Waiting WEEKS for my NY unemployment back payments - effective days showing zero?

I had the exact same problem last month. The 'effective days: 0' usually means there's an eligibility issue they're investigating. Did you get any emails or letters in your online message center? Sometimes they need additional documentation but don't tell you directly - you have to check your online portal messages.

same here, waited 7 wks no $$$. did u work in another state last yr? that was my prob

This is a common issue right now with the NY unemployment system. The "effective days: 0" usually indicates one of three things: 1. Identity verification pending (most common cause in 2025) 2. Employer dispute about your separation reason 3. System glitch with the new payment processing system they rolled out in January Here's what you should do: 1. Keep certifying every week without fail - you'll get all back payments once resolved 2. Check if your ID verification is complete (click on "View My ID Verification Status" in your account) 3. Upload any termination/layoff documentation if you haven't already 4. Check if you answered any weekly certification questions differently than your initial application And yes, unfortunately you need to speak with a claims specialist to get this fixed. The online system won't resolve it automatically.

After reading ur post i just checked mine and im having the EXACT same issue!!! effective days 0 for all my weeks too! This is so frustrating!!!!

I went through this exact situation in March. The ID verification backlog is insane right now. I spent weeks trying to call with no luck, then I found this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that got me through to an agent in about 20 minutes. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/Rdqa1gKtxuE They basically keep calling for you until they get through, then connect you. The agent I spoke with manually pushed my ID verification through and I got all my backpay within 3 days. Worth every penny considering I was about to miss car payments.

When this happened to me it was because my previous employer contested my unemployment claim. They told the DOL that I quit when I was actually laid off. The effective days showed 0 until I had a hearing and won my case. Check if your employer is contesting your claim.

omg the ny unemployment system is BROKEN!!!! ive been fighting with them for 3 months now. they keep saying different things every time i call. one person says i need to verify my identity, next person says my claim is fine just waiting for processing, then another says theres a problem with my employment history. i HATE them so much!!!! good luck getting actual help

Just to update what I wrote earlier - I checked the NYSDOL Twitter account and they posted yesterday that they're experiencing a backlog specifically with ID verification cases. They're prioritizing claims that are older than 4 weeks, so you should be getting some movement soon since you're at 6 weeks. Make sure your contact information is up to date because they sometimes call to verify information.

I tried Claimyr last week for the same issue (stuck in ID verification with effective days showing 0). Finally got through to someone who could help after trying for weeks on my own. The agent told me there was a flag on my account because I had two employers in my base period, and they were waiting on information from my second employer. She was able to override it since they had already waited past the employer response deadline. Got paid all my back weeks 2 days later. Before using the service I was on the verge of taking out a payday loan just to make rent.

UPDATE: I used Claimyr this morning and got through to an agent in about 25 minutes! You guys were right - it was an ID verification issue combined with them waiting for info from my previous employer. The agent was able to see that they had sent a request to my employer who never responded, and since it was past the deadline, she manually approved my claim! She said I should see all my back payments within 3 business days. THANK YOU all for your help - I was seriously about to have a breakdown over this.