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If I could give 10 stars I would If I could give 10 stars I would Such an amazing service so needed during the times when EDD almost never picks up Claimyr gets me on the phone with EDD every time without fail faster. A much needed service without Claimyr I would have never received the payment I needed to support me during my postpartum recovery. Thank you so much Claimyr!
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I'm going through the exact same nightmare right now! Been trying to reach DOL for over 2 weeks about my pending claim and it's like they don't exist. Based on everyone's advice here, I'm going to skip the governor's office entirely and go straight to my state senator and assembly member tomorrow. One thing I wanted to add - if you're documenting your calls like Isabella suggested, also screenshot any error messages you get on the DOL website. I've been getting weird timeout errors when trying to certify online, and having those screenshots helped when I finally got through to someone briefly last week (before getting disconnected of course). This whole system is such a mess but at least this thread gives me hope that there are actual ways to get help. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences!
Victoria, great point about screenshotting the website errors! I've been getting those timeout issues too when trying to certify. It's like the whole DOL system is falling apart on every level - phones, website, everything. I'm new to this community but going through the same nightmare. Been trying to reach someone about my claim for almost a month now. Reading through everyone's experiences here, it's clear the state representative route is the way to go. The fact that multiple people got results within days through their assembly members while the governor's office just takes messages and disappears is really telling. Going to call my senator and assembly member first thing Monday morning. Thanks to everyone for sharing what actually worked - this thread is more helpful than anything I've found on the official DOL website!
I just want to echo what everyone else is saying about contacting your state representatives - this is absolutely the way to go! I went through this exact situation about 6 months ago and was pulling my hair out trying to get through to DOL for over a month. Like others mentioned, the governor's office is pretty much useless for individual cases. But when I contacted my assembly member's office, they had someone specifically trained to handle unemployment issues and they got DOL to call me back within 48 hours. My claim was resolved that same week after being stuck in limbo for 2 months. One tip I haven't seen mentioned yet - when you call your representative's office, ask specifically for their "constituent services" department and mention it's an urgent unemployment matter. They usually prioritize these cases because they know how broken the DOL phone system is right now. Also, don't feel bad about being persistent with follow-ups. These offices expect it for unemployment cases and they'd rather help you get it resolved than have you calling every day. The squeaky wheel really does get the grease in this situation. Hang in there - you WILL get through this!
This is exactly the kind of advice I needed! I've been hesitant to "bother" my representatives but you're absolutely right - they're there to help constituents with exactly these kinds of issues. The tip about asking specifically for constituent services is really helpful too. I'm going to call both my senator and assembly member Monday morning and be very clear that this is an urgent unemployment matter. After reading everyone's experiences here, I feel much more confident about getting this resolved. Thanks for taking the time to share what worked for you!
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Don't beat yourself up about it! I work in HR and see this happen all the time - people think they need to exhaust their savings first or that unemployment is only for certain situations. The key thing is to file TODAY through ny.gov. Even if you can only backdate a few weeks, that's still money in your pocket. When you apply, be honest about why you delayed - "I was unaware I was eligible and was trying to find work on my own" is a valid reason that often works for at least some backdating. The worst thing you can do now is wait another day!
This is such helpful advice! I had no idea that "being unaware of eligibility" could be a valid reason for backdating. I've been feeling so guilty about waiting, but you're absolutely right - I need to stop beating myself up and just file today. Thank you for the encouragement and the specific wording suggestion!
Just want to add some encouragement here - I was in almost the exact same situation last year! Got laid off and waited about 5 weeks because I thought I needed to "prove" I couldn't find work first. NYS DOL ended up letting me backdate 3 of those weeks when I explained I didn't understand the system. The key is being completely honest in your application about the delay. Also, once you do file, make sure to certify every week going forward even if your claim is still being processed - you don't want to create any more gaps! You've got this, and definitely don't let the guilt stop you from getting the help you're entitled to.
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Just file online ASAP. Don't beat yourself up about it, lots of people make the same mistake thinking they'll find work fast. At least you can still get benefits going forward.
Don't feel too bad about waiting - it shows you were trying to be responsible and find work on your own first. While you can't get those 6 weeks back, you can still file now and start receiving benefits going forward. The online application is pretty straightforward, just make sure you have your employer information and dates ready. And definitely start filing weekly claims as soon as your initial application is processed. Better late than never!
This is really good advice. I was in a similar boat a few years ago and felt terrible about "losing" those weeks, but honestly getting any benefits is better than none. Maya, once you get your claim going, make sure to keep detailed records of your job search activities too - they'll ask about that in your weekly certifications. And don't skip any weeks of filing even if you think you might have earned too much from odd jobs or anything, it's better to report it and let them decide.
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I'm going through something similar right now - 6 weeks waiting with an "approved" status but no payments. What finally helped me make progress was filing a complaint with the NYS Department of Labor's Office of Special Investigations (not just regular customer service). You can find the complaint form on their website under "Report Fraud or Abuse." Even though it's not fraud, they seem to take these complaints more seriously and actually follow up. I got a callback within 3 days and they're now "expediting" my case. Also document everything - save screenshots of your claim status, keep records of all your calls and reference numbers. If you do end up needing legal help later, having that paper trail will be crucial.
@Connor O'Brien This is incredibly helpful - thank you for sharing something that actually worked! I'm in the same nightmare situation (approved for 6 weeks but no payments) and regular customer service just keeps telling me to "wait for processing." Quick question: when you filed with the Office of Special Investigations, did you need to reference your specific claim number and all those customer service call reference numbers, or was describing the delay situation enough? Also, did they contact you directly or route it back through regular claims? I'm going to file this complaint today - this is the first concrete action step I've seen that might actually break through this endless waiting game. Really hoping this works for everyone stuck in this situation!
@Connor O'Brien Thank you so much for sharing this! I've been dealing with the same "approved but no payment" situation for 7 weeks now and I'm at my wit's end. This is the first actual solution I've seen that sounds promising. Quick question - when you filed with the Office of Special Investigations, did you need to provide all your documentation upfront (screenshots, call logs, etc.) or just describe the situation initially? Also, when they said they're "expediting" your case, did they give you any sense of timeline? I'm going to file this complaint today - really hoping this breaks through the endless runaround I've been getting from regular customer service. Thanks again for sharing what actually worked instead of just venting!
I went through this exact same situation last year - 9 weeks of "approved" status with zero payments. What finally worked for me was escalating through my state senator's office (not assembly) AND filing a formal complaint with the NYS Department of Labor's Office of Special Investigations like @Connor O'Brien mentioned. The key is doing both simultaneously - the political pressure plus the formal complaint seems to actually get attention. I also started documenting everything in a spreadsheet with dates, times, reference numbers, and took screenshots daily of my claim status. When I finally got through to someone who could actually help, having all that documentation made the difference. Got all my back pay within 2 weeks once the right person looked at my case. Don't give up - the system is broken but there are ways to navigate it if you're persistent and strategic about it.
@Diego Vargas This is incredibly helpful - thank you for laying out the specific dual strategy! I m'in week 6 of the same situation and have been trying random approaches with no success. When you contacted your state senator s'office, did you explain the financial hardship aspect or just focus on the processing delay? Also, for the spreadsheet documentation, did you include screenshots of the specific error messages or just the general claim status? I m'going to start both the senator contact and Special Investigations complaint tomorrow, but I want to make sure I m'framing everything correctly from the start. Your success story gives me hope that there s'actually a way through this bureaucratic nightmare if you re'strategic about it!
@Diego Vargas This dual strategy approach sounds like exactly what I need! I ve'been stuck in the same loop for 5 weeks now. When you say you documented everything in a spreadsheet, did you include the specific names of representatives you spoke with, or just reference numbers? Also, I m'curious about timing - did you wait a few days between filing the Special Investigations complaint and contacting your senator s'office, or do both on the same day for maximum impact? I m'worried about seeming too aggressive but honestly I m'desperate at this point. Your success story is giving me hope that there s'actually a way to break through this system if you re'strategic about it. Going to start the documentation process today and reach out to both offices Monday morning!
Nalani Liu
The NYS Department of Labor system is such a nightmare for small business owners. I spent three months going back and forth with different departments just to get my unemployment tax number straightened out. They kept sending me forms that didn't apply to my situation.
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Axel Bourke
•Ugh same here! Why can't they just have one simple form for this stuff?
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Josef Tearle
I went through this exact process last year and it was definitely confusing at first! Here's what worked for me: Start with the my.ny.gov portal and look for "Register a Business" under the business services section. You'll need your Federal EIN ready, then you can apply for both your State Unemployment Insurance (SUI) number and Workers' Compensation at the same time. The key is to register as soon as you think you might become liable - you don't have to wait until you actually hire someone. I found it much easier to do everything online rather than trying to call. The whole process took about 2 weeks to get my account numbers back. Don't stress too much about missing deadlines - as long as you register before you're actually liable for payments, you should be fine.
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Liam Sullivan
•This is really helpful! I'm in a similar situation and was also worried about the timing. Just to clarify - when you say "as soon as you think you might become liable," does that mean I should register now even if I'm still in the planning stages of hiring? I'm probably 2-3 months away from actually bringing on my first employee but want to get all my paperwork in order early.
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