I'm dealing with something similar right now - got furloughed from my restaurant job two weeks ago. After reading all these responses, I called my employer to ask about the standby status paperwork that @Beth Ford mentioned. Turns out they had no idea that was even an option! They just assumed telling us "we'll call you back when things pick up" was enough. So now I'm definitely doing my work searches to be safe. It's frustrating because I really do want to go back to my job, but at least now I understand why the system works this way. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences - this thread has been way more helpful than anything I found on the official NYS DOL website!

This thread has been incredibly eye-opening! I'm in a similar boat - got furloughed from my office job last week and my boss said they'd "probably" bring me back in a month or two. After reading everyone's experiences, I realize I was naive thinking I could just wait it out without doing work searches. The distinction between informal furlough and official standby status that @Beth Ford explained makes total sense now. I'm going to call my HR department tomorrow to see if they filed any standby paperwork (doubt it based on what others have shared), and then start my work search activities ASAP. Better safe than sorry when it comes to unemployment benefits! Thanks to everyone who shared their stories - this community is way more helpful than trying to navigate the confusing DOL website alone.

Thanks everyone for clarifying this! I was getting really stressed thinking I'd have to pay everything back just for getting a job. So to confirm - as long as I report my part-time earnings accurately on my weekly certification, NYS Department of Labor will just adjust my benefit amount accordingly? And I only risk having to pay money back if I don't report income or if there's some other eligibility issue they discover later? This is such a relief because that part-time job would really help me transition back to full-time work eventually.

Just wanted to add one important detail - when you report part-time earnings, NYS Department of Labor has a partial benefit formula where you can earn up to a certain amount (I think it's around $143/week in 2024) before they start reducing your benefits dollar-for-dollar. So depending on how much your part-time job pays, you might still get some unemployment benefits on top of your wages. This actually makes the transition easier since you're not losing all your UI support immediately. Just make sure to report everything accurately and you'll be fine - no payback required!

Congratulations on the new job! I remember being so paranoid about this same thing when I found work. The unemployment system is designed to help people transition back to employment, not punish them for succeeding. You've earned those benefits by paying into the system through your previous job.

Great question! I was worried about this exact same thing when I first started collecting unemployment. Your cousin might be thinking of situations where people commit fraud or make errors on their claims. As long as you've been honest about your job search activities and haven't worked without reporting it, you're totally in the clear. The whole point of unemployment insurance is to bridge the gap until you find new employment - getting hired is the success story they want to see! Just make sure to report your new job start date on your final weekly certification and you'll be all set.

Just wanted to update everyone - I finally got through using the Spanish line trick that @Carmen Flores mentioned! Called this morning at 8:35 AM, pressed 2 for Spanish, and when the agent picked up I politely said "English please" and they transferred me immediately. No hassle at all, they were super understanding about it. Took about 25 minutes total including the transfer. The authentication process itself was pretty simple - they just needed to verify some personal info and confirm my identity. My account is now unlocked and I can access everything online again! For anyone still struggling with this, definitely try the Spanish line approach. It seems like way fewer people know about this workaround so the wait times are much shorter. Also have all your info ready (SSN, PIN, address, etc.) because once you get through they can usually fix it in one call. Thanks to everyone who shared tips - this community really came through! 🙏

Just got off the phone after FINALLY getting through! Been locked out for 6 months and tried everything. Here's exactly what worked for me today: Called 800-833-3000 at 8:32 AM (Tuesday), selected Spanish (option 2), got connected to an agent in literally 12 minutes. When they picked up I said "Hi, I need English please" and they transferred me right away - no questions asked, super friendly about it. The English agent already had my call info so I didn't have to re-explain everything. She pulled up my account, asked me to verify my SSN, date of birth, and last employer. Then she asked a few security questions about my claim history. Whole thing took maybe 8 minutes and boom - account unlocked! She explained that my account got flagged because I logged in from different devices during COVID (home computer, phone, library, etc.) which triggered their security system. Makes sense but would've been nice to know that 6 months ago lol. For anyone still dealing with this - the Spanish line trick is 100% legit and the agents are super helpful once you get through. Don't waste any more time on the English line. Tuesday mornings seem to be the sweet spot. Good luck everyone! 🎉

I'm so sorry you're going through this - 9 months is absolutely unconscionable. I went through something similar (though only 4 months) and what finally broke it loose was a combination of things others have mentioned here. One thing I'll add that helped me: when you do get through to someone at NYSDOL, ask them to read you the specific "issue codes" or flags on your account. Don't let them just say "under review" - insist they tell you the actual codes. Write them down and ask what each one means. Sometimes the phone reps don't even look at the details, but if you push for specifics, they'll actually investigate your file. Also, if you're on Facebook, there are some NY unemployment groups where people share real-time info about which phone numbers are getting through faster on any given day. The main number isn't always the best option. Hang in there - with this level of delay, when it does get resolved you should get a substantial lump sum that will help you catch up. But I know that doesn't help with rent due next week. Definitely try the assembly member route ASAP.

Hey Gavin, I just wanted to reach out because I went through almost the exact same nightmare with NYSDOL last year. 8 months of waiting, constant "pending" status, and getting absolutely nowhere with phone calls. What finally worked for me was a combination of what Morgan and Lucas suggested - contacting my assembly member AND filing a complaint with the Inspector General. But here's the key thing that made the difference: I also submitted a written request for a "supervisory review" through the online portal. There's actually a form buried in the system specifically for cases that have been pending over 90 days without action. The magic happened when all three things converged - suddenly I had three different offices asking NYSDOL about my case at the same time, and within 48 hours someone actually looked at my file and found the issue (a computer glitch that had incorrectly flagged me as having an open claim from 2019 that was already resolved). Also, when you call your assembly member, mention the specific timeline - 9 months is actually grounds for them to escalate this as an emergency constituent services case. Most reps' offices have seen enough of these NYSDOL disasters that they know exactly how to handle them. You're so close to getting this resolved. Don't give up now!