September 2025 is an unusually long wait even by current standards, I recommend taking several actions simultaneously: 1. Follow the advice about contacting your state representative - this is often the fastest route 2. File the UI-640 hardship form as mentioned above 3. If you haven't already, check if there are any issues flagged on your account that require documentation 4. Make sure you've properly completed all quarterly recertifications You mentioned speaking with someone in October who said they would advance your claim. Request the name and ID number of any representative you speak with in the future, and note the date and time of the call. This creates accountability. I hope you get this resolved quickly before your car situation becomes worse.

Just checking back - have you had any luck with any of these suggestions? The car repossession situation is concerning and time-sensitive. If you've tried contacting your assembly member but haven't heard back, sometimes your county's legal aid society can help with unemployment issues as well.

I'm so sorry you're going through this nightmare with NYSDOL. Four months is absolutely unacceptable, especially when you're facing car repossession. I went through something similar last year and the stress was overwhelming. A few additional suggestions that might help: 1. If you have a Twitter account, try tweeting @NYSDOL with your case details - they sometimes respond faster to public complaints 2. When you call, press 1 for English, then 1 for unemployment, then 2 for existing claim, then 3 for payment issues - this routing sometimes gets you to different representatives 3. Try calling the Teleclaim line at 888-581-5812 and pressing 0 to speak to someone - it's meant for weekly claims but sometimes they can transfer you to the right department The fact that your car is about to be repossessed should definitely qualify you for expedited processing. Make sure you mention "financial hardship" and "imminent loss of transportation" in every communication. Keep us updated on how the assembly member contact goes - that's often the breakthrough people need. Hang in there!

I'm really sorry to hear about your situation - 4 months is way too long to wait for unemployment benefits, especially when you're facing car repossession. I had a similar experience last year where my claim was stuck for 2+ months. What finally worked for me was a combination of things: 1. I found my local assembly member's office was incredibly helpful - they have a direct line to DOL and can often get answers within a few days 2. The UI-640 hardship form that someone mentioned is crucial - make sure to include documentation about your car repossession threat 3. I also had success calling right at 8am when they open, but instead of the main line, try 888-209-8124 One thing that might be happening is your claim could be stuck in "adjudication" - which means they're reviewing something but haven't told you what. Sometimes it's as simple as needing to verify your last employer or work dates. Don't give up! The squeaky wheel gets the grease with NYSDOL unfortunately. Keep calling, keep emailing, and definitely pursue that assembly member contact. Your benefits are there waiting for you - it's just a matter of getting the right person to push your claim through. Hang in there!