Just remember you need to keep filing your weekly claims even while waiting for the initial determination. A lot of people don't realize this and then miss out on payments for those weeks. The weekly claim filing keeps your place in line basically.

I just went through this process recently and got approved after about 2.5 weeks. One thing that really helped was making sure I had all my employment documentation ready - like pay stubs and the separation notice from my employer. Since your store closed, that should actually work in your favor because it's clearly not a voluntary quit or termination for cause. Just keep checking your my.ny.gov account daily and respond immediately to any requests for additional info. Also, definitely start filing your weekly claims like others mentioned - I almost missed doing that at first!

Had the exact same issue last week! What finally worked for me was using a different device entirely - tried my phone instead of laptop and it went through immediately. Also make sure you're using the correct URL (labor.ny.gov/signin) because there are some fake lookalike sites that will mess with your login attempts. If all else fails, definitely try that claimyr service people are mentioning - heard good things about it from others in this group.

I've been dealing with this for weeks and finally got through! Try using the mobile app instead of the website - for some reason it's way more stable. Also, if you have any special characters in your password (like @, #, etc.), try changing it to just letters and numbers. The system seems to have issues with special characters even though it allows them when you create the password. Super frustrating but hopefully one of these solutions works for you!

am i the only 1 who thinks its ridiculous we have to jump through all these hoops just to get help when we're already stressed about losing our jobs? 🤔 the system is broken af

Just wanted to add - if you're having trouble getting through on the phone, try calling on different days of the week. I found that Tuesdays and Wednesdays around 10am seemed to have shorter wait times than Mondays or Fridays. Also, have your unemployment insurance number ready if you already have one from your initial application - it speeds things up a lot. Don't get discouraged if it takes a few tries to get through, the system is overwhelmed but the reps are generally helpful once you reach them.

I'm dealing with this exact same issue right now! Been trying to file for three days straight and the website keeps crashing right when I get to the employment history section. It's so demoralizing spending hours filling everything out just to get kicked back to the login screen. I'm going to try that 6 AM strategy everyone's mentioning - seems like timing really does matter with their overloaded servers. Has anyone had luck with the phone lines during specific hours, or is it just as much of a nightmare no matter when you call? Really appreciate everyone sharing their experiences here, at least I know I'm not alone in this struggle.

I'm going through this nightmare too! Lost my job at a retail store three weeks ago and have been battling this broken system ever since. The website crashes constantly, and I've probably called 40+ times with no luck. What's really frustrating is that I know people who filed for unemployment in other states and it took them like 20 minutes online. Meanwhile, I'm over here treating this like a part-time job just trying to access benefits I paid into for years. Going to try that 6 AM strategy and the desktop browser tips - thanks everyone for sharing your experiences. It helps to know we're all dealing with the same broken system and it's not just me doing something wrong!

I heard the ny unemployment system hired a bunch of new people but didnt train em properly so half of em don't even kno what there doing when u get em on the phone. my cousin works there and says its a mess behind the scenes

I went through the same nightmare last month - missing $2,100 in payments and getting nowhere with the regular channels. What finally worked for me was contacting my state senator's office (not assembly, but senator). They have a constituent services team that handles unemployment issues specifically. I found my senator through nysenate.gov, filled out their online form describing the problem, and got a callback within 48 hours. The senator's office contacted NYSDOL directly and my payments were released within a week. Also, keep detailed records of every call attempt - date, time, how long you waited, what happened. This documentation helps when you escalate. Don't give up, the system is broken but there are ways around it if you know the right pressure points.