I'm in a similar situation - filed 10 days ago and still showing pending. This thread is really helpful to read through all your experiences! It's reassuring to know that 2-4 weeks seems to be the normal timeframe and that most people eventually get approved. I've been panicking thinking something was wrong with my application. Going to keep filing my weekly claims and try to be more patient with the process. Has anyone had luck calling early in the morning to get through to an agent, or is it pretty much always busy regardless of when you call?

I'm dealing with this exact same issue right now! Filed my claim 12 days ago after being laid off and it's still showing pending. Reading through everyone's experiences here is actually making me feel a lot better - I was starting to think there was something seriously wrong with my application. It sounds like the 2-4 week timeframe is pretty standard, especially with the high volume they're processing. I've been religiously filing my weekly claims even though everything shows pending, so hopefully that will pay off when it finally gets approved. The hardest part is just the uncertainty and not knowing if you need to do anything else on your end. Thanks to everyone sharing their timelines and tips - it really helps to know we're not alone in this waiting game!

honestly i think theyre too busy to check most ppl unless u give them a reason to look closer. just keep decent records and dont claim benefits while working under the table or anything obvious like that

THE SYSTEM IS DESIGNED TO CATCH YOU! They have algorithms that flag suspicious patterns and they WILL audit you if something looks off. I know someone who got disqualified because they couldn't prove half their job searches. Keep everything documented or you're screwed!

I'm having the exact same problem! Been trying to certify for partial benefits for the past week and keep getting that "break in claim" error. I work about 15-20 hours a week at a restaurant and this never happened before the system update. It's so frustrating because I really need those partial benefits to make ends meet. Has anyone found a reliable way to get through to an actual person on the phone? I've been trying for days but the hold times are impossible.

I'm experiencing this exact same issue! Been trying to certify my partial benefits for almost two weeks now and keep getting that "break in claim" error. I work about 16 hours a week at a local coffee shop and this never happened before their September update. It's really stressing me out because I depend on those partial benefits to cover rent. Reading through all these comments, it sounds like the only real solution is calling them to get it manually fixed, but the hold times are absolutely brutal. Has anyone had any luck getting through during specific times of day? I'm getting desperate here and might have to try that claimyr service people keep mentioning since I can't afford to miss another week of payments.

I went through this same situation a few months ago when my hours got reduced at my retail job. Yes, NYS DOL does contact your employer - they send what's called a "Notice of Unemployment Insurance Claim Filed" usually within 3-5 business days of when you file. But honestly, it turned out to be way less stressful than I anticipated. The form they send is pretty straightforward - it just asks your employer to verify basic info like your employment dates, wages, and reason for the hour reduction. Since you're filing for a legitimate reason (reduced hours through no fault of your own), your employer will most likely just confirm that information and send it back. Most HR departments or managers deal with these notices regularly, so it's really just routine paperwork for them. The key is to be completely accurate when you file about why your hours were cut. And definitely make sure you report your part-time wages correctly each week when you certify - that's super important to avoid any overpayment issues later. Don't let worry about the employer notification stop you from getting benefits you're entitled to - the partial unemployment really helped me bridge the gap until things improved.

I totally understand your concern about employer notification - I was in the same boat when my hours at a restaurant got slashed from 30+ hours to just 12 hours a week. Yes, NYS DOL will contact your employer within about a week of filing, but it's really not as scary as it sounds. They send a standard "Notice of Unemployment Insurance Claim Filed" that just asks your employer to verify basic employment info - dates, wages, and reason for the hour reduction. Since you're filing due to legitimate reduced hours (not your fault), your employer will likely just confirm that and return the form. Most businesses get these notices regularly and treat it as routine HR paperwork. The important thing is to be completely honest about your separation reason when filing and to accurately report your part-time earnings every week when certifying. Don't let fear of this notification prevent you from getting financial assistance you're legally entitled to - partial unemployment benefits can really help bridge the gap when you're struggling with reduced income.

This is really helpful information! I had no idea the rates could vary so much based on experience rating. One thing I'm still wondering about - does the size of the company affect these rates at all? Like would a small business with 5 employees pay the same percentage as a large corporation, assuming they have similar layoff histories? Also, is there any way for employees to actually see what rate their employer is paying, or is that confidential business information?

One thing that might help clarify this for everyone - the NYS DOL actually publishes an annual rate schedule that breaks down how the experience rating system works. New employers start at that 3.4% rate mentioned earlier, but after they've been in business for a few years and have enough data, their rate gets recalculated based on their "reserve ratio" - basically comparing how much they've paid in versus how much their former employees have claimed. Companies with positive reserve ratios (paid in more than was claimed) get lower rates, while those with negative ratios pay higher rates. It's actually a pretty fair system when you think about it, since it makes the costs directly tied to actual usage.