For your specific situation with a claim pending for 3 weeks, I would recommend trying these three approaches simultaneously: 1. Call at precisely 8:00:00 AM using a landline if possible (more reliable connection) 2. Submit a detailed message through your online account specifying the 3-week delay 3. Contact your state assembly member's office - they have dedicated liaisons with NYSDOL who can often expedite claims that are stuck The third option is often overlooked but can be quite effective, especially for claims that have been pending beyond the standard processing window.

I feel your pain! I went through this exact same thing last year and it was absolutely maddening. One thing that helped me was using an auto-redial app on my phone so I didn't have to manually keep calling. I'd set it to redial every 30 seconds starting at 7:59 AM. Also, if you have multiple phones available (cell phone, landline, work phone), try calling from all of them simultaneously at 8:00 AM sharp - increases your odds of getting into that queue before it fills up. The system is definitely broken but don't give up! It took me 8 days of calling but I eventually got through and got my claim resolved.

Just went through this same nightmare last month. The Watertown Career Center at 1000 Coffeen St is still open but they literally cannot touch unemployment claims anymore - it's all done through Albany now. What worked for me was calling the main number (888-209-8124) at exactly 8:00am on a Tuesday. Took about 45 minutes on hold but I finally got through. Also heard good things about that claimyr service people mentioned. Don't waste gas driving around to offices - they'll just tell you the same thing. The whole system is frustrating but you gotta work within it now 😤

Been in the same boat as you @Maggie Martinez - it's incredibly frustrating when you're already stressed about unemployment and can't even get basic help. I actually had success using a combination of what everyone mentioned here. Called the 888 number at 7:45am on a Wednesday (seems like weekday mornings are key), and when that didn't work after a few tries, I bit the bullet and used claimyr. Yes it costs money but honestly when you're desperate and need answers, $20 is worth not losing your sanity. The physical office thing is dead - learned that the hard way after driving to three different locations 🤦‍♀️ Also pro tip: if you have any local state assembly member contacts, sometimes their offices can help expedite things. Don't give up!

Just wanted to add that you should expect to possibly wait a while for your first payment even after everything is approved. My experience with NYS Department of Labor was that it took about 3 weeks from when I filed until I got my first deposit, and that was without any complications. Make sure you have some savings to cover expenses during that waiting period.

One thing to keep in mind is that you should save all the confirmation numbers and documents from your filing process. NYS Department of Labor will ask for these if there are any questions about your claim later. Also, if you were laid off or terminated, make sure you have your employer's information handy including their unemployment insurance account number if possible - this can speed up the verification process. And don't panic if you don't hear back immediately, the system is pretty backed up but as long as you keep filing those weekly claims you should be fine.

yeah same boat here, filed last sunday and still nothing in my account. this is so stressful when you have bills due

I feel your pain @Sofia Torres - the waiting is the worst part! Just went through this myself a couple months ago. One thing that helped me was setting up text alerts through the my.ny.gov portal so I got notifications when my payment status changed. Also, if you haven't already, double check that your direct deposit info is correct in your profile - I had a friend whose payments got delayed because there was a typo in her routing number. The first payment really does take longer than the rest, but once it starts flowing it gets more predictable. Hang in there!

To update everyone on this thread: As of April 2025, NYSDOL processes payment batches on Tuesdays and Fridays. If your certification is processed after the Tuesday batch, you'll be in Friday's batch. Then your bank's processing time adds 1-3 business days depending on the financial institution. For the original poster, since you certified on Sunday and it's now Thursday, your payment was likely included in Tuesday's batch and should arrive by Friday or Monday at the latest, assuming no holds on your account.

I went through this exact same process back in February 2025 and can relate to the stress! For me, it took exactly 6 business days from certification to seeing the money in my account. The key thing that helped my anxiety was setting up text alerts through my bank so I'd know the moment the deposit hit instead of constantly checking my balance. Also, once you get that first payment, the weekly ones come much faster - usually 2-3 days max. Hang in there, it's coming!