Do added effective days to NY unemployment claim mean I'm more likely to be approved?

its probably just procedure. they add days to evryone when u file. doesnt mean anything yet, gotta wait for the ACTUAL approval letter

Adding effective days to your claim is standard procedure during the initial processing phase. It doesn't necessarily indicate approval or denial - it's just part of how NYSDOL sets up a new claim in their system. What you want to look for is your payment status changing from 'pending' to 'paid' and receiving a monetary determination letter that confirms your weekly benefit amount.

I'm in the same situation and FREAKING OUT!! They added days to my claim last Thursday but still nothing about being approved!!! Has anyone actually been DENIED after they added days?? I really need this money and I'm scared they're going to deny me even though I got laid off and it wasn't my fault AT ALL. What does the effective days thing ACTUALLY mean??!!

When I filed back in January, they added effective days to my claim and then I got denied 3 weeks later. Turns out they needed additional documentation about my self-employment income that I didn't provide. The effective days thing is just how their system works - it's NOT an indication of approval. They basically set up the framework of what your benefits WOULD be IF you get approved. If you're having trouble reaching someone at unemployment to ask questions, I finally got through using Claimyr (claimyr.com). They have this system that gets you connected to an actual agent instead of waiting on hold forever. Saved me so much frustration! They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/Rdqa1gKtxuE

If they added days that's actually a GOOD sign! My cousin works at the unemployment office (not in NY but they all work similar) and she says they don't bother adding days if your claim has obvious problems. But still not a guarantee.

I think everyone on this thread is WRONG. Adding effective days IS part of approval. Why would they add days if they weren't going to pay you?? That makes NO SENSE. They're just slow with sending the official approval letters because the system is OUTDATED and BROKEN like everything else at NYSDOL!!

To clarify what others have said: Adding effective days is part of the standard claim processing procedure and happens automatically when your claim enters the system. The days represent your potential benefit duration (typically up to 26 weeks in NY). This action occurs BEFORE your claim is fully reviewed for eligibility, so it's not a guarantee of approval. However, it does indicate your claim has been entered into the system and is being processed. The best indicators of actual approval are: 1. Receiving a monetary determination letter with your weekly benefit amount 2. Seeing your payment status change from pending to paid 3. Receiving benefit payments in your account Keep certifying every week while you wait for determination to avoid gaps in payment if you are approved.

my claim got days added then got approved like 2 days later so maybe ur close

Update: I got my determination letter today! I was approved with the weekly benefit amount I expected. Looks like the effective days were indeed just part of the setup process, but approval came pretty quickly afterward. Thanks everyone for your help and explanations!

I'm going through the exact same thing right now! Filed my claim 5 days ago and just saw they added effective days yesterday. Reading through all these responses is really helpful - sounds like it's just part of their standard process but not a guarantee either way. The waiting is definitely nerve-wracking, especially when you're counting on these benefits. Sofia, congratulations on getting approved so quickly! That gives me hope that maybe the system is moving faster than I expected. I'll keep certifying weekly and watching for that determination letter.