NY unemployment denied benefits for May despite severance ending - getting contradictory answers from NYSDOL

You're definitely not alone in this. The NYSDOL has been notoriously inconsistent with how they handle claims that involve severance periods. Here's what you need to do: 1. Document EVERYTHING - dates you called, names of representatives, what they told you 2. Request a formal determination letter regarding your May benefits 3. If you've been certifying weekly during May, print or screenshot those certifications as proof 4. Submit a specific message through your online account referencing your documented calls The system often shows different information to different representatives depending on which screens they're accessing. Your May claim might be in a separate area of their system that the second rep wasn't checking.

I was in a similar nightmare last month with NY unemployment. Called 32 times in one week and either couldn't get through or got completely different answers each time. What finally worked was using Claimyr (claimyr.com) to get past the phone tree and actually speak to a senior agent. They have this service that gets you through to a real person at NYSDOL without the endless waiting. Watched their demo (https://youtu.be/Rdqa1gKtxuE) and was connected to someone who actually knew what they were talking about within 15 minutes. The agent was able to see both my claims and fix the issue with my missing weeks. Worth trying since the portal messages go nowhere.

this happens all the time with NY unemployment!!! i had the EXACT smae issue but with June. they told me benefits were approved then another person said they werent then another said i had to reapply. system is COMPLETEY BROKEN!!!!

The issue you're experiencing is related to how the NYSDOL system handles claims that overlap with severance periods. When your initial claim was filed during your severance period, the system created what's called a "future effective claim" for May. However, these sometimes don't transfer properly in their database. Specifically request to speak with a Tier 2 claims specialist who has access to the claims database backend. Regular representatives often can only see the main interface. The Tier 2 specialists can see and manipulate claims that are in this "pending future" status. Also, file an official request for reconsideration regarding your May benefits. Use form TC-403.1 which you can download from the NYSDOL website. This creates a formal paper trail and triggers a mandatory review.

I'm going through something similar right now!!! The way NYSDOL handles these claims is absolutely INSANE. I got laid off in April, had severance until mid-May, and now they're telling me different things about my eligibility every time I call. Honestly, this whole system feels designed to make people give up on benefits they're legally entitled to. I've spent HOURS on hold just to get disconnected right when someone finally answers. It's like they're hoping we'll just go away. I've been documenting everything obsessively - screenshots, call logs, names, ID numbers. If I ever get this resolved, I'm filing a formal complaint with the state ombudsman because this is ridiculous!

wait so if u get severance u can still get unemployment after it ends??? i thought if u got severance u cant get unemployment at all

last year they owed me for 3 weeks and i NEVER got it. same runaround with different reps saying different things. good luck but dont get ur hopes up :/

One more important point - when you do manage to reach someone, ask them to specifically check the "Claims History Audit Log" in their system. This is a chronological record of all actions taken on your claim, including the creation of that May-specific claim you mentioned. Any representative with proper training can access this, and it will show definitively whether that claim was created and what happened to it. If the log shows the claim was created but then altered or deleted, that's a system error they need to correct. If it shows the claim was never created despite what you were told, that's a different type of issue. Either way, having them check this specific log is crucial to resolving your situation.

Update on my earlier comment - I just remembered something else that might help. When I was dealing with my missing benefits issue, the agent told me there's a specific code they need to enter in their system for claims that transition from severance periods. It was something like "SEV-TRN" or similar. If the first representative didn't enter this code correctly when setting up your May claim, it might explain why the second rep couldn't find it. Ask specifically if they can check if this code was properly applied to your account when your severance ended.

Just a thought - have you checked if your May certifications might be visible on your payment history page but just not processed yet? Sometimes they show up there in a "pending" status even when reps say they don't exist. The NYSDOL website is so poorly designed that different screens show different information. Also, did they give you any specific reason WHY the May claim "doesn't exist anymore"? Did someone cancel it? Did it expire? Was it rejected for some reason? Without an actual explanation, they're just giving you the runaround, and you deserve better than that!

Based on all the information in this thread, it sounds like you're dealing with a system error rather than an eligibility issue. Your best course of action is to: 1. Try to reach a Tier 2 specialist who can access the audit log as mentioned 2. Submit the TC-403.1 form as formal documentation of the issue 3. Continue weekly certifications even for past weeks if the system allows it 4. Request a formal determination letter that you can appeal if necessary The good news is that if you're entitled to these benefits, you will eventually receive them - including back pay for May. The bad news is that it may take persistent effort on your part. Don't give up! Document every contact attempt, follow up regularly, and be prepared to appeal if necessary.