The whole NYS Department of Labor system is a JOKE. They make you jump through hoops for weeks while you're trying to pay bills and survive. Two to three weeks is ridiculous when people need money immediately after losing their job. Other states process claims much faster but NY seems to enjoy making people suffer.

Just want to add that if you had any separation issues like being fired or quitting, that's when it takes longer because they have to do an adjudication review. Also make sure your employer responded to their inquiry - sometimes delays happen because the employer doesn't send back their paperwork to NYS Department of Labor on time.

The NYS Department of Labor system has gotten SO much better since the pandemic mess. Back then it was a nightmare but now the online portal is actually user-friendly. My only advice is don't wait - file as soon as possible because there's a waiting week before benefits start anyway. And definitely start documenting your job search activities right away even if you haven't been approved yet.

Just be really careful about answering the questions accurately, especially about why you're unemployed. If you put anything that suggests you quit or were fired for misconduct, it can delay or deny your claim. Since you said you were laid off, you should be fine, but double-check that your employer coded it correctly as a layoff and not a termination.

just go online and fill out the form its not that hard lol took me like 15 minutes

Same boat as you last month. The NYS Department of Labor website can be overwhelming at first but once you get through the initial filing it gets easier. Make sure you have your employer's information handy including their unemployment insurance account number if you can find it on your pay stubs. Also be prepared to answer questions about why you lost your job - be honest because they'll verify everything with your employer anyway.

When I had trouble reaching someone at NYS Department of Labor to get my questions answered about eligibility, I used this service called Claimyr that helped me get through to an actual agent. Check out claimyr.com - they have a video demo at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI that shows how it works. Really helped me understand my benefits better once I could talk to someone who knew the system.

Just to add - unemployment insurance also includes job training and placement services through the NYS Department of Labor. It's not just about collecting checks. They want to help you find new employment as quickly as possible. Some people qualify for extended benefits during high unemployment periods, and there are special programs for things like trade adjustment assistance if your job was lost to foreign competition.

Tell your cousin to make sure she has all her employment records when she files. Pay stubs, any written warnings, emails about the safety complaints, etc. The more documentation she has the better her case will be if the employer tries to claim it was misconduct.

Yeah definitely file ASAP! Even if they deny it initially you can always appeal. I know someone who got denied at first but won on appeal because the employer couldn't prove misconduct.