How bad is unemployment process with NYS Department of Labor right now?
I'm dreading having to file for unemployment benefits after getting laid off yesterday. Everyone keeps telling me horror stories about how bad the NYS Department of Labor system is right now. Is it really that terrible? I've never had to deal with unemployment before and I'm honestly scared about what I'm getting into. How long does everything take? Are the phone lines really impossible to get through? I need to know what I'm facing here because I have bills due in two weeks.
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Teresa Boyd
honestly yeah its pretty rough right now, took me like 6 weeks to get my first payment and thats with no complications
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Landon Morgan
•Six weeks?? That's way longer than I can afford to wait. Did you have any issues with your claim or was it just normal processing time?
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Lourdes Fox
The system has definitely improved since the pandemic chaos, but there are still significant delays. Expect 2-4 weeks for initial processing if you have a straightforward case. The key is filing immediately and making sure all your information is accurate. Weekly claims must be filed on time every week once you're approved, and you'll need to complete job search activities. The my.ny.gov portal works most of the time now, which is a huge improvement from 2020-2021.
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Bruno Simmons
•What counts as job search activities? I keep seeing different requirements posted online and I'm confused about what I actually need to do.
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Lourdes Fox
•You need to complete 3 job search activities per week. This can include applying for jobs, attending job fairs, networking events, or using the NYS Department of Labor job search resources. Keep detailed records of everything you do.
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Aileen Rodriguez
THE SYSTEM IS ABSOLUTELY BROKEN! I've been waiting 8 weeks for my adjudication to complete and nobody can tell me why. Called hundreds of times and either get hung up on or told to wait longer. They're holding thousands of dollars of MY money hostage with zero explanation!
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Zane Gray
•I had a similar adjudication nightmare last year. If you're having trouble reaching someone at NYS Department of Labor, I actually found this service called Claimyr that helped me get through to an agent. Check out claimyr.com - they have a video demo at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI that shows how it works. Basically they handle the phone calling part so you don't have to sit on hold for hours.
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Maggie Martinez
I filed in December and it wasn't as bad as I expected. Took about 3 weeks to get approved and start receiving payments. The worst part is really just the waiting and not knowing what's happening with your claim.
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Alejandro Castro
It really depends on your situation. If you were laid off through no fault of your own and your employer doesn't contest the claim, it should be relatively straightforward. Problems usually arise when there are questions about why you separated from employment or if there are wage discrepancies. Make sure you have all your employment documentation ready when you file.
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