Will my roommate get backpay from NY unemployment after approval letter?

Yes he should get all the back weeks he certified for once they start paying. When I filed last year I waited almost 10 weeks with nothing, then suddenly got a huge deposit with everything owed. As long as he certified correctly for each week, the system tracks all of that. Just make sure he keeps certifying every week while waiting!

After waiting 6 weeks with zero response from unemployment, I tried this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that got me connected to an actual agent. Talking to an agent got my $ unlocked so fast - all my backpay hit my account 3 days later! Check out this video about how it works: https://youtu.be/Rdqa1gKtxuE

Usually yes but not always. My brother got approved after 9 weeks of waiting and only got paid going forward, nothing for the weeks he had already certified. Had to call repeatedly to get the back weeks released. The system is totally broken!!! Tell your roomate to check his payment history on the website to see exactly which weeks are being processed.

Theoretically yes, but in this broken system who knows? I'd recommend he call and specifically ask about backpay. Have him take screenshots of all his weekly certifications as proof. NY unemployment is a disaster, I had to call 27 times before getting someone who could actually help with my backpay issue.

OK so here's what your roommate needs to know about backpay with New York unemployment (I used to work as a temp in their call center): Backpay is AUTOMATIC for any weeks properly certified within your benefit year. The system tracks this. When your claim is approved, every eligible week you certified for should be released for payment. HOWEVER, here are common reasons backpay gets delayed or missed: 1. Missing or incorrect weekly certifications 2. Identity verification issues not fully resolved 3. System glitches (more common than they admit) 4. Employer protest on specific weeks 5. Work search requirement issues If the payment doesn't include all weeks within 5 business days of the approval letter, he NEEDS to contact them. The most reliable way to get through is honestly claimyr.com - it's what many former colleagues recommend because the phone systems are so overwhelmed. Make sure he checks his payment history online daily and confirms which weeks are showing as paid vs pending vs nothing. Document everything!

got approved after 2 months of waiting. got ALL my backpay in one lump sum, was like $4800. tell him to be patient but also check his payment history online everyday.

The system is supposed to automatically pay all certified weeks, but let's be real - NY unemployment is a dumpster fire right now. My claim was "approved" but backpay never came until I called. Keep calling until someone helps!

Tell ur roommate to login and check his payment history NOW! If it shows $0 for past weeks, something's wrong. If it shows amounts but says "pending" that's normal and means backpay is being processed. If nothing shows up at all for previous weeks, that's when he needs to call ASAP!

Sometimes the back pay comes in waves not all at once. dont freak out if he gets like 3 weeks first then the rest later

In my experience with NY unemployment backpay can take up to 3 weeks AFTER approval to hit your account. It's ridiculous but just how their ancient system works. They process current weeks first then go back and do the older weeks.

I waited 11 weeks with no payments, got approved, and then got all 11 weeks at once (literally like $5500 just dropped in my account overnight). Your friend should get all of his back pay as long as he certified correctly for each week that passed.

I'm in the EXACT same boat as your roommate. Filed in May, certified every week, got my approval letter July 15th, but still waiting on payments. I'll let you know if/when my backpay hits.

One thing to watch out for - if the DOL determined that any weeks weren't eligible (maybe he reported some income or answered a question wrong), those specific weeks might not get paid. The approval letter usually doesn't break this down week by week.

YOUR ROOMATE NEEDS TO CALL THEM!!!!! i went thru same thing, my claim was 'approved' but no backpay came, turns out there was a flag on my account that needed manual override. system is a JOKE. don't just wait!!

The only way I finally got my backpay was through my state representative's office. Call your local assembly member - they have special contacts at unemployment and can expedite claims. Worked for me after 3 months of getting nowhere.