NY unemployment showing $0 balance with 104 effective days - claim under review since August
I submitted my unemployment claim back on 8/15 and my identity was verified promptly according to the website. However, my claim balance is still showing $0 and says I have 104 effective days remaining. I've been certifying weekly as instructed, but nothing has changed. I've called the ny unemployment office multiple times, but all they tell me is that my claim is 'under review' and they can't provide any additional information. It's been over 9 weeks now and I'm getting seriously worried about paying my bills. Has anyone else experienced this long of a review period? Is there anything I can do to speed up this process? This waiting game is driving me crazy.
41 comments
Emma Anderson
Yeah thats pretty common unfortunately. My claim was stuck in review for almost 3 months. The system is totally broken. Keep certifying every week though so when they finally approve it, you'll get backpay for all those weeks.
0 coins
Javier Morales
3 MONTHS? That's insane... did you do anything special to finally get it approved or did it just randomly go through?
0 coins
1M
Emma Anderson
Nothing special tbh. Just woke up one day and boom! all my money was there. Its super random how they process things.
0 coins
27d
Malik Thompson
Same happened to me! Literally nothing for 11 weeks then suddenly all the backpay hit my account overnight. The system is a complete joke 🤡
0 coins
25d
Write a comment...
Isabella Ferreira
After two months of getting nowhere, I finally found a solution! Used this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that got me connected with an actual human at ny unemployment instead of waiting on hold forever. Worth every penny because talking to an agent got my $ unlocked so fast. They even have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/Rdqa1gKtxuE
0 coins
CosmicVoyager
this sounds too good to be true. does it actually work or is this just another scam?
0 coins
28d
Isabella Ferreira
Not a scam at all! I was super skeptical too but was desperate. They just call and wait on hold, then connect you when an agent picks up. Beats the hell out of calling 50 times a day yourself.
0 coins
27d
Ravi Kapoor
wait hold up - does this actually work or is it just the usual BS? ive been stuck on review for 6 weeks and im about to lose my mind
0 coins
25d
Isabella Ferreira
It worked for me! My claim was stuck for 9 weeks, used Claimyr, talked to an agent that same day, and my claim was processed 2 days later. Check their site claimyr.com - they explain how it all works.
0 coins
25d
Freya Nielsen
another day, another company promising to fix the unfixable unemployment system lol
0 coins
25d
Isabella Ferreira
Trust me, I felt the same way. But after trying everything else and getting nowhere, this actually worked. The key is getting through to a real person who can help.
0 coins
25d
Write a comment...
Omar Mahmoud
I had the exact same issue. What fixed it for me was calling right at 8:01am when they open. I got through after only a 10 minute wait and spoke to someone who could actually help. The afternoon calls always got me the useless 'under review' response from basic call center people.
0 coins
Chloe Harris
This works sometimes but I tried 5 days in a row at opening and still couldn't get through ðŸ˜
0 coins
28d
Omar Mahmoud
Ugh yeah its hit or miss. Took me like 7 attempts before I got lucky. The whole system is designed to frustrate ppl into giving up i swear
0 coins
26d
Write a comment...
Diego Vargas
Have you tried contacting your state representative? I was stuck in review hell for 6 weeks, emailed my state assembly person, and they escalated my claim. Got resolved within 10 days after that.
0 coins
Write a comment...
NeonNinja
Ok here's what you need to do to fix this issue with ny unemployment (I used to work in a related department): First, make sure you've uploaded ALL requested documents correctly. Many claims get stuck because something was uploaded incorrectly or is illegible. Second, document every single call - date, time, who you spoke with, what they said. This creates a paper trail. Third, be persistent but strategic. Don't just call the main number - look for specialized departments. The appeals unit can sometimes help even if you're not appealing yet. Fourth, if you need to speak with someone quickly, try claimyr.com - they've helped thousands of people get through the phone lines. I've seen cases where just getting a live agent immediately unlocks a claim that was sitting for months. Fifth, contact your state representative AND the Department of Labor ombudsman simultaneously. Having pressure from both directions speeds things up. Finally, check for identity verification issues. Sometimes claims get flagged for additional verification but they never notify you properly. Hope this helps! The system is broken but there are ways to navigate it.
0 coins
Javier Morales
Thank you so much for this detailed response! I'll try all of these. Have you heard anything about how long reviews are taking right now specifically? Is 9+ weeks normal?
0 coins
25d
NeonNinja
Unfortunately 8-12 weeks is becoming the norm for complex reviews. But getting through to the right person can cut that down dramatically. Good luck!
0 coins
25d
Write a comment...
Anastasia Popov
did u answer any of ur weekly questions wrong? i accidentally answered one question wrong bout being 'ready to work' and my claim was stuck at $0 for weeks until i got thru to an agent who fixed it
0 coins
Javier Morales
I double-checked all my answers and I'm pretty sure they're all correct. I've been saying I'm ready and available to work every week. 🤔
0 coins
25d
Write a comment...
Sean Murphy
Check ur spam folder!!! I had the same issue and it turned out they had sent me an email requesting additional info, but it went to my spam folder. Once I provided that info, my claim was processed in 3 days.
0 coins
Write a comment...
Zara Khan
the ny unemployment system is completely broken. i was in the same situation last year and what finally worked was filing a complaint with the state attorney general's office. sounds extreme but they contacted DOL on my behalf and suddenly my claim started moving.
0 coins
Luca Ferrari
Wow that's actually smart. Do you have a link for how to file a complaint with them?
0 coins
25d
Zara Khan
Just google NY attorney general complaint form. Takes like 10 mins to fill out. Document everything!
0 coins
25d
Nia Davis
i tried this and they just sent me back to unemployment 🙄 glad it worked for you tho
0 coins
25d
Write a comment...
Mateo Martinez
Try Twitter! I know it sounds weird but I tweeted at @NYSLabor with my issue (not including personal info) and they DM'd me asking for my info to look into it. Had my claim fixed within a week!
0 coins
Write a comment...
QuantumQueen
Do you have a complicated work history? I was stuck at $0 because I had worked in two different states in my base period and they had to verify my out-of-state wages. Took them forever but eventually got fixed.
0 coins
Javier Morales
I did work in NJ for about 3 months last year, but most of my work was in NY. I wonder if that's causing the delay...
0 coins
25d
QuantumQueen
Thats probably it!!! Interstate wage claims take FOREVER to process. They have to get wage info from the other state and it's a whole mess.
0 coins
25d
Write a comment...
Aisha Rahman
I was having the same problm but finally fixed it last week! After trying everything, I used a service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that connected me with an agent at ny unemployment. The agent looked at my claim and found that it was flagged for manual review due to my previous employer contesting it. They pushed it through on the spot! Talking to an agent got my $ unlocked so fast - best decision ever.
0 coins
Ethan Wilson
yeah right, another 'miracle solution'... what's the catch? 🙄
0 coins
25d
Aisha Rahman
No catch! They just call unemployment for you and stay on hold, then connect you when someone answers. Saved me hours of hold time and frustration.
0 coins
25d
Yuki Sato
Is this different from that auto-dialer app thing? How does it work?
0 coins
25d
Aisha Rahman
It's more advanced than an auto-dialer. They have a system that navigates the phone tree, waits on hold, and then calls YOU when they get a human. Check out their site claimyr.com or their youtube video to see how it works.
0 coins
25d
Write a comment...
Carmen Flores
Have you checked if ur account is flagged for ID verification? Sometimes even if the website says verified, there could be a secondary verification needed. Call and specifically ask if there are any 'flags' or 'holds' on your account.
0 coins
Write a comment...
Andre Dubois
Make sure you're not missing any messages in your unemployment online account inbox! I swear they hide the important stuff in there and never email you about it. Log in and check every tab.
0 coins
Javier Morales
Thanks for the tip! I just checked and don't see anything in there besides the standard certification reminders. So frustrating!
0 coins
25d
Write a comment...
CyberSamurai
not to freak u out but my friends claim was stuck for 13 weeks and turns out someone else had filed using his info in another state. make sure u ask specifically about fraud when u call!!!
0 coins
Javier Morales
Oh no that's scary! I'll definitely ask about that next time I call. Did your friend get it resolved?
0 coins
25d
CyberSamurai
yeah but it took forever and he had to file police reports and everything. total nightmare.
0 coins
25d
Write a comment...
Zoe Alexopoulos
everyone saying 'keep calling' but that literally doesnt work anymore. the phone lines are designed to keep us out. after 2 months of trying, i used claimyr.com and got through in ONE DAY. it was the only way I could talk to a live agent who fixed my claim on the spot.
0 coins
Write a comment...