Anyone else notice that the system always seems to "crash" right when you finally get through? I swear they do it on purpose 🤬

I'm dealing with the exact same thing right now - going on 6 weeks pending with zero explanation. The most frustrating part is how the system just leaves you completely in the dark. I've been following some of the advice here and wanted to add that I found success using the "Contact Us" form on the NYDOL website multiple times. I submitted the same inquiry every few days with slightly different wording, and eventually got a response that my case was escalated for review. Still waiting, but at least I know someone is supposedly looking at it now. Also, if you have any part-time work or gig income you reported, double-check those dates and amounts - apparently even tiny discrepancies can flag your account for manual review. This whole system is a nightmare but don't give up!

The NYS Department of Labor system is so outdated it's ridiculous. Half the time their website doesn't even work properly and then they lock your account for trying to access YOUR OWN BENEFITS. This state needs to invest in better IT infrastructure.

I had this exact same issue a few months ago! What worked for me was going to a local Career Center - they have staff who can help unlock your account on the spot. You can find locations at labor.ny.gov/career-center-locator. Bring photo ID and your SSN. They were able to unlock mine in about 10 minutes and helped me reset everything. Way faster than trying to get through on the phone!

Apply for food stamps too while ur waiting! NY has emergency benefits that can be approved in like 5 days. Made a huge difference for me when my unemployment was delayed.

I'm in a similar situation - lost my job in December and just filed last week. From everything I'm reading here, it sounds like you definitely have a shot at getting backdated, especially since you have a legitimate reason (thinking you'd find work quickly). That's exactly what happened to me too. I keep seeing people mention this claimyr service for actually getting through to someone on the phone, which seems to be the biggest hurdle. The NY unemployment phone system is absolutely brutal. I've been trying to call for days with no luck. Going to try that callback service everyone's talking about since it seems like talking to a real person is the only way to get anywhere with backdating requests. Hang in there - sounds like persistence is key with this whole mess of a system.

Check your email too sometimes they send updates there instead of the website messages. Also call your local career center they might have more info about appeal timelines in your area.

I feel for you - the waiting is brutal when you're running low on funds. One thing that helped me was calling the Appeals Bureau directly at (518) 402-0205 rather than the main unemployment line. They're usually less busy and can at least confirm they received your appeal and give you a rough timeline. Also, if you haven't already, make sure you're continuing to certify for benefits each week even while your appeal is pending - if you win, you'll get backpay for those weeks. Hang in there, 6 weeks is still within the normal timeframe even though it feels like forever.

I'm 69 and was in this exact situation two years ago when my part-time retail job ended. You can definitely collect both - I received unemployment benefits for 6 months while continuing to get my full social security. The NYS Department of Labor staff I spoke with confirmed there's no federal or state law preventing this combination. Just make sure you're completely honest on your weekly certifications about your social security income and keep detailed records of your job search activities. One tip: when you're doing your required 3 weekly job searches, don't limit yourself to just younger-worker jobs - there are employers specifically looking for experienced workers. I ended up finding a new part-time position through indeed.com that valued my experience. The whole process was much smoother than I expected once I got past the initial anxiety about applying.

I'm 65 and currently collecting social security, and I was just laid off from my part-time administrative assistant position last week. Reading through everyone's responses here has been incredibly helpful - I had no idea you could collect both benefits simultaneously! I was actually afraid to apply for unemployment because I thought it might somehow affect my social security payments. It's reassuring to hear from so many people who have successfully navigated this situation. I'm planning to file my claim online this week since it sounds like that's much more reliable than trying to call. One question though - for the work search requirements, are there any age-friendly job search resources that people have found particularly helpful? I want to make sure I'm meeting the 3 weekly activities requirement effectively.