I'm so sorry you're dealing with this - the NY unemployment system is absolutely broken! I went through something similar a few months ago where I was stuck in "waiting week" limbo for almost 2 months. What finally worked for me was a combination of things: first, I logged into the desktop site instead of mobile and found a hidden identity verification task that wasn't showing up on my phone. Second, I sent that email to the commissioner's office that someone mentioned ([email protected]) with "URGENT PAYMENT DELAY" in the subject line. But honestly, what got me the fastest results was using claimyr.com to actually get through to a real person - the agent I spoke with was able to see that my account had some kind of technical hold that only they could remove. All my backpay hit my account 2 days later. Don't give up on those payments you're owed! Even though you found a new job, you're still entitled to get paid for those weeks you were properly unemployed and certifying. The system makes it seem hopeless but there are ways to get through to the right people who can actually fix these issues.

I'm experiencing the exact same issue! Filed in early March after being laid off, got approved with a $385 weekly benefit amount, but I've been stuck in "waiting week" status for 4 weeks now with $0 payments. I've certified every week correctly and there are no obvious error messages in my account. After reading through all these comments, I'm definitely going to try logging in from my laptop instead of just my phone app to see if there are hidden verification tasks. It's insane that the mobile site apparently hides important information! I'm also going to try that commissioner email approach and possibly use claimyr.com if nothing else works. It's both frustrating and somewhat reassuring to see so many others dealing with this same broken system. The fact that they can approve claims but then have these hidden technical holds without properly notifying people is just ridiculous. Thanks OP for posting this - at least now I know there are actual solutions that have worked for people instead of just endless calling with no results!

Three weeks isn't that bad honestly. My cousin waited 2 months for his decision last spring. The judges are overwhelmed with cases right now.

I went through a similar situation last year and the waiting is absolutely brutal. Three weeks is actually pretty normal timing - mine took about 4 weeks after the hearing. The fact that your employer barely participated and couldn't provide documentation is definitely a good sign for your case. In the meantime, have you looked into emergency rental assistance programs? Many counties in NY have programs that can help with rent while you're waiting for the appeal decision. Also make sure you're applying for food assistance if you haven't already - you can do it online through myBenefits.ny.gov. Hang in there!

Been there! The hardest part is just getting started honestly. Once you get into the rhythm of filing your weekly claims it becomes routine.

Just wanted to add something that helped me when I was in your situation - make sure you have all your employer information ready before you start the application. You'll need things like your employer's full business name, address, phone number, and the dates you worked there. Also gather your pay stubs from the last few months if you have them. Having everything organized beforehand makes the online application process much smoother. The my.ny.gov site can be a bit slow sometimes, so don't get discouraged if it takes a while to load pages. And remember, even though you're stressed about rent, try to be patient with the process - it really does work once you get through the initial setup!

THE UNEMPLOYMENT RATE DOESN'T MATTER WHEN THE WHOLE SYSTEM IS BROKEN! They'll find any excuse to delay or deny your claim regardless of what the statistics say. I've been waiting 6 weeks for adjudication and they keep giving me the runaround.

Just to add some context to the discussion - New York's unemployment rate has actually been trending downward over the past year. While 4.2% is relatively low compared to national averages, it's worth noting that different regions within NY can vary significantly. NYC metro area often has different rates than upstate regions. The NYS DOL does use these statistics for policy decisions and federal funding, but as others mentioned, your individual benefit calculation is based on your personal work history, not the overall rate. If you're concerned about your benefit amount being too low, double-check that all your employers from your base period were reported correctly in your claim.

I'm dealing with a similar situation right now and this thread has been incredibly helpful! I was terminated last week for attendance issues - mostly due to my public transportation being unreliable during the winter months and a few family emergencies. Reading everyone's experiences gives me confidence to file my claim even though I'm worried about the misconduct aspect. One question I have - for those who successfully appealed or got approved, how important was it to have witnesses or third-party verification of your circumstances? I have some text messages to family members about the train delays and one email to my supervisor about a family emergency, but I'm wondering if that's enough or if I need more formal documentation. Planning to file this week and start gathering everything I can find!

I went through this exact situation about 8 months ago - fired for chronic lateness due to a combination of childcare issues and car problems. Here's what I wish I had known from the start: even though it feels hopeless, you absolutely should file your claim immediately. NYS Department of Labor will initially look at it as misconduct, but the adjudication process is where you can really make your case. I gathered everything I could think of - repair receipts, text messages about childcare emergencies, even my bank statements showing daycare payments to prove I had legitimate responsibilities. The adjudicator spent about 20 minutes on the phone with me going through each incident, and I was able to explain the circumstances behind every single tardy arrival. What really helped was creating a timeline matching each attendance issue to the specific problem that caused it. Even though I didn't have formal documentation at work, I could show these were real circumstances, not just excuses. My claim was approved after the appeal. Don't give up before you even try - the system is designed to help people who face genuine hardships, not just punish everyone who gets fired.