NY unemployment claim stuck in pending status since January 2025 - can't reach anyone
So frustrated right now. I filed my NY unemployment claim back in January 2025 and it's STILL showing as pending status 7 months later! I had an NY.gov ID verification issue which got fixed in April, but nothing has changed with my claim status. I try calling the unemployment office 2-3 times every week but can never get through to an actual person. Just automated messages and disconnections. I don't know what to do anymore. Has anyone else dealt with this kind of ridiculous delay? How did you finally get your claim processed? I'm running out of options and patience...
22 comments
Aisha Mahmood
same thing happened to me but only for 3 months. the system is totally broken!! did u try emailing them? sometimes thats better than calling
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Mateo Sanchez
•I've sent 5 different emails through their contact form and all I get is automated responses saying they're experiencing high volume and will get back to me. No actual help.
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Ethan Clark
Have you tried going to your local NYS Department of Labor office in person? Sometimes that's the only way to get things moving when you're stuck in system limbo like this.
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Mateo Sanchez
•I didn't even think of that! Is that actually allowed? Do I need an appointment or can I just show up?
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Ethan Clark
•You'll need an appointment at most locations now. Go to the NYSDOL website and look for the career center locator to find your nearest office, then call that specific office to schedule a time. Bring ALL your paperwork.
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AstroAce
After dealing with the same situation (4 months pending!), I discovered a service called Claimyr that helped me finally reach a live agent. Instead of me waiting on hold for hours, they navigated the phone system and called me back when they had an agent on the line. Saved me SO much frustration. Their video explains it all: https://youtu.be/Rdqa1gKtxuE or check out claimyr.com
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Mateo Sanchez
•Thank you! I'll check that out right now. At this point I'll try anything if it means talking to a real person.
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Aisha Mahmood
•does that actually work?? sounds too good to be true tbh
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AstroAce
•It worked for me! The agent I spoke with said I had been assigned to a special claims unit because of an employer issue, but nobody had updated my portal or contacted me. Got it resolved in that one call after months of nothing.
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Yuki Kobayashi
The pending status typically means there's an eligibility issue they're investigating. Did they ever ask you for additional documentation? When you login to your account, does it show any outstanding tasks or messages? Sometimes there's information they need that got missed.
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Mateo Sanchez
•That's the weird thing - there are NO tasks showing. No messages asking for more info. The Message section just says "Your claim is currently being processed. Continue to certify weekly benefits while your claim is under review." Which I've been doing for MONTHS.
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Carmen Vega
i got stuck in pending for 5 months last year and it turned out my former employer was fighting the claim!! they never told me this was happening!! make sure u ask about that when u get someone on the phone
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Mateo Sanchez
•Omg I didn't think about that. My former employer was really angry when I left... I wonder if that's what's happening.
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Andre Rousseau
You might have a backdate issue or wage investigation happening. These can cause extremely long delays, especially if your employment history crosses multiple states or includes contract work. When long delays happen, it's almost always because your claim was flagged for manual review by a specialized unit. Have you checked your spam folder regularly? NYSDOL often sends requests for additional information via email, and these frequently end up in junk mail.
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Mateo Sanchez
•I've been checking spam folders religiously - nothing there. I did work in Connecticut for 3 months in 2024 before moving back to NY. Could that be causing the issue?
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Andre Rousseau
•Yes, absolutely. Interstate claims often trigger manual reviews that can cause significant delays. The system needs to verify wages from multiple states, and that process is not automated. You need to speak with someone in the Interstate Claims unit specifically.
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Zoe Stavros
Just wanted to say I've been through this exact hell and I'm so sorry you're dealing with it!! The system is DESIGNED to be frustrating so people give up. DON'T GIVE UP!!! Keep calling, emailing, everything. Document EVERYTHING including the times you called and couldn't get through.
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Mateo Sanchez
•Thank you for the encouragement. Some days I really do feel like giving up. It helps to know I'm not alone in this nightmare.
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Aisha Mahmood
my friend used that claimyr thing the other person mentioned and said it worked. shes been telling everyone about it cause the regular phone line is impossible
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Mateo Sanchez
•Two people recommending it makes me feel better about trying it. I'm going to look into it today.
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AstroAce
Just checking back - were you able to get through to anyone? Did anything work for resolving your pending status?
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Mateo Sanchez
•YES! I finally got through using Claimyr and found out my claim was stuck because of the interstate wages issue like someone here suggested. The agent was able to see that they needed wage verification from CT, which had never been requested properly. She submitted the request while I was on the phone and told me it should be resolved within 10 business days. THANK YOU everyone for the help!
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