NY unemployment website won't let me certify for this week's benefits - keeps saying 'already filed'

same exact thing happend to me last week! I hadn't certified yet but the system kept saying I already did. I panicked bc I really need that money for rent. What worked for me was trying at exactly 7:30am on a Tuesday. For some reason that's when the system reset for me and let me certify. Try different times during the day, their system is glitchy af

After 2 weeks of getting nowhere with the website, I tried this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) and they got me connected to a real person at unemployment in about 45 minutes. Talking to an agent got my benefits unlocked so fast after weeks of nothing. They have this system that waits on hold for you then calls your phone when an agent picks up. Best thing I tried after weeks of frustration with the website errors. Here's a video about how it works: https://youtu.be/Rdqa1gKtxuE

Call them!!! Seriously, you have to actually speak to a human to fix this. The website is hot garbage. I had this EXACT problem in February. Turns out someone had logged into my account (not me) and tried to certify but messed it up. The agent fixed it for me and put extra security on my account. Took me 47 calls to get through tho 🙃

The entire ny unemployment system is a joke. They spend millions on a 'new' website that somehow works WORSE than the old one. I bet they're marking people as certified without actually doing it to reduce their numbers. Typical government BS. The whole thing is designed to be so frustrating that people give up. Don't give up though! Keep calling and document EVERYTHING.

Have you tried logging in through the mobile app instead of the website? Sometimes they don't sync properly and the app might let you certify when the website won't. Worked for me once when I had a similar issue.

Here's what you need to do (coming from someone who used to work in IT support for a state agency): 1. Try certifying at EXACTLY midnight on Sunday when the system resets for the new week. This often clears glitches in the queue. 2. If that doesn't work, you NEED to speak with an agent. The system sometimes flags accounts for identity verification without telling you. 3. Document everything - take screenshots of errors, note times/dates you tried to certify. 4. When calling, try this pattern: call at 7:58am, then hang up and immediately redial at 8:00am sharp. This puts you at the front when systems open. 5. If all else fails, I've heard good things about claimyr.com - they'll wait on hold and get you connected to an agent who can override these system errors. This happens more than they admit. Last system update caused over 50,000 similar errors. Don't panic, it's fixable but requires actually talking to someone.

This litterally happened to my roomate. Turns out someone had hacked his account and was trying to steal his benefits! When he finally got through, they told him there were certification attempts from an IP address in like Florida or sumthing (we're in NY). CALL THEM IMMEDIATELY!!!!

Bruh i swear the ny unemployment website was coded by interns 💀 literally EVERY WEEK something breaks. Last month it wouldn't verify my ID, month before that my payments were "pending" for no reason, now this. Welcome to the club lol

Are you trying to certify for the correct week? The system runs Sunday-Saturday and you certify for the PREVIOUS week. A lot of people get confused and try to certify for the current week which gives that error. Just making sure!

I bet money it's their "security system" flagging your account. This happened to me in April. You literally CANNOT fix it online - no matter what you try. You have to call and verify your identity again. Took me 2 weeks of trying. When I finally got through, the agent was like "oh yeah we're seeing this a lot" THEN FIX IT!!!!! 🤬

Check ur email spam folder! Sometimes they send u messages about "additional information needed" that end up in spam. If u dont respond to those in 48hrs the system can lock ur certifications

Whatever you do, DO NOT submit multiple claims trying to fix it! My cousin did that and it flagged his account for fraud review which took 6 weeks to resolve. Just stick with trying to reach a human on the phone who can override the system error.

Anyone telling you to keep trying the website is wasting your time. I'm an IT project manager, and I can tell you these government systems have zero redundancy or error handling built in. Once your account gets stuck in a weird state, only database-level changes by an actual employee can fix it. Keep calling or use a service to get through.

U in NYC? Try the workerscenter on 77th, they have advocates who can somtimes help push unemployment claims through. Helped my sister when she had a similar issue

This happened to me and it's because my claim hit the 26-week mark and needed to be reviewed before continuing. System didn't tell me this AT ALL, just gave the error you described. Had to call to find out.