


Ask the community...
This is absolutely ridiculous and I'm sorry you're dealing with this. I went through something similar last year - ended up with 6 interviews over 4 months before I finally got it resolved. The key is finding out WHY your account is flagged. In my case, it was because I had worked some freelance gigs before getting laid off and their system flagged it as "irregular employment pattern." Once I got through to a supervisor who could see the actual flag on my account, they removed it and the interviews stopped. Don't give up - that's exactly what they want you to do. Document everything and keep pushing for answers about why you're being targeted specifically.
6 interviews?! That's absolutely insane. Thank you for sharing what finally worked for you - I had no idea they could flag accounts for "irregular employment pattern." That might be what's happening to me too since I did some contract work between jobs. Definitely going to push harder to find out the specific reason for the flag on my account. It's so messed up that we have to fight this hard just to get benefits we're entitled to.
I'm going through the exact same thing right now! Just got scheduled for my 4th interview after they told me the 3rd one would be my last. It's so frustrating because I'm doing everything right - applying to jobs, keeping detailed records, showing up to all their interviews on time. But they keep dragging me through this process while I'm just trying to find work. Reading through these comments makes me realize this is happening to way more people than I thought. It's clearly some kind of systematic issue with their flagging system. I'm definitely going to try calling and asking specifically what flag is on my account and demanding they document why I keep getting selected. This whole system feels designed to wear us down until we just give up claiming benefits we've earned. Thanks for posting this - at least now I know I'm not alone in dealing with this nonsense!
Ugh, I feel your pain! I'm new to this whole unemployment process but seeing everyone's experiences here is both helpful and terrifying. It sounds like this interview harassment is way more common than it should be. The fact that they're telling people it's their "final interview" and then scheduling MORE interviews is just straight up lying at this point. I'm definitely saving all the advice in this thread about asking for the specific flag reason and documenting everything. It's crazy that we have to become experts in their broken system just to get benefits we paid into. Hope you get it sorted out soon!
Ugh I feel this so hard! Been dealing with the same nightmare for weeks. What finally worked for me was calling the Spanish line (888-209-8124) even though I speak English - they transfer you to English speakers but the wait times are way shorter. Also try calling right at 4:55pm before they close, sometimes less busy then. The whole system is a joke but hang in there!
This whole situation is absolutely ridiculous! I've been in the same boat for over a month now. What's really helped me is setting up multiple alarms throughout the day to try calling at different times - not just 8am when everyone else is calling. I've had better luck around 11:30am and 3:45pm. Also, keep your phone on speaker and just let it ring while you do other stuff, don't hang up even if it seems hopeless. Sometimes after like 45 minutes of ringing it'll actually connect you to someone. The system is completely broken but persistence is literally the only way through this mess. Stay strong everyone! 💪
I've been getting unemployment for about 8 months now and can share what I've learned about the timing. NYS Department of Labor typically releases payments Monday evening after processing your weekly certification (assuming you filed by Sunday night). The actual deposit time depends entirely on your bank - I have Capital One and usually see mine around 3am Tuesday morning. If it's showing as "released" in your my.ny.gov account, that's a good sign! Just be patient, it should hit your account within the next 12-24 hours. The waiting is definitely nerve-wracking when you're counting on that money.
This is super helpful Ava, thank you! I also have Capital One so hopefully I'll see the same timing as you. It's reassuring to hear from someone who's been through this process for a while. The waiting really is nerve-wracking - especially when you're relying on that money for rent and groceries. I'll try to be patient and check again in the morning!
I've been on unemployment for about 4 months and can confirm what others are saying - Tuesday morning is definitely the norm. I have Bank of America and mine usually hits between 2-5am on Tuesday. The key thing is that "payment released" status on my.ny.gov - once you see that, you're good to go, just waiting on your bank's processing time. One thing I learned the hard way is to make sure you're checking the right account if you have multiple accounts with your bank. I spent a whole day panicking thinking my payment was missing when it had actually gone to my savings account instead of checking! Also worth noting that holidays can delay things by a day, so keep that in mind around federal holidays.
Just wanted to add that sometimes adjudication happens because there's a question about your job separation. Like if your employer contests your claim or if there's any confusion about whether you quit or were fired. NYS Department of Labor has to investigate these situations to make sure benefits go to the right people.
I went through this same process last year and it's definitely nerve-wracking! One thing that helped me was checking the NY Department of Labor website regularly for any updates or requests for additional information. Sometimes they'll ask for documents or clarification and you might miss it if you're not checking. Also, if you were laid off or fired, make sure you have any documentation from your employer (like a termination letter) ready in case they need it. The waiting is the worst part but try to stay patient - most claims do get approved eventually if you're eligible.
This is really helpful advice! I didn't know they might ask for additional documents during the process. I was laid off so I should definitely dig up my termination paperwork just in case. Did you get any notifications when they needed more info from you, or do you have to keep checking the website to see if they posted requests?
QuantumQuester
This is such a stressful situation to be in. I went through something similar when my OPT was about to expire and my employer was dragging their feet on my H-1B application. From what I learned, NYS Department of Labor is pretty strict about the work authorization requirement - you need to be legally authorized to work to receive benefits. Even though you've been paying in for 3 years, the eligibility rules focus on your current ability to accept work. I'd suggest documenting everything with your employer about the extension delay and maybe consulting with an immigration attorney who might know about any nuances or exceptions. Some people have mentioned that pending applications might affect things differently, but you'll need expert advice on that. Really hope your employer gets their act together soon!
0 coins
Zoe Kyriakidou
•@QuantumQuester Thanks for sharing your experience - it's helpful to hear from someone who's been through something similar. The documentation idea is really smart. Did you end up finding any specific resources or advocates who understood both the unemployment system and immigration issues? It seems like there's not a lot of overlap in expertise, which makes it even harder to get clear answers when you're dealing with both systems at once.
0 coins
Morgan Washington
I'm dealing with a similar work authorization situation right now and it's incredibly stressful. From what I've researched, you typically need to maintain valid work authorization to be eligible for unemployment benefits in NY. However, I've heard that if you have a pending I-485 (adjustment of status) application, you might be able to maintain eligibility under certain circumstances. The key seems to be whether you can legally accept employment if offered. I'd definitely recommend getting in touch with both an immigration attorney and trying to speak with someone at NYS Department of Labor who specializes in these complex cases. Don't wait until the last minute - start making those calls now while you still have time to explore your options. Also, keep pushing your employer on that extension filing - 6 weeks is cutting it really close!
0 coins