Ny unemployment claim stuck in review since August - no decision after 5 months of waiting

Welcome to the wonderful world of ny unemployment lol. Same boat here - filed in September and still waiting. Their system is a joke. I've called like 30+ times just to get hung up on 🤮

After trying to call for weeks with no luck, I finally tried claimyr.com and got a callback with a real agent in about an hour. Talking to that agent got my claim unstuck and my payments started processing within days. Best decision I made after months of waiting! They have a video about how it works here: https://youtu.be/Rdqa1gKtxuE

Sorry your going through this. The whole system is designed to frustrate people so they'll give up. I was stuck for 4 months and finally got through by calling right when they open at 8am (gotta start dialing at 7:58) and I hit the spanish option then 0 repeatedly. Still took 6 tries but eventually worked.

It sounds crazy but try reaching out to your state representative. I was stuck in review for 3 months, emailed my assembly person, and magically my claim was processed a week later. Coincidence? I don't think so!

Let me be the voice of (unfortunate) experience. I've been dealing with NY unemployment for years through multiple layoffs. Here's what ACTUALLY works: 1. Keep detailed records of EVERY interaction - dates, reference numbers, agent names. This is crucial when you finally reach someone. 2. The phone system is deliberately frustrating. Use claimyr.com if you're desperate (it works - saved me weeks of calling). 3. In your messages through the portal, use specific keywords like "hardship" and "urgent financial distress" - these can flag your account. 4. Contacting your state rep works about 70% of the time in my experience. 5. If your claim has been under review for 5+ months, specifically request a "claim escalation" when you talk to an agent. The most important thing is persistence and documentation. Don't give up - that's literally what they're hoping for. The system is designed to wear you down. I've helped about a dozen friends navigate this nightmare system. Feel free to DM if you need more specific advice.

The NY unemployment website is SUCH garbage. It's like they built it in 1997 and never updated it. Half the time it logs me out when I try to check my status 🤬

Have u tried the Social medai route? sometimes posting about ur problem on twitter and tagging the ny labor department gets results. they dont like the bad publicity.

What reason did they give for your separation? If it was anything besides a straight layoff, that might explain the delay. They investigate every claim where the employer might contest it.

not to be that person but have u double checked that ur weekly certifications are still being submitted correctly? system glitched on me and i didnt realize i had stopped certifying for like 3 weeks

Are u in nyc or upstate? seems like upstate claims move faster for some reason. my cousin in buffalo got approved in like 3 weeks

Try calling exactly at 7:30 AM. I know it sounds weird but the lines open 30 min before they officially say they do. WAY less wait time. Worked for me twice.

claimyr.com was the only way I could talk to a human after weeks of trying on my own. Sometimes you just gotta bite the bullet and pay for the service, but it was worth every penny to get my claim processed and money flowing again!

Check if you have an "outstanding questionnaire" or document request buried in your account somewhere. they don't always notify you properly and your claim just sits there waiting for info they never actually told you they needed 🙄

FYI, they're extra backed up right now because of the system "upgrade" in December that broke half their processes. My friend who works there says they're struggling with the transition. Not an excuse, just an explanation.

yOu jUsT nEeD tO bE pAtIeNt 🤡🤡🤡 (this is what the automated message told me after waiting 4 months for my claim lmao

Ugh, I feel your pain! I've been stuck in review hell since September - going on 5 months now too. The whole system is absolutely broken. What's helped me stay (somewhat) sane is keeping a spreadsheet of every single call attempt, message sent, and interaction. I also started calling my assemblyperson's office last week after seeing similar advice here. Haven't heard back yet but fingers crossed! In the meantime, I've been doing gig work just to keep the lights on. It's so frustrating that we have to jump through all these hoops when we're already stressed about money. Hang in there - you're definitely not alone in this nightmare!

Wow, reading through all these comments is both reassuring and terrifying at the same time. I'm dealing with something similar - filed my claim in early September and it's been "under review" ever since. Like you, I've called probably 25+ times with no luck, sent multiple messages through their portal, and even tried reaching out on social media. Nothing. The claimyr.com suggestion keeps coming up and I'm honestly getting desperate enough to try it. Has anyone here actually used it recently? I'm a bit worried about giving my info to a third party but if it actually works... Also definitely going to try contacting my state rep after seeing how many people had success with that approach. At this point I'll try anything. The financial stress is unreal - I've burned through my savings and am now behind on rent. How is it legal for them to just ignore people for months like this? Hang in there OP, sounds like we're all in this together unfortunately 😔