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Just wanted to share that my claim got approved yesterday after exactly 18 days. I was also worried when it hit the 2 week mark with no updates, but it came through. Hang in there!
The timing really depends on your specific situation. If you were fired for misconduct or quit voluntarily, expect delays while they investigate. Layoffs usually process faster since there's less to verify. My brother got his approved in 12 days but my cousin who got fired is still waiting after a month because they're doing interviews with witnesses and stuff.
You might want to try reaching out to NYS Department of Labor directly since these situations can be complex. I know calling them is usually a nightmare with busy signals and long waits, but I recently discovered this service called Claimyr that helps you get through to actual agents. Check out claimyr.com - they have a demo video at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI showing how it works. It was really helpful when I needed clarification on my own claim status.
The whole system is ridiculous honestly. You pay into unemployment insurance your whole working life and then when you actually need it during a major life event they make you jump through hoops to prove you're 'worthy' of benefits. I hope you figure it out but prepare for a lot of bureaucratic runaround.
If you're having trouble reaching NYS Department of Labor agents to discuss your options, I used a service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that helped me get through to someone quickly. They have this video demo (https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI) that explains how it works. Really saved me time when I needed to clarify my job search requirements after being in a similar situation.
Wait I'm confused - are you saying they can make us take classes? I thought we just had to look for work and that was it. My cousin said something about them requiring computer classes but I figured that was just for certain people...
Make sure you have all your employment info ready when you file - social security number, employer addresses, dates of employment, reason for separation. If you're missing anything or put wrong info it can delay your claim for weeks while they verify everything.
Connor Murphy
Don't forget about the job search requirement! You need to make at least 3 job search contacts per week and keep a log of your activities. You can do this through the NYS Department of Labor jobs website or other approved methods. They don't always check but if they do audit you and you don't have proper documentation, you could lose benefits.
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NightOwl42
•Good point! What counts as a valid job search contact? Just applying to jobs or does networking count too?
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Connor Murphy
•Applying for jobs, contacting employers directly, attending job fairs, networking events, and even some online career workshops count. Just make sure you document everything with dates and contact info.
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Yara Nassar
same boat here got let go from my restaurant job in queens last month. the online application wasnt too bad just make sure you have all your employer info ready. mine got approved pretty quick but i know some people get stuck in adjudication for weeks
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