This is such a common issue and it's maddening! I went through something similar about 6 months ago. The system kept accepting my certifications but then acting like I never submitted them. Turned out there was a work search verification flag on my account that I had no idea about. One thing that might help while you're trying to get through to someone - screenshot or write down your confirmation numbers every time you certify. When I finally got a rep on the phone, having those confirmation numbers helped prove I had been certifying regularly, and they were able to see the certifications in their system even though my online account didn't show them as processed. Also, if you're still having trouble getting through by phone, try calling right when they open (usually 8am) or during lunch hours when call volume might be lower. The wait times are brutal but persistence pays off. Hope you get this sorted out soon!

I just went through this exact same nightmare last month! The certification loop is so frustrating - I was certifying every few days thinking maybe it would finally stick. Turns out I had a "pending determination" on my account that was invisible to me but blocking all my certifications from processing. What finally worked for me was calling the main NYSDOL number (888-209-8124) at exactly 8:00 AM on a Tuesday. I know everyone says the phones are impossible, but I got through after about 45 minutes of busy signals by hitting redial constantly. The rep immediately saw the issue - apparently my previous employer had contested my claim and it triggered an automatic hold. She cleared it in about 5 minutes and released 3 weeks of backed-up payments the same day. The key was getting to someone who could actually see the backend of my account, because the online portal shows nothing about these hidden flags. Don't give up! Keep that confirmation number documentation and try the early morning calling strategy. The system is broken but there are real people who can fix it once you reach them.

Just wanted to share what worked for me after dealing with this nightmare for 3 days straight! I was getting the same OKTA verification loop where it would just hang forever. Turns out the issue was my VPN - once I disconnected it completely and restarted my browser, the verification went through immediately. Also make sure you're not using any ad blockers or privacy extensions that might be interfering with the authentication process. Hope this helps someone! 🙏

Had this exact same issue last week! What finally worked for me was logging out completely, clearing my browser cookies specifically for the NY unemployment site (not just cache), and then waiting about 30 minutes before trying again. Something about their session timing seems to get messed up. Also try accessing the site during off-peak hours like early morning - seems like their servers get overloaded during busy times. Don't give up, the system is buggy but it does eventually work! 💪

This is definitely a system error - you should only have one waiting week per benefit year! I had something similar happen to me last year. The key is to keep calling until you get someone who actually knows what they're doing. Document everything like Josef said and don't let them tell you it's normal because it's not. The system has been extra glitchy since they updated it. Hope you get it sorted out quickly!

I work at a benefits advocacy nonprofit and can confirm this is 100% a system error. NY law is clear - only ONE waiting week per benefit year, period. What's happening is the system isn't properly recognizing your previous benefit year when you restart claiming after a break. Here's my advice: when you call (definitely use that claimyr service if you can afford it), ask to speak specifically to a "claims examiner" not just a regular agent. Tell them you need a "waiting week waiver review" for duplicate waiting weeks in the same benefit year. Use those exact words - it'll get you to the right department faster. Also, check if your benefit year actually expired between your claims. If you filed in Sept 2022 and are claiming again in summer 2023, you might technically be in a new benefit year which WOULD require a new waiting week. But based on your timeline it sounds like you're still in the same benefit year so this is definitely their mistake. Keep us updated on how it goes! This has been happening to way too many people lately 😤

I just went through this exact process a few months ago! My benefits ended in March, I worked at a temp agency through the summer, and then filed a new claim in September when that assignment ended. The whole process was actually pretty smooth - I was worried for nothing. A few things that helped me: 1) I kept detailed records of all my temp work including pay stubs and exact employment dates, 2) I waited about 2 weeks after my last temp paycheck before applying to make sure all wages were in the system, and 3) I used the wage inquiry tool on the NYS DOL website first to verify everything looked correct. My new weekly benefit amount was actually slightly higher than my first claim because the temp work paid a bit more than my previous job. The approval took about 2.5 weeks and I got my first payment right after the waiting week. Don't overthink it - if you worked enough hours at the temp agency, you should be fine to apply right away!

I was in a very similar situation recently! My claim expired in April and I worked various temp assignments through a staffing agency until October. When I reapplied in November, the process was actually smoother than I expected. The key things that helped me were: keeping all my pay stubs organized by date, having the exact start/end dates for each temp assignment, and making sure I waited about 3 weeks after my final temp paycheck before applying (learned this tip from calling the DOL directly). One thing I didn't realize is that temp agencies sometimes take a while to report wages to the state system, so that waiting period was crucial. My new weekly benefit amount ended up being based entirely on the temp work wages since that was my most recent qualifying period. Even though the temp work paid less per hour than my previous full-time job, I actually worked more hours some weeks which helped boost my quarterly earnings. The whole approval process took about 2 weeks once I filed. Don't hesitate to apply - the worst case scenario is they tell you that you need more qualifying wages, but it sounds like you should be fine with 6 months of temp work!

This is SO frustrating but unfortunately super common with NY unemployment. I went through the exact same thing last year when I moved from Syracuse to NYC. The address change basically puts your account under review for fraud prevention, but they don't tell you that! What finally worked for me was calling first thing at 8am sharp and selecting the "technical issues" option instead of the general line - seemed to have shorter wait times. Also make sure you have ALL your documents ready: lease agreement, utility bill with new address, photo ID, etc. In the meantime, definitely reach out to your local assembly member's office like others mentioned. They have direct contacts at DOL and can often get things moving faster. Don't give up - your backpay should come through once they verify everything. Hang in there! 💪

OMG yes!! This EXACT same thing happened to me when I moved from Westchester to Brooklyn in December. Address change triggered some kind of fraud review and my payments just... stopped. It's been 6 weeks now and I'm literally surviving on credit cards at this point. The most frustrating part is that I've been filing my weekly certifications like clockwork and they all show as "processed" but zero dollars hit my account. Called 20+ times and either get disconnected after hours on hold or told "your case is under review" with no timeline. I'm seeing a lot of people mention claimyr.com in this thread - has anyone actually used it successfully for address change issues specifically? I'm desperate enough to try anything at this point because my landlord is NOT having it with late rent payments 😭 Also going to try contacting my assembly member tomorrow based on the suggestions here. This system is absolutely broken and it's wild that we have to jump through all these hoops just to get benefits we're entitled to. Thanks for posting this @Kennedy Morrison - at least I know I'm not alone in this nightmare!