NY unemployment claim shows pending for 5 weeks without payment - what's wrong?

This is actually pretty common right now with NY unemployment. There are a few possible reasons for the pending status: 1. Identity verification issue - They might need additional documentation to verify your identity 2. Work search requirement problems - Make sure you're documenting your work search activities properly 3. System flag for earnings - Did you report any part-time or gig income in recent certifications? 4. Random quarterly review - NYSDOL does random claim reviews, especially around quarter changes The most important thing is to actually speak with an agent. Keep trying different times of day - early morning (7:30am) and late afternoon (3:30pm) tend to have slightly better odds.

same thing happend to me last month. didnt get paid for like 4 weeks then suddenly all the money showed up at once with no explanation. the system is broken af

I was in your exact situation back in January. Five weeks of pending claims and couldn't reach anyone. Finally used a service called Claimyr that got me through to an actual person at NYSDOL. Cost money but was worth it because my case got resolved that same day - turned out they had flagged my account for a routine review but nobody had actually reviewed it. 🙄 The agent released all my back payments once I got through. You can see how it works in their demo video: https://youtu.be/Rdqa1gKtxuE or just go to claimyr.com

I think its a systematic issue in their computer system. My roommate had her unemployment stopped for 6 weeks then suddenly fixed. She called everyday, same as you getting nowhere. Then I had the same thing happen to me 3 weeks later! The trick is you need to keep certifying every week even when its pending so when they finally fix it you'll get all the backpay at once.

@anonymous8 It's actually legit - they just connect you through their system to skip the wait. The unemployment office still answers, you just don't have to spend days trying to get through. They don't access your unemployment account or anything like that.

LISTEN THIS HAPPENED TO ME TOO!! It's because they do these stupid "quarterly reviews" where they check if youre still eligible. The most ABSURD part is they don't tell you they're doing it!!! You just stop getting money with NO EXPLANATION! I was literally about to be evicted when my payments suddenly started again. The whole NY unemployment system is designed to frustrate people into giving up on benefits they DESERVE. Keep calling, keep certifying, and document EVERYTHING.

The pending status often indicates one of two things: either there's a quarterly review happening (as others mentioned) or there's an eligibility issue that needs manual review. Here's what I recommend: 1. Log into your NY.gov account and check your messages folder - sometimes notices are sent there rather than by mail 2. Check if you've received any physical mail from NYSDOL that might explain the hold 3. Continue weekly certifications without fail 4. Try calling right when they open (7:30am) as that's when the queue is shortest If your employer filed any dispute or if there was any question about your eligibility, NYSDOL is required to send you written notice with appeal rights.

I used that Claimyr thing last month and it worked for me too. Felt weird paying to talk to unemployment but I got through in like 20 minutes when I had been trying for days with no luck. Agent told me my account had some kind of fraud flag on it for no reason, and she removed it while I was on the phone.

They said something about my IP address changing because I certified from my sister's house one week when I was staying with her. So stupid.

Just want to add one important tip - while your claim is pending, make sure you're keeping detailed records of your work search activities. If your claim gets manually reviewed, they might ask for this documentation going back several weeks. For each job application, save: - Company name - Position applied for - Date of application - Contact method (website, email, in-person) - Contact person's name if available - Any response received This level of documentation will help protect your benefits if there's any question about your work search efforts.

has anyone tried the online message system? sometimes u can get answers there faster than calling

UPDATE: I finally got through to someone at NYSDOL this morning! Called right at 7:30am and waited on hold for 1.5 hours. Turns out my account was flagged for a "quarterly review" like some of you mentioned AND because I had logged in from a different device (my tablet instead of my laptop). The agent cleared both flags and said all my pending payments should process within 3 business days. Will update again when/if I get paid. Thanks everyone for your help and suggestions!

Congratulations on getting through! The device/IP address flagging is absolutely ridiculous - we're supposed to be able to access our benefits from anywhere. It's insane that using a tablet or going to a family member's house can trigger a fraud review that stops payments for weeks. This whole thread shows how broken the system is - multiple people having the same issues with quarterly reviews and device flags that nobody tells you about. At least your story gives hope to others still stuck in pending status. Definitely update us when those payments hit your account!

Reading through all these stories is both reassuring and infuriating at the same time. It's clear that NY unemployment has some serious systemic issues with their fraud detection system flagging legitimate claimants for the most minor things - different devices, IP addresses, even routine quarterly reviews that they don't bother to tell you about. The fact that so many people are experiencing identical problems (5-6 week pending periods, inability to reach anyone by phone, sudden resolution with backpay) suggests this isn't isolated incidents but a widespread problem with their system. What's particularly frustrating is the complete lack of communication - they'll cut off your benefits without explanation, leaving people stressed about rent and bills while they figure out their internal processes. @d3285d7b0217 I'm so glad you finally got through and got it resolved! Your persistence paid off and hopefully others can follow your 7:30am calling strategy. The whole situation really highlights how the system seems designed to discourage people from claiming benefits they're entitled to.

This whole thread is exactly why I wish there was better transparency from NYSDOL about their review processes. I went through something similar last year - 4 weeks of pending payments with zero communication. What finally worked for me was sending a message through the online portal AND calling repeatedly. The key thing I learned is that even when your claim shows "pending," you absolutely MUST continue certifying every single week or you'll lose those weeks entirely. I also started taking screenshots of everything - my certification confirmations, work search entries, account status - just in case I needed proof later. The system is definitely broken when people are getting flagged for basic things like using different devices or IP addresses. Really hope @d3285d7b0217 gets those back payments soon and this helps others who are stuck in the same situation.

I've been following unemployment forums for a while and this is sadly such a common story with NY unemployment. What's particularly frustrating is how their "security measures" end up punishing legitimate claimants more than preventing actual fraud. The fact that logging in from a tablet or different location can trigger weeks of payment delays is absurd - especially when they don't bother to notify you what's happening. For anyone still dealing with pending payments, definitely try the 7:30am calling strategy that worked for @d3285d7b0217. Also consider reaching out to your local assemblyperson's office - they sometimes have direct contacts at NYSDOL who can help expedite reviews. I've seen people get faster results through legislative offices than through the regular phone system. The whole system needs reform but in the meantime we have to work with what we've got.

This thread is incredibly helpful but also infuriating - it's clear that NYSDOL's system has some serious flaws that are causing identical problems for so many people. The fact that routine activities like using different devices or changing locations can trigger fraud reviews that cut off payments for weeks is absolutely ridiculous. What's even worse is the complete lack of communication about these reviews. @d3285d7b0217 congratulations on finally getting through! Your persistence really paid off and the 7:30am calling strategy is golden advice. For anyone else stuck in pending status, I'd also suggest documenting everything - screenshot your certifications, save confirmation numbers, and keep detailed records of all your communications attempts. That way if you do eventually get through to someone, you have all the evidence ready. It's sad that we need to jump through so many hoops just to access benefits we've earned, but sharing these strategies really helps the community navigate this broken system.

I'm new to this community but unfortunately not new to NY unemployment issues. Currently on week 2 of pending payments myself and reading through everyone's experiences here has been both reassuring and frustrating. It's clear this is a widespread systemic problem rather than isolated cases. @d3285d7b0217 huge congratulations on getting through and getting it resolved! Your detailed updates are incredibly helpful. I'm definitely going to try that 7:30am calling strategy - seems like timing really is everything with their phone system. It's absolutely mind-boggling that normal activities like using different devices can trigger fraud reviews that cut off payments for weeks. The lack of communication from NYSDOL about these reviews is what makes the whole situation so stressful. You're already dealing with job loss and then they just stop your lifeline without explanation. Thanks to everyone sharing their experiences and strategies here - it really helps to know we're not alone in navigating this broken system.

I'm new here but dealing with a very similar situation - 3 weeks of pending payments and I can't get through to anyone at NYSDOL. Reading through everyone's experiences here is both validating and terrifying! It's clear this is a huge systemic issue affecting tons of people. @d3285d7b0217 I'm so glad you finally got through and got it resolved - that 7:30am calling strategy is brilliant and I'm definitely going to try it tomorrow morning. The fact that you got flagged just for using a tablet is absolutely insane. Like, we're supposed to only access our benefits from one device forever? The complete lack of communication about these reviews is what makes the whole thing so stressful. They just cut off your payments without any explanation while you're already struggling with unemployment. I've been keeping up with my weekly certifications thankfully, but it's good to know that continuing to certify during pending periods is crucial for getting backpay. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences and strategies - this community support means everything when the official system completely fails us.

I'm new to this community but unfortunately not new to NY unemployment headaches. Currently dealing with week 4 of pending payments and this thread has been incredibly helpful - thank you all for sharing your experiences! @d3285d7b0217 congratulations on getting through and getting it resolved! Your detailed documentation of the process is so valuable. The 7:30am calling strategy seems to be consistently working for people and I'm definitely trying it tomorrow. It's absolutely ridiculous that using different devices triggers fraud reviews - like they expect us to never leave our house or use a phone/tablet? The lack of transparency from NYSDOL is what makes this so brutal. They just cut off your lifeline without explanation while you're already stressed about job hunting and bills. I've been religiously certifying every week thankfully, but it's good to have confirmation that continuing during pending status is crucial for backpay. This community support means everything when the official system abandons us. Will update if I have any luck getting through!

I'm new to this community and unfortunately dealing with my own pending payment nightmare - going on week 2 now and it's incredibly stressful. Reading through everyone's experiences here is both reassuring (knowing I'm not alone) and absolutely infuriating (seeing how broken this system is). @d3285d7b0217 huge congratulations on finally getting through and getting it resolved! Your persistence really paid off and that 7:30am calling strategy is pure gold - I'm definitely setting my alarm to try it tomorrow morning. The fact that you got flagged just for using a tablet is beyond ridiculous. Like, it's 2025 and we're supposed to only access our benefits from one device for eternity? The complete lack of communication from NYSDOL is what makes this whole situation so cruel - they just cut off your financial lifeline without any explanation while you're already dealing with the stress of unemployment. I've been keeping up with my weekly certifications thankfully, but it's good to have confirmation that continuing during pending status is absolutely crucial for getting backpay. This thread has been incredibly helpful with all the practical tips and strategies. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences and supporting each other through this broken system!

I'm new to this community but unfortunately dealing with the exact same nightmare - my NY unemployment has been pending for 3 weeks now and I can't get through to anyone no matter when I call. Reading through this entire thread has been both incredibly helpful and absolutely maddening to see how widespread this problem is. @d3285d7b0217 huge congratulations on finally getting through and getting your situation resolved! That 7:30am calling strategy is brilliant and I'm definitely going to try it first thing tomorrow morning. It's completely insane that you got flagged just for using a tablet - like we're supposed to be chained to one computer for life? The lack of communication from NYSDOL is what makes this whole situation so cruel. They just cut off your payments without any explanation while you're already stressed about job hunting and bills. I've been religiously doing my weekly certifications thankfully, but it's reassuring to see confirmation that continuing during pending status is absolutely critical for getting backpay. This thread is a goldmine of practical advice and community support. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences and strategies - it really helps to know we're not navigating this broken system alone!