The NYS Department of Labor system is so confusing about this stuff! I thought minimum wage going up would automatically boost everyone's unemployment but apparently that's not how it works at all. Wish they explained this better when you file.

I went through the same confusion when I first filed! The key thing to understand is that NYS Department of Labor uses your actual wage history from the "base period" (usually the first 4 of the last 5 completed quarters before you filed). So if you earned $14/hour during those quarters, that's what they use - not the current minimum wage. Your weekly benefit is typically about half of your average weekly wage during your highest-earning quarter, up to the state maximum. The minimum wage changes only affect future earnings requirements, not past wage calculations for existing claims.

Just to add - benefit payment control can also trigger if there's been unusual activity on your account or if their system flagged something for manual review. Sometimes it's as simple as certifying for benefits on a different day than usual or reporting earnings in a different format. The important thing is to not panic and get the right information from an agent about your specific situation.

I went through this exact same situation about 6 months ago! In my case, the benefit payment control was triggered because I had reported some freelance work income but hadn't provided enough detail about the dates. What helped me was logging into my account multiple times a day to check for any new messages or requests - sometimes they don't send email notifications right away. Also, try calling first thing in the morning around 8 AM when they open, that's when I finally got through. The hold lasted about 10 days for me but once resolved, I got all my back payments. Don't give up on trying to reach them by phone - persistence pays off!

FINAL UPDATE: I finally got this resolved! After trying for days to get through on the phone with no luck, I decided to try that Claimyr service someone mentioned. I was connected to a NYSDOL agent in about 30 minutes. The agent explained that my account was stuck in what they call a "BYE date review queue" and that my email response had been received but not processed. She manually released my pending payments while I was on the phone! The money should be in my account in 1-2 business days. For anyone else stuck after their BYE date - definitely mention specifically that you're dealing with pending payments after a BYE date when you talk to someone. Apparently that helps them know exactly what needs to be fixed. Such a relief to finally have this resolved!

I'm dealing with the exact same situation right now! Hit my BYE date 3 weeks ago and have been stuck with pending payments ever since. Reading through all these responses is really helpful - I had no idea about the "BYE review queue" or that there was a specific way to phrase things when calling. I've been trying the regular phone line for days with no luck, so I'm definitely going to look into that Claimyr service that helped Miles and Micah get through. It's so frustrating that we have to pay for a third-party service just to access our own benefits, but at this point I'm desperate. My landlord is already asking about rent and I can't keep waiting indefinitely. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences - it's reassuring to know I'm not alone in this mess and that there are actual solutions that work!

Just to add - make sure you file your weekly claims even if your initial claim is still being reviewed. And start documenting your job search activities right away since you'll need to show you're actively looking for work once benefits start.

I went through something similar last year - got terminated after speaking up about safety concerns at my workplace. NYS Department of Labor approved my claim after about 4 weeks. The key thing is that they look at the specific reason for termination, not just that you were fired. Standing up for yourself or having workplace disagreements isn't misconduct. Make sure to file your claim ASAP since benefits are backdated to when you first file, not when they approve it. Also keep records of everything - any emails, write-ups (or lack thereof), and witness contacts if possible. You've got a strong case based on what you described.

I was struggling to reach NYS Department of Labor agents to get clarification on my eligibility status when my claim got flagged for review. The phone lines are always busy and the online messaging never gets responses. I ended up using this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that got me through to an actual agent in like 10 minutes. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI that shows how it works. Really helped me understand what documentation I needed to prove I was still eligible.

Same boat here! Restaurant worker too and the whole eligible thing had me stressed. As long as you're doing your weekly certifications honestly and keeping up with the job search stuff you should be fine. The restaurant industry is actually pretty good for finding multiple job leads each week since there's always turnover somewhere.