Congrats on getting it resolved! Your experience is exactly why I always tell people not to just wait for the online document review - calling is so much faster even though it's a pain to get through. For anyone else reading this thread, Ruby's case is a perfect example of how the system is supposed to work. When you have recent employment that wasn't included in your standard base period, they should automatically check your alternate base period eligibility. If they don't, don't panic - it's fixable, you just need to get a human on the phone to manually trigger the review. The backpay makes it worth the hassle of calling!

I'm so glad you got this resolved Ruby! As someone new to this community, reading through your entire experience was incredibly helpful. I'm actually dealing with the exact same situation right now - they denied my claim even though I worked full-time January through March 2025. Your post made me realize I shouldn't just sit around waiting for weeks for them to review my documents. I'm definitely going to try calling tomorrow and specifically ask about my Alternate Base Period review. It's so frustrating that their system doesn't automatically catch this, but at least now I know there's a real solution. Thanks for sharing your whole journey - it gives me hope that this will actually get fixed!

Please update us when you start getting paid! I'm curious how long it'll take for your backpay to come through after such a long delay. My claim was nowhere near as old as yours.

Congratulations on finally getting some movement on your claim! Two years is absolutely insane - I can't imagine the stress you've been through. I had a similar situation last year (though only 6 months, not 2 years!) and that email is definitely good news. A few things to watch out for based on my experience: - Double-check that all your certified weeks show up in the payment history once they start processing - Save screenshots of everything as proof - If any weeks seem missing, contact them immediately because it's easier to fix while the backpay is actively being processed The waiting is almost over! Really hoping you get every penny you're owed after this nightmare delay.

I've been on unemployment for about 6 months and went through the work search audit process recently. One thing that really helped me was creating a dedicated email folder just for job applications so all my confirmation emails are in one place. Also, for networking events and job fairs, I started taking a quick selfie at the event entrance with the signage visible - sounds silly but it's timestamped proof you were there. The auditor appreciated that level of detail. Don't overthink it too much though - they're mainly looking to see you're making real efforts, not trying to catch you in some technicality. Just stay consistent with whatever system you choose!

As someone who just started collecting unemployment benefits last month, this thread has been incredibly helpful! I was doing the bare minimum with my work search documentation and now I realize I need to step up my game. I've been mostly just applying through job boards without keeping proper records - definitely going to implement that Google Doc system and start taking screenshots of confirmation pages. One question though - does anyone know if using the NYS Department of Labor's job search website (jobs.labor.ny.gov) counts the same as using Indeed or LinkedIn? I want to make sure I'm diversifying my search methods properly. Also wondering if anyone has experience with whether informational interviews count toward the 3 weekly activities? Thanks everyone for sharing your real experiences - this is way more useful than trying to decipher the official guidelines!

UPDATE: I went to the Career Center and they couldn't help directly but gave me a special number to call. Still couldn't get through, so I used Claimyr and got a callback within an hour. The agent confirmed my account was flagged for verification and fixed it right away. She also put a note that I should receive all my backpay within 3-5 business days. Such a relief! Thanks everyone for your help and suggestions - especially about Claimyr and checking the Message Center. I would have never thought to look there for important notices!

This thread is incredibly helpful! I'm dealing with the exact same issue - been stuck in "pending transfer" status for 3 weeks now. Reading through all these experiences, it's clear this is a widespread problem with their new verification system. I'm going to try the Claimyr callback service tomorrow since calling directly has been impossible. It's reassuring to see that multiple people here got their issues resolved once they actually spoke to an agent. Thanks for sharing your experiences and solutions - this community support makes such a difference when dealing with these frustrating government systems!

I'm going through this exact same situation right now and this thread has been a lifesaver! I was terminated three weeks after filing a formal complaint about our company ignoring proper lockout/tagout procedures on industrial equipment. Suddenly my five years of solid performance reviews meant nothing and everything became a "performance issue." One thing I learned that might help others - when you request your personnel file, also ask for any emails or communications about you between managers or HR. In my state, they have to provide all records related to your employment. I discovered internal emails where my supervisor told HR to "document everything" starting the day after I filed my safety complaint. It was like having a smoking gun! Also, if you're dealing with anxiety about the hearing (totally normal!), I found it helpful to write out potential questions and practice answering them. Things like "When exactly did you report these safety concerns?" and "Can you describe the specific violations you observed?" Having clear, factual answers ready made me feel much more confident. The retaliation timeline is so crucial - I made a simple two-column chart with "Safety Actions I Took" on the left and "Company Response" on the right. When you see it laid out visually, the pattern becomes undeniable. You've got solid documentation and a clear timeline, which puts you in a really strong position. Hang in there - from everything I've read, cases like ours with documented safety complaints have a good success rate!

This thread has been incredibly helpful! I'm not facing an appeal hearing myself, but I work in HR and wanted to add something from the employer side that might help people prepare. When companies contest unemployment claims, they usually rely on documentation to prove misconduct or policy violations. However, what many don't realize is that employers often struggle to produce contemporaneous documentation - meaning records that were actually created at the time of the alleged performance issues, not after the fact. If you're facing a hearing, ask specific questions about when their documentation was created. Were performance concerns noted in real-time during your employment, or only documented after you filed your safety complaints? This timing can be crucial evidence of retaliation. Also, many companies have employee handbooks that require progressive discipline (verbal warning, written warning, final warning, then termination), but they often skip these steps when they want someone gone quickly. For anyone dealing with safety retaliation specifically - keep in mind that New York Labor Law Section 741 provides strong whistleblower protections. Employers who retaliate against employees for reporting health and safety violations face serious legal consequences, and administrative law judges are well aware of these protections. The documentation and timelines everyone is creating sound excellent. Just remember during the hearing to stay calm, stick to facts, and let your evidence speak for itself. Good luck to everyone going through this process!