NY unemployment owes me 5 weeks of backpay - anyone actually get theirs?

Same thing happened to me! They claimed I didnt certify for 3 weeks in March but I DID. I even had email confirmations. Took me literally 6 months of calling and emailing to finally get my backpay. The key is documentation - if you have any proof at all that you certified (screenshots, confirmation emails, etc) don't give up. I would call them every other day until I got resolution.

After weeks of calling and getting nowhere with backpay, I found this service called Claimyr that helped me finally get a human on the phone! They do the waiting on hold for you then call when a real person picks up. Talking to an agent got my money released within 48 hours after explaining my situation. Best decision I made during this whole unemployment nightmare! Here's a video that explains how it works: https://youtu.be/Rdqa1gKtxuE

I had the EXACT same issue! They claimed I didn't certify for 7 weeks when I absolutely did. Here's what worked for me: I filed a complaint with my state representative's office. No joke, I got a call back from unemployment within 48 hours after my rep's office contacted them. They fixed my backpay issue immediately after that. Politicians' offices have special contacts at unemployment that can actually get things done.

The NY unemployment system is COMPLETELY broken. I've been fighting for backpay for 3 months. Every time I call I get a different answer. One rep told me my claim was approved for backpay, next one said there was no record of that. Another said I needed to submit additional documentation, then another said that was unnecessary. It's like they're deliberately making it confusing so people give up.

OK so I went through this whole backpay nightmare last year and eventually got paid. Here's my comprehensive guide on getting your NY unemployment backpay: 1) Document EVERYTHING. Screenshots, emails, dates/times of all certifications, and keep a log of every person you speak with. 2) Submit your backpay request through the online portal AND also send a detailed email to the backpay department (backpayrequest@labor.ny.gov) 3) After 2 weeks of no response, start calling daily. Be polite but firm. Ask specifically for a Tier 2 specialist who handles backpay issues. 4) If still no resolution after 3 weeks, contact your state assembly member and state senator. They have dedicated staff who handle unemployment issues and special contacts at NYSDOL. 5) As a last resort, file a complaint with the Department of Labor ombudsman office. Alternatively, if you're struggling to even get someone on the phone (which is often the hardest part), I used claimyr.com to get through. They wait on hold so you don't have to, then call you when an agent is on the line. Completely worth it to finally resolve my backpay issues. Don't give up! The system is frustrating by design, but persistence pays off eventually.

unpopular opinion maybe but i had better luck just physically going to a dept of labor office than dealing with phone/email. waited in line for 3 hours but actually got my backpay issue resolved same day. if ur near a physical office might be worth trying

I hate to be pessimistic, but after 4 months I gave up on getting my backpay. The amount of time and stress I was spending trying to get it wasn't worth it anymore. I just accepted the loss and moved on with my life. Sometimes that's the best option for your mental health.

Check if your claim might have been flagged for identity verification without them telling you. This happened to me - they secretly put a hold on my account saying I needed to verify my identity but NEVER TOLD ME. I only found out after getting someone on the phone. After I verified my identity, all my backpay was released within a week.

The most ridiculous thing is how they claim you didn't certify when you literally have proof that you did. This happened to thousands of people during their system "upgrade" last year. Their database clearly lost certification records but they refuse to admit it. Classic government incompetence 🙄

hey OP - check your spam folder! i was waiting for months before i realized all their emails were going to my spam. they had actually been trying to contact me for additional info before they could process my backpay.

This is probably going to sound crazy, but try calling right when they open, but on Wednesday specifically. For some reason, I've had WAY better luck getting through on Wednesdays, and the agents seem less overwhelmed. I got my backpay processed after 6 weeks of trying by following this weird Wednesday morning strategy.

This won't be a popular opinion, but the best way to get your backpay is to be a KAREN (sorry!!). I was nice for 2 months and got nowhere. Then I started being super assertive, asking for supervisors, taking names, stating laws and regulations they were violating, and suddenly my backpay appeared within a week. You can be polite AND firm, but you have to advocate strongly for yourself in this system.

After struggling to get through on the phone for weeks and getting disconnected every time, I finally tried claimyr.com and got connected to a real person at NY unemployment within 2 hours. Explained my backpay situation and the agent was able to see that I had actually certified correctly. They released all my payments the next day. Sometimes you just need to actually talk to the right person who can see what really happened.

Don't listen to anyone telling you to give up. I fought for 5 months and finally got all my backpay ($7600). The system is designed to discourage you from pursuing what's rightfully yours. Stay persistent and document absolutely everything. Request your calls be escalated to a supervisor. If all else fails, contact your state representative - that's what finally worked for me.

Y'all need to stop complaining and just do what I did. File a formal complaint with the NY Department of Labor Inspector General. Google the form, fill it out detailing exactly how they're violating their own policies by claiming you didn't certify when you have proof you did. I got a call back within 3 DAYS and my backpay was released a week later. They don't mess around with inspector general complaints.