sounds to me like u need to talk to a live agent ASAP before your deadline hits. I was in the same boat last month - website kept crashing, phone lines always busy. I finally used claimyr.com and got connected to a rep who submitted my appeal over the phone. Saved my claim and got all my backpay. worth every penny vs losing all those benefits.

OMG this is giving me flashbacks to when I tried to file my initial claim last year! The NY DOL website is absolutely horrible. What finally worked for me was using a really old computer at my local workforce development center - they have public computers specifically for unemployment stuff and the staff there knows all the workarounds. Also, definitely document everything like others said - take screenshots of every error, write down times you tried, etc. The appeals deadline can be extended if you can prove their system was broken. Don't give up, the construction industry layoffs are totally legitimate reasons for benefits and you deserve that money!

yo check out ur state senator/assembly person's office!!! i spent 4 months dealing with this nonsense and got nowhere. called my assembly person and they fixed it in DAYS. they have special contacts at unemployment who can actually do stuff.

Same story here! Got the exact same "24-48 hours" promise THREE different times over the past 2 months. Still waiting on that first callback 🙃 At this point I'm convinced they have a script that just says "tell them someone will call back" to get people off the phone. The system is completely broken. I've started documenting everything like others suggested - dates, times, rep names, what they promised. At least when I call back I can reference all the previous broken promises. Stay strong and keep calling! We shouldn't have to fight this hard for benefits we're entitled to.

just wanted to say congrats on getting through the system! the first few weeks of unemployment can be really stressful when you dont know what all the different statuses mean

I remember being in your exact situation when I first filed! The "distributed" status definitely confused me too - I kept refreshing the page thinking something was broken. But everyone here is right, it's actually the best status to see because it means your money is on its way. Pro tip: if you have direct deposit set up, the money usually hits your account faster than if you're using the debit card. Also keep screenshots of your payment history just in case you need them later for your records.

If you're still experiencing delays beyond today, it might be worth contacting them directly. This appears to be resolving for most people, but individual accounts can sometimes have unique issues that need attention. For future reference, payment delays often happen during the last week of the quarter due to system updates.

Same thing happened to me last month during a system upgrade. The key is to keep checking your account regularly because payments seem to come through in batches rather than all at once. Also, make sure your direct deposit info is still current in your account - sometimes payment delays can be caused by outdated banking information. Hang in there, it should resolve soon!

One thing nobody mentions is that your benefits are taxable income. NYS Department of Labor will send you a 1099-G at tax time. You can choose to have taxes withheld from your weekly payments or pay them later, but don't forget about it come April!

@Fatima Al-Qasimi - I went through this same process a few months ago after being laid off. Here's what I wish I knew from the start: Apply online at labor.ny.gov as soon as possible since there's a waiting week before benefits begin. Make sure you have your Social Security card, driver's license, and employment history for the last 18 months ready. The application asks for detailed info about your previous employers including dates, wages, and reason for separation. Also, set up direct deposit right away - it's much faster than waiting for debit cards or checks. The whole process took about 2 weeks for me to get my first payment after the initial waiting period.