Quick question - are you talking about a phone interview or an in-person appointment? Because phone interviews for adjudication get scheduled automatically and you'll get a call, but if it's something else like a job search seminar those might be different.

I went through something similar a few months ago. While you're waiting for the appointment letter, make sure to keep certifying for benefits and document everything - save screenshots of any messages you see about the review, keep records of when you called, etc. Also check both your online account messages AND your physical mailbox daily. Sometimes the appointment notices come through regular mail even if everything else is electronic. The worst thing that happened to me was missing the appointment because I didn't realize it was scheduled, so stay vigilant about checking both!

I work for a workers' compensation attorney and see this situation frequently. Since you mentioned this was a work-related injury, you should definitely look into filing a workers' compensation claim if you haven't already. Workers' comp can provide additional benefits beyond short-term disability and may cover more of your lost wages. You might also be entitled to temporary total disability payments through workers' comp, which could be higher than your current 60%. The key is that workers' comp and disability benefits can sometimes be coordinated, and there may be legal protections for your job once you're ready to return. I'd strongly recommend consulting with a workers' comp attorney - most offer free consultations for work injuries.

I went through something similar when I hurt my shoulder at my warehouse job two years ago. The short-term disability barely covered my rent, let alone everything else. What really helped me was applying for SNAP benefits (food stamps) and seeing if I qualified for any utility assistance programs through HEAP. My county also had an emergency assistance program that helped with one month of rent. It's not unemployment money, but these programs can really help stretch what you're getting from disability. Also, if you have any credit cards or loans, call them and explain your situation - many companies have hardship programs that can temporarily reduce or pause payments. Hang in there, the financial stress during disability is real but there are resources out there to help bridge the gap.

The whole NYS Department of Labor system is a nightmare honestly. Between the website crashes, the phone lines being jammed, and unclear instructions about what documentation they actually want, it's like they're trying to make it impossible to get benefits. At least now I know I don't have to upload every single week.

I've been dealing with the same frustrating upload issues! What finally worked for me was creating a simple table in Google Docs with my job search activities, then downloading it as a PDF. Make sure the file name doesn't have any special characters - just use something like "JobSearch_Week_01_23_2025.pdf". Also, try uploading during off-peak hours like early morning or late evening when fewer people are using the system. The servers seem less overloaded then and I've had better success getting files to actually submit.

I'm going through this exact same nightmare right now! Just completed my ID.me verification 2 days ago and I'm still getting that automated message when I call the unemployment line. It's so frustrating because I did everything correctly and got all the confirmation emails, but their system just won't recognize it. This thread has been incredibly helpful though - I was starting to panic that I had somehow messed up the verification process. Reading everyone's experiences is really reassuring that this is just a common glitch with NY's system. Just tried the web portal at labor.ny.gov like so many people suggested and I was able to certify successfully even though the phone system is still being stubborn! It's honestly crazy that this ID.me integration issue is still happening so frequently in 2025 when it's clearly affecting tons of people every week. But I'm really grateful for this community helping each other navigate these frustrating system problems. Definitely saving that technical support number (855-829-3674) just in case I need it if this takes longer than expected. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences and making me feel less alone in dealing with this mess!

I'm dealing with this exact same issue right now! Just completed my ID.me verification 3 days ago and I'm still getting that automated message when I call the DOL line. It's so frustrating because I got all the confirmation emails and the green checkmark, but their phone system acts like it never happened. This thread has been incredibly helpful - I was starting to worry I had messed something up during verification. Just tried the web portal at labor.ny.gov like everyone suggested and was able to certify successfully even though the phone system is still being stubborn! What a relief to know there's a workaround. It's honestly ridiculous that NY still hasn't fixed this ID.me integration problem when it's clearly affecting so many people every single week. But I'm really grateful for this community sharing experiences and solutions. Definitely saving that technical support number (855-829-3674) in case I need it if this drags on past the 7 business day timeframe. Thanks everyone for making me feel less alone in dealing with this broken system!

This thread has been such a lifesaver! I'm currently on day 2 of waiting after getting that same "claim can now be paid" email and was starting to spiral with anxiety. Reading everyone's experiences has shown me that 5-8 days is totally normal for that first payment to hit. I had no idea about checking the Payment History section or that "Pending" status is what to expect initially. Also super grateful for that automated phone line number someone shared - I've been dreading having to call and wait on hold for hours! One question for the group: has anyone had experience with the payment coming on a specific day of the week? I keep seeing Tuesday mentioned - is that when NYSDOL typically processes payments? Thanks again everyone for sharing your real experiences. This is exactly the kind of practical info that makes this whole confusing process manageable!

Hey everyone! Just wanted to jump in as someone who literally just went through this exact situation last week. I got that same confusing "claim can now be paid" email and was totally panicking because like you said, it doesn't actually say "approved" anywhere! After reading through all these helpful responses, I can confirm what everyone is saying - that email IS your approval notification, just worded in typical government-speak. Mine took exactly 6 days to hit my account via direct deposit. One thing that really helped my anxiety was setting up account alerts through my bank app so I got notified immediately when the deposit came through. Also want to echo what others have said about checking your banking info for typos - such an easy thing to overlook but can cause major delays. The most important thing is definitely keeping up with those weekly certifications no matter what. Even when you're waiting for that first payment, don't skip a week or you'll create bigger headaches for yourself. This community has been amazing for getting real-world advice that you just can't find on the official NYSDOL site. Hang in there - the hardest part is behind you now that you've got that approval email!