The NYS Department of Labor system is so unnecessarily complicated with this stuff. You'd think taking a job would be straightforward but no, they have to make it confusing with all these formulas and requirements. At least you found out before starting work instead of after - I've seen people get overpayment notices because they didn't report earnings correctly.

Congrats on getting the job offer! Just want to add that you should also keep track of your hours worked each week, not just earnings. NYS Department of Labor considers you "partially unemployed" if you work less than 4 days in a week OR earn less than your weekly benefit amount. The key is being completely honest on your weekly certification - report every penny you earn and every hour you work. Also, make sure your part-time employer knows you're collecting benefits so they can provide any documentation you might need if questions come up later.

Since you've been waiting so long, make sure you're documenting everything. Keep a log of all your call attempts (dates/times), take screenshots of your pending claim status, and save any communications. If there's eventually a favorable resolution, you should be entitled to all backdated payments, but having documentation helps if there's any dispute about how long you've been trying to resolve this. Also, when you do finally reach someone, get their employee ID or first name and last initial for your records.

Just checking back - any progress with your claim? Did you try any of the suggested methods to reach a representative?

Pro tip: if u do get someone on the phone, be SUPER nice to them no matter how frustrated u are. these agents deal with angry people all day. when i finally got thru the lady was so relieved i wasnt yelling that she went above and beyond to help fix my issue.

I went through this exact same nightmare last year - stuck in "pending" hell for almost 2 months after getting laid off from my retail job. What finally worked for me was a combination approach: I used the early morning calling strategy (7:58am sharp on Tuesdays/Wednesdays) AND contacted my assemblyperson's office as backup. The assemblyperson route took about a week but their unemployment liaison actually called me directly and got everything sorted. Also want to echo what others said about being super polite to the agents - they really do try to help when you're not screaming at them. Hang in there, I know it feels hopeless but you WILL get through this!

Anyone else notice that unemployment is literally IMPOSSIBLE to contact but they somehow manage to find you within seconds if they think you owe them money? 🤡

Thank you SO much for sharing this! I've been stuck in pending status for 6 weeks now and was starting to lose hope. I had no idea contacting state representatives was even an option. Just looked up my assemblyperson and state senator - planning to reach out to both offices first thing Monday morning. It's crazy that we have to jump through all these hoops just to get the benefits we're entitled to, but I'm grateful there's actually a way that works. Fingers crossed I get the same results you did!

Just want to add that even if you think you have good cause, there's no guarantee NYS Department of Labor will see it the same way. The adjudication process can be really subjective and you might end up fighting it for months. Make sure you have a backup plan for income if your claim gets denied initially.

Another thing to consider is that even with good cause, you'll need to meet all the other eligibility requirements too. You'll still need to be actively searching for work, available for full-time employment, and meet the monetary requirements based on your earnings history. With your hours already cut to 15/week, make sure you've earned enough in your base period to qualify for benefits. You can check your wage history on the NYS Department of Labor website before making any decisions.