NY unemployment stuck in pending status for 2 months despite ID verification

Thank you! I didn't realize they might be doing extra verification beyond ID.me. I checked my online inbox and there's nothing there. I'll try calling right at 8am tomorrow. Do you know if there's any way to check what's specifically causing the delay? The uncertainty is killing me.

Wow, 10 weeks?? That's terrifying. I'm already struggling to pay bills. Did you do anything special that might have triggered them to finally process it?

nothin special just kept certifying every week. one morning i woke up and BOOM all the payments hit my account lol. hang in there

these services that charge you to get thru to unemployment should be ILLEGAL!! the system is already taking advantage of us and now we gotta PAY just to get our benefits?? absolute bs

I get the frustration, but after 7 weeks of no income and spending hours on hold getting nowhere, I was willing to try anything. I'm not saying it's right that these services need to exist, but it solved my problem when nothing else worked.

I understand both perspectives. It's frustrating that we might need to pay for something that should be accessible, but at this point I'm desperate enough to try anything. How long after you got through did your payments start coming in?

Thank you for this detailed information! I did work in both NY and NJ during my base period, so maybe that's causing the delay? Is there any documentation I can proactively submit to help with the multi-state wage investigation?

For multi-state wage investigations, having your W-2s from both states ready is helpful. You can proactively upload them to your document section labeled as "Additional Wage Documentation." This won't necessarily speed up the process, but it means you'll have everything ready when they review your case. The interstate wage verification process is unfortunately one of the longer delays in the system because it requires coordination between different state systems.

That's what I'm worried about - that there's a simple explanation but no way to find out what it is without talking to someone. Did your brother just keep calling until he got through, or did he do something specific to reach someone?

he called like 50 times over 3 days. finally got thru on a wednesday around 2pm. he said thats when its less busy for some reason.

Thanks for this breakdown. I was laid off, but it was a small startup that closed suddenly, so maybe there's some issue with the employer verification? I did work for multiple employers during the base period (3 different jobs), so that could be complicating things too. Is there anything I can do to help move the process along, or is it just a waiting game at this point?

Both of those factors definitely complicate claims. With a startup that closed suddenly, NYSDOL may be struggling to verify the closure if the company didn't properly notify the state. And multiple employers in the base period means they're calculating your benefit rate across multiple sources. You can help move things along by: 1. Having documentation ready for all three employers (separation notices, final pay stubs) 2. If you have any contact info for the startup's owners, have that available 3. Proactively upload your W-2s from all three employers to your NYSDOL document portal 4. If you can get through to a claims specialist, specifically mention the business closure and multiple employers Unfortunately, much of it is still a waiting game, but being prepared with this documentation can speed things up once they do reach your claim.

Good thought! Just checked spam but nothing there either. I've been checking it regularly since I applied.

While I understand your frustration, I can assure you the system isn't designed to make people give up. The NYSDOL is dealing with outdated technology and unprecedented claim volumes. What seems like a "30-second fix" often requires multiple verification steps on the backend that aren't visible to you. The department processes thousands of claims daily and is working to improve communication. I know that doesn't help when you're waiting for benefits, but I wanted to provide some context.

with all due respect thats NONSENSE. they had 5 YEARS since covid to fix the system. the technology excuse is just that - an EXCUSE. billions in tax dollars and they cant figure out how to send an email when theres a problem?? give me a break.

That's a great suggestion - I hadn't thought of that! I'll try reaching out to them on social media today. Thank you!