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I'm a social worker who has helped several clients navigate this exact situation in NY. One thing I want to emphasize is that timing is crucial - don't quit your job until you have all your documentation in order and have explored accommodations with your employer first. The NYS Department of Labor looks very carefully at whether you made reasonable efforts to preserve your employment before leaving. I'd recommend getting a comprehensive evaluation from a licensed mental health professional that specifically addresses your work capacity and functional limitations. Also, consider applying for FMLA leave first if you're eligible - this gives you job protection while you get treatment and figure out your next steps. If you do end up needing to file for unemployment, be prepared for the adjudication process to take 8-12 weeks, so make sure you have some financial cushion or other support systems in place. Feel free to reach out if you need help finding mental health resources or legal aid organizations in your area - there are people who want to help you through this.
@Natalie Adams This is incredibly valuable advice from a professional perspective - thank you! The timing aspect you mentioned is something I ve'been struggling with. I ve'been feeling so overwhelmed that part of me just wants to quit immediately, but you re'absolutely right that I need to have everything in order first. The 8-12 week timeline for adjudication is honestly scary given my financial situation, but it s'better to know what to expect upfront. I m'definitely going to look into FMLA first - I didn t'realize it could provide job protection while I get treatment. That seems like a much safer approach than jumping straight to quitting. Would you be able to point me toward any specific resources for finding mental health evaluations that focus on work capacity? My current therapist is great for treatment but I m'not sure if they have experience with the kind of detailed functional assessments that seem to be needed for these claims. I really appreciate you offering to help with resources - it means so much to have professional guidance during such a difficult time.
@Natalie Adams I m'in a similar situation and this advice is so helpful. I ve'been dealing with severe anxiety that s'making it really hard to function at my job, but I ve'been scared to approach my employer about accommodations because I work at a small company and I m'worried about how they ll'react. Do you have any suggestions for how to approach smaller employers who might not have formal HR departments or much experience with mental health accommodations? Also, when you mention getting a comprehensive evaluation focused on work capacity, should I be looking for a specific type of mental health professional or specialist? I want to make sure I m'getting the right kind of documentation if I do end up needing to file a claim. The financial reality of being without income for 8-12 weeks is really daunting, so I definitely want to explore every other option first.
I'm a former NYS Department of Labor claims examiner and wanted to provide some insider perspective on mental health UI claims. The key thing to understand is that "good cause" for voluntary separation due to mental health requires meeting a very high bar - you need to prove that continuing work would have been detrimental to your health AND that no reasonable accommodations could have resolved the issue. The documentation needs to be extremely specific about functional limitations, not just diagnosis. I've seen many claims denied because the medical evidence was too general or didn't clearly connect the condition to inability to perform specific job duties. One thing that helped successful claims was having the mental health provider complete NYS DOL form IA 12.3 (Request for Medical Information) which asks targeted questions about work capacity. Also be aware that even if approved, you'll need to demonstrate you're "able and available" for work each week you claim benefits - this can be challenging with ongoing mental health treatment. The process is definitely possible but requires very thorough preparation and realistic expectations about timelines and requirements.
I'm dealing with the exact same situation right now - completed ID verification 6 days ago and still showing "adjudication in progress" with $0 weekly claims. Reading through everyone's timelines here is incredibly helpful and reassuring. It sounds like the 10-21 day range after ID verification is pretty typical, with most people seeing their status change around the 2-week mark. The hardest part is definitely not knowing if it's normal processing or if there's some issue lurking. I've been continuing to certify weekly and just set up those text alerts someone mentioned to stop myself from constantly refreshing the portal. Based on all these shared experiences, it seems like patience is really the only option, but at least we know the system does eventually work and those back payments will be worth the wait. Thanks to everyone for sharing their timelines - it makes this stressful process feel much more manageable knowing we're all in this together!
I just joined this community and I'm so glad I found this thread! I completed my ID verification with NYS Department of Labor on Monday (so 4 days ago) and have been panicking about the "adjudication in progress" status with all my weekly claims showing $0. Reading everyone's detailed timelines here is such a huge relief - I was convinced something was wrong with my claim, but it sounds like this 1-3 week waiting period after ID verification is completely normal. The consistency in everyone's experiences (most seeing changes around the 2-week mark) gives me so much peace of mind. I'm definitely going to set up those text alerts and stop obsessively checking my account 10 times a day. Thank you all for sharing your stories - it's amazing how much less stressful this process feels when you know others are going through the exact same thing and that it does eventually work out!
I'm in almost the exact same situation as you! Completed my ID verification with NYS Department of Labor about 8 days ago and have been stuck on "adjudication in progress" ever since. All my weekly claims are showing $0 amounts too, which has been really nerve-wracking. Reading through everyone's experiences here is so reassuring though - it sounds like the 1-3 week wait after ID verification is totally normal and most people see their status change around the 2-week mark. I was starting to panic thinking there was some issue with my claim, but now I realize this is just how long their final review process takes. I've been continuing to certify weekly even with the $0 amounts showing, and I'm going to set up those text alerts someone mentioned to stop myself from checking obsessively. Thanks for posting this - it's so helpful to see we're all going through the same timeline and that the back payments do eventually come through!
This thread is an amazing resource! I'm dealing with my first unemployment claim and was getting really worried about the delays, but seeing Maxwell's complete experience documented here - from the initial 3-week wait to discovering the employer dispute code to final approval - is incredibly reassuring. The timeline of 5 weeks total for an employer dispute case gives me realistic expectations. What really stands out is how important it was to check for those status codes in the payment history - that seems to be the key to understanding what's actually happening with your claim instead of just wondering why payments aren't coming through. I'm bookmarking this entire discussion as my unemployment survival guide. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences and advice!
I'm so glad I found this thread! As a newcomer to both unemployment benefits and this community, Maxwell's detailed journey has been incredibly educational. What struck me most is how the system seems designed to be confusing - getting that monetary determination letter but then having no idea why payments aren't coming is such a common experience based on all these comments. The fact that you have to dig into your payment history to find cryptic status codes to understand what's actually happening with your claim is pretty frustrating from a user experience perspective. But seeing everyone come together to share their knowledge and help Maxwell figure it out really shows the value of communities like this. I'm definitely following the advice about checking for status codes and keeping detailed documentation. Thanks for sharing your complete experience - it's going to help so many people!
This thread has been absolutely invaluable! As someone who just started their unemployment claim journey after being laid off last week, I'm saving this entire conversation as my reference guide. Maxwell's experience perfectly illustrates what can happen when there's an employer dispute, and the community support here is amazing. The key insights I'm taking away: check your payment history for status codes if payments are delayed beyond 10 days, gather ALL written documentation from your employer about your separation, and don't panic if an employer dispute extends the timeline to 4-6 weeks. The fact that Maxwell got all his back pay at once after approval is really reassuring. One question for anyone still following - should I proactively gather documentation now even though my claim just started, just in case my employer decides to contest it later? I have emails about the layoff and my termination letter, but wondering if there's anything else I should be collecting while it's fresh. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences here - this community is a lifesaver for navigating such a confusing system!
Yes, definitely collect everything now! I learned this the hard way when my employer contested my claim 6 months ago. Having your documentation organized ahead of time is crucial. In addition to what Sophie and Emma mentioned, I'd also suggest keeping a simple timeline document with dates and what happened - like "March 15: Manager told me about layoffs, March 20: received official termination letter, March 22: last day of work." The claims examiner asked me very specific timeline questions during my phone interview. Also, if any coworkers were laid off at the same time, keep their contact info handy - sometimes having witnesses to company-wide layoffs can help your case. The whole process is so much less stressful when you're prepared!
This is such excellent advice from everyone! As someone new to this community and unemployment claims, I'm amazed by how supportive and knowledgeable everyone is here. The documentation tips from Sophie, Emma, and Ashley are gold - I never would have thought about keeping coworker contact info or taking screenshots of company portals. Maxwell's journey really shows how much of a difference preparation makes. I'm definitely creating that timeline document Ashley suggested right away while everything is still fresh in my memory. It's reassuring to know that even if there is an employer dispute, being well-prepared can make the process much smoother. Thanks everyone for sharing your hard-earned wisdom - it's going to save people like me so much stress and confusion!
Hey Luca! Just wanted to add that you should also make sure you're meeting the work search requirements while your claim is pending. In NY you need to make at least 3 work search contacts per week and keep records of them. You can do this through job applications, contacting employers directly, or attending job fairs. Don't forget to log these in your weekly certification - it's required even during the pending period. Good luck with your claim!
This is really important info about the work search requirements! I had no idea I needed to be doing that while my claim is pending. Are there any specific websites or resources that NY recommends for job searching, or can I use any legitimate job site like Indeed or LinkedIn?
@Harmony Love You can use any legitimate job search method for the work search requirements! NYS DOL accepts applications through Indeed, LinkedIn, company websites, staffing agencies, networking events, and even direct contact with employers. The key is just documenting what you did - like saving job posting links, noting company names and dates you applied, etc. The NY.gov jobs site is also good to check since some employers prefer to post there for state residents. Just make sure whatever you do counts as a genuine attempt to find work!
Just went through this same situation a few months ago! The waiting week elimination is still in effect for 2025, so you should get paid for your first week of unemployment once approved. One thing I wish someone had told me earlier - make sure you have direct deposit set up in your my.ny.gov account because paper checks can add extra delays. Also, keep all your employment documents handy (last pay stub, separation notice if you got one) in case they need additional verification. The restaurant industry layoffs are usually pretty straightforward for approval since it's clearly not your fault. Hang in there!
@Eli Wang Thanks for mentioning the direct deposit tip! I actually haven t'set that up yet - I was so focused on just getting the claim filed that I didn t'think about payment method. Do you remember how long it took to set up direct deposit in the system? I m'worried that if I change it now while my claim is pending it might cause more delays.
Raúl Mora
As someone who just started filing unemployment claims last week, this entire thread has been incredibly helpful! I was getting really anxious about having to file from my parents' house this weekend when I visit them in the next county over. Reading everyone's experiences - especially the technical explanation about IP addresses and the clarification about temporary vs. permanent location changes - has really put my fears to rest. It sounds like the main thing is being honest about work availability rather than stressing about where you physically submit the claim. I can definitely say I'm able and available for work regardless of where I'm visiting, so I think I was overthinking this whole thing. Thanks to everyone who shared their stories - it's so reassuring for us newbies to hear that occasional travel while filing is totally normal!
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Mia Alvarez
•Welcome to the unemployment process! I'm also pretty new to this (started filing about a month ago) and had the exact same anxiety about location tracking. This thread has been such a lifesaver - I was literally losing sleep over whether filing from my friend's apartment would somehow flag my account. The consensus here really makes sense: they care about whether you're genuinely available for work, not the GPS coordinates of your laptop when you click submit. I think as newcomers we tend to overthink every little detail because the whole system feels so intimidating at first. But it sounds like as long as we're honest about our availability and can realistically accept job offers in our area, we don't need to stress about filing from different locations occasionally. Hope your visit with your parents goes well!
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Emma Morales
I'm brand new to filing unemployment and this thread is exactly what I needed! I've been paranoid about everything since I started last week, including whether I could file from my boyfriend's place when I stay over on weekends. Reading all these responses, especially the IT explanation about how IP tracking actually works and the distinction between temporary travel vs. permanent moves, has really calmed my nerves. It seems like the bottom line is simple: as long as you're truthfully available for work in your labor market area, it doesn't matter if you're filing from your kitchen table or a library across town. I think us newcomers tend to catastrophize every detail because the whole unemployment system feels so overwhelming at first. Thanks everyone for sharing your real experiences - it's incredibly helpful to know that occasional location changes while filing is completely normal and nothing to stress about!
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