Hey Javier, I'm so sorry you're going through this - being pregnant and dealing with unemployment stress is absolutely awful. I went through something similar last year (though not pregnant) and here's what I learned: You're right that the website just loops you back to your existing claim - that's normal when benefits are exhausted. The key is getting through to an actual person who can check if there are any extensions or programs you qualify for, especially given your pregnancy. A few practical things to try immediately: - Call 211 for local assistance programs (as someone mentioned above) - Check if you qualify for emergency assistance through your county - Look into Short Term Disability if your pregnancy qualifies - Apply for SNAP if you haven't already I know everyone's saying to call unemployment directly, but honestly after reading all these comments about Claimyr, it might be worth the cost to skip the phone hell and get answers faster. When you're 7 months pregnant, time is really important. Also don't feel bad about the job search - anyone saying it's easy to find work while visibly pregnant has clearly never tried it. Employers are awful about this even though it's illegal. You've got this, and there ARE resources out there to help bridge the gap. Don't give up!

I'm really sorry you're dealing with this while pregnant - that's incredibly stressful timing. From what I understand, NY typically allows 26 weeks of regular unemployment benefits, and once those are exhausted, you usually can't file a new claim until your benefit year ends (which would be around December 2023 for you). However, given your pregnancy, there might be additional options available. Here are some things to explore: 1. **Extended Benefits** - These aren't always available but worth checking. You'll need to speak with an agent to see if NY currently offers any extensions. 2. **Disability Benefits** - At 7 months pregnant, you might qualify for short-term disability benefits, especially as you get closer to your due date. 3. **Emergency Assistance Programs** - NY has emergency assistance for pregnant women and families in crisis situations. The biggest challenge is actually reaching someone at the unemployment office. I've been seeing people in this thread mention Claimyr as a way to get through faster - might be worth considering given your time-sensitive situation. Also, definitely keep pursuing other assistance programs like SNAP, WIC, and any county-specific emergency aid. Being pregnant should help you qualify for expedited assistance in many programs. Don't lose hope - there are safety nets available, even if they're not well-advertised. You're being smart by reaching out and asking for help now rather than waiting.

Not to sound like a conspiracy nut but try calling from a different area code if possible. I was using my NY cell and getting disconnected constantly. Used my mom's phone with an out-of-state area code and got through first try. I think they might be filtering calls from certain area codes that are high-volume.

I've been dealing with this exact same issue! After reading through all these suggestions, I'm going to try a few different approaches. First, I'll attempt calling from a different phone number early in the morning like Connor suggested. If that doesn't work, I'll definitely look into contacting my state representative - that seems like a really good option that I hadn't considered. The claimyr.com service that several people mentioned sounds promising too, though I'm a bit hesitant about paying for something that should be free. Has anyone tried the different phone numbers that Omar mentioned? I'd love to know which specific 888 number works best. This whole situation is so stressful when you're already dealing with financial pressure from being unemployed. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences and solutions!

I'm also experiencing this exact same issue! Filed my weekly certification on Sunday, got the "payment released" confirmation email Monday morning, and here I am on day 6 with absolutely nothing in my bank account. This is my first time dealing with this kind of delay - my payments have always been deposited within 1-2 days after the release notification. I was starting to worry that something was wrong with my claim or that I'd made an error somewhere. This thread has been a huge relief because now I know it's a widespread system issue and not just me! It's really frustrating that NYSDOL didn't warn claimants about potential delays when they rolled out their new fraud prevention system. We rely on these payments and need to plan our finances accordingly. I'm going to call my bank tomorrow to make sure they're not holding the deposit on their end, and then maybe try that Claimyr service if I need to reach NYSDOL directly. Thanks to everyone for sharing your experiences - it really helps to know we're all dealing with this together!

I'm new to this community and dealing with the exact same situation! Certified on Sunday, got the "payment released" email on Monday, and it's now been 5 days with no deposit. I've been a nervous wreck thinking I did something wrong with my certification or that there was an issue with my direct deposit info. Finding this thread has been such a relief - it's clear this is a widespread problem affecting tons of people with identical timelines. I can't believe NYSDOL didn't send out any advance notice about potential delays when they implemented their new fraud prevention system. We depend on these payments for rent, groceries, and other essentials - the lack of communication is really unacceptable. I'm going to start by calling my bank tomorrow to rule out any holds on their end, then maybe try that Claimyr service if I need to reach someone at NYSDOL directly. Thanks to everyone for sharing their experiences and keeping each other informed. It really helps to know we're not alone in this!

I went through this exact same situation about 6 months ago! I was a 1099 graphic designer and got my contract terminated suddenly. At first I thought I was out of luck, but I decided to file anyway after reading about misclassification. Turns out my client had been treating me like an employee - they required me to work specific hours, use their software licenses, attend team meetings, and I couldn't take on other clients during busy periods. NYS DOL investigated and ruled that I was misclassified as a contractor when I should have been a W-2 employee. I ended up getting approved for benefits retroactively! The process took about 8 weeks total but it was worth fighting for. Don't give up before you even try - the worst they can say is no, but you might be surprised like I was.

I was in a very similar situation about a year ago - worked as a 1099 content writer but my "client" basically treated me like a regular employee. They set my daily schedule, required me to use their content management system and style guides, and I had to get approval for any time off. When my contract ended, I almost didn't file because I assumed 1099 meant no benefits. But after reading about worker misclassification, I decided to apply anyway. NYS DOL reviewed my case and determined I had been misclassified - they looked at factors like behavioral control, financial control, and the relationship type. I ended up getting approved for unemployment benefits! My advice: gather all your emails, contracts, and any evidence showing they controlled how you did your work, then file the claim. The application process asks detailed questions about your work arrangement, so just be honest about everything. Even if you get initially denied, you can always appeal with more documentation. Don't assume you're not eligible - let NYS DOL make that determination based on the actual facts of your working relationship.

Just went through this same thing last week. TurboTax will walk you through it step by step. You enter the 1099-G info in the 'Federal Taxes' section under 'Unemployment Income.' It's actually pretty straightforward once you find the right section. The software calculates everything for you.

One thing to double-check is whether you received any supplemental unemployment benefits like the Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation (FPUC) or other pandemic-related payments mixed in with your regular NYS benefits. Even though those programs ended, if you received any of those payments in early 2024, they would be included in your 1099-G total. Also, make sure to keep a copy of your 1099-G form - you'll need it for your records and the IRS gets a copy too, so the amounts need to match what you report.