


Ask the community...
Just to clarify - when you file your initial claim, you'll select 'lack of work' as your separation reason. NYS Department of Labor categorizes job losses pretty broadly. Whether it's automation, plant closure, or just regular downsizing, it all falls under involuntary separation which qualifies you for benefits assuming you meet the other requirements.
This reminds me of when the factory in my hometown closed down in 2019. Different situation but same outcome - a bunch of us suddenly unemployed. The NYS Department of Labor process was actually pretty straightforward once I figured out the website. Don't stress too much about the technical details of why you lost the job.
THE WHOLE SYSTEM IS BROKEN! They make it impossible to reach anyone and then wonder why people get frustrated. Six weeks for a simple employer verification is RIDICULOUS. I've been fighting NYS Department of Labor for months over my claim and the degree to which they make everything complicated is just insane.
Check your online account to see if there are any documents you need to upload. Sometimes the system shows pending employer response when it's actually waiting for additional verification from you. Also make sure your contact information is current in case they're trying to reach you.
The whole system is a joke honestly. Been waiting 6 weeks for them to fix an error THEY made on my claim. Every time I call I get a different answer about processing times. Don't hold your breath for any consistency.
I feel you on the phone calls. Spent hours on hold just to get disconnected. Someone told me about claimyr.com that helps you actually reach an agent - watched their demo video at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI and it seems legit. Might be worth trying if you need to check on your specific delay.
OMG same situation here! Filed 10 days ago and just sitting here refreshing my account every few hours like it's going to magically update. The waiting is the worst part because you don't know if you did something wrong or if it's just normal processing time.
I was in a similar situation last year and honestly the 26 weeks went by faster than I expected. If you're having trouble reaching NYS Department of Labor by phone to ask questions about your claim, I found this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that helps you get through to an actual agent. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI that shows how it works. Really saved me when I had issues with my weekly claim getting stuck.
Seraphina Delan
The NYS Department of Labor system is so slow compared to other states. My friend in Florida got her first check in 10 days. Here it's like they want you to suffer while they take their sweet time processing everything.
0 coins
Niko Ramsey
Just keep filing those weekly claims and checking your account daily. Sometimes the status changes without notification.
0 coins