NY unemployment claim stuck in pending status since July - sent to 'high priority unit'

Unfortunately, the "high priority unit" thing is pretty common right now. I had my claim sent there in August and waited another 3 weeks before anything happened. Keep certifying weekly like they said - when your claim is finally approved, you'll get all the backpay for those weeks. Have you checked your message inbox on the portal? Sometimes they send requests for additional documentation without calling you.

same thing happend to me back in may... took forever!! they never called me from any special number tho, just the regular DOL one when they finally fixed it. keep certifying!!

The "high priority unit" is COMPLETE BS!!! They told me the EXACT same thing 3 months ago when my claim was stuck. It's just what they say to get you off the phone. I never got a call, never got any update, and had to call back EIGHT TIMES before I finally got someone who actually fixed my claim. The system is broken and they know it. Don't just sit around waiting - you need to keep calling!!

I work with unemployment claims regularly, and here's what I recommend: 1. Continue certifying weekly as instructed. This establishes your ongoing eligibility. 2. The "high priority unit" is real, but they're severely backlogged. Claims that require special handling (identity verification issues, employer disputes, wage investigations) get sent there. 3. When they review your claim, they'll either call from the number mentioned or send a secure message to your account. 4. After 8 weeks with no movement, you have options: - Contact your state assembly member or senator's office. They have liaisons who can expedite claims. - Request a supervisor when you call NYSDOL (though this can be difficult to get through). - Check if your claim has an "effective date" in your online account. If it does, the claim exists but is pending review. The current average resolution time for claims in the high priority unit is approximately 9-11 weeks, unfortunately.

I was in the exact same situation last month - pending for 8 weeks with no movement after being told about the "high priority unit." I was getting desperate and couldn't get through on the phone lines. A friend recommended I try Claimyr (claimyr.com) to get through to an agent. I was skeptical but tried it - they got me connected to a DOL agent in about 25 minutes when I had been unable to get through for weeks. The agent I spoke to was able to see my claim was stuck because of an employer response issue and fixed it on the spot. Got my first payment 3 days later with all back pay. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/Rdqa1gKtxuE - might be worth trying if you're in a financial bind.

Im in a simular situation filed in August and still pending!!! so frustrating!!!! have you tried calling really early in the morning? like right when they open at 8am? thats how i finally got thru once but they still didnt help me just said to wait. this system is the WORST!!!!

Just to follow up on what others are saying - the 'high priority unit' isn't a myth, but it is overwhelmed. While you're waiting, make sure you're documenting your job search activities thoroughly. The DOL has been increasing their post-payment audits in 2025, and you don't want to deal with that headache later. Keep a spreadsheet with dates, company names, position titles, application methods, and any responses you receive. This will protect you if they question your eligibility later. Also, check your spam folder daily - some DOL emails get filtered there despite coming from official addresses.

Have you tried asking for a monetary determination letter? Sometimes requesting that specific document can trigger a review of your claim. My sister's claim was stuck for weeks until she specifically requested this document.

One more thing to check - log into your NY.gov ID account (not just the unemployment portal) and make sure your identity verification is fully completed. The new system implemented in April 2025 requires additional verification steps that weren't needed before. Some claims get stuck in pending because there's an identity verification issue that wasn't clearly communicated to the claimant. Look for any alerts or incomplete sections in your NY.gov ID profile.

This might sound strange, but try calling and saying you need to update your direct deposit information (even if you don't). That sometimes gets you to a different department that can actually see what's happening with your claim. When you get that person, then mention the real issue. Worked for me back in June when my claim was stuck.

I'm dealing with the exact same issue - filed in June and still pending after being told my claim was sent to the "high priority unit" back in August. I've called probably 15 times since then and keep getting different answers. Some reps say it's normal processing time, others say there's a system issue, and one even told me my claim wasn't in their system at all (which was clearly wrong since I can see it online). The lack of consistency is maddening! What's really frustrating is that I've been certifying weekly this whole time like they said, but I'm starting to worry that something is actually wrong with my claim and they just don't want to deal with figuring it out. Has anyone had success with contacting their local DOL office directly instead of the main phone line? I'm wondering if going in person might get better results than these phone calls that go nowhere. The financial stress is getting unbearable - I've had to borrow money from family just to keep my lights on. Really hoping some of these suggestions in this thread help because I'm running out of options.

I'm in almost the exact same boat - filed in late June and still stuck in pending after being told about the "high priority unit" in September. The waiting is absolutely brutal, especially when you're watching bills pile up and have no idea when (or if) anything will actually happen. I've been following some of the advice in this thread and wanted to share what I've tried so far: I did the early morning calling strategy and managed to get through around 8:10am last Wednesday, but the rep just gave me the same "keep waiting and certifying" response. I also checked my NY.gov ID account like Matthew suggested - everything looks complete there. One thing I noticed is that my claim shows an effective date online, which based on what Matthew said might be a good sign that it's actually in the system and not lost. But honestly, after reading everyone's experiences here, I'm starting to think the "high priority unit" is just where claims go to die slowly. Has anyone tried the Claimyr service that Ella mentioned? I'm getting desperate enough to try anything at this point. The financial strain is becoming impossible to manage, and I feel like I'm stuck in this endless loop of "keep waiting" with no real timeline or accountability from DOL.

I'm going through something very similar - filed in early August and my claim has been pending for almost 2 months now. I called last week and they told me the same thing about the "high priority unit" and gave me that same 518 number to watch for. It's incredibly frustrating because I've been doing everything right - certifying weekly, keeping detailed job search records, checking my messages daily - but still nothing. Reading through everyone's experiences here is both reassuring (knowing I'm not alone) and terrifying (seeing how long some people have been waiting). I'm definitely going to try some of these suggestions, especially the early morning calling strategy and maybe visiting a local office in person. The Claimyr service Ella mentioned sounds promising too - at this point I'm willing to try anything to actually talk to someone who can tell me what's really going on with my claim. The financial pressure is becoming unbearable. I never thought I'd be in a position where I'm rationing groceries and choosing which bills to pay late, but here we are. It's maddening that we're following all their rules and they can't even give us a realistic timeline or explanation for these delays. Hang in there everyone - hopefully some of these strategies will help us get through to someone who can actually resolve our claims.

I'm new to this community but unfortunately not new to this exact problem. Filed my unemployment claim back in mid-July and I'm still stuck in pending status too. Got the same runaround about the "high priority unit" when I called in late September - they gave me that exact same 518 number to watch for. It's now been over 3 months and I haven't received a single call or update. Reading through everyone's experiences here is both helpful and deeply concerning. It's clear this isn't an isolated issue but a systemic problem with how NYSDOL is handling claims in 2025. The consistency of everyone getting told about this "high priority unit" but then waiting months with no follow-up suggests they're either completely overwhelmed or using it as a way to buy time. I'm definitely going to try some of the strategies mentioned here - the early morning calling approach, visiting a local office in person, and maybe that Claimyr service if I can't get through otherwise. At this point I'm willing to try anything because the financial stress is becoming impossible to manage. Bills are stacking up and I'm having to make impossible choices about what to pay. Has anyone had any luck with contacting state representatives? I'm wondering if escalating to elected officials might put some pressure on DOL to actually address these massive delays. We shouldn't have to fight this hard just to access unemployment benefits we've paid into. Thanks for sharing your experiences everyone - it helps to know we're not alone in this frustrating situation.