How bad is unemployment right now in NY - should I file a claim?
I got laid off from my warehouse job last week and I'm trying to figure out if it's even worth filing for unemployment benefits right now. Everyone keeps telling me horror stories about how backed up NYS Department of Labor is and how impossible it is to get through to anyone. My friend said his claim took 8 weeks just to get approved. Is the unemployment situation really that bad right now? I need to know if I should expect to wait months before seeing any money or if things have gotten better. I can't afford to wait around if the system is completely broken.
10 comments
Join the conversation
Debra Bai
You should definitely file your claim as soon as possible! The longer you wait, the more money you're potentially losing. Yes, there can be delays but many claims are processing much faster now than during the pandemic. The key is filing correctly the first time - make sure you have all your employment information ready and file online through the NYS Department of Labor website. Even if there are some delays, you'll get backpay from your filing date.
0 coins
KaiEsmeralda
•Thanks for the encouragement. Do you know if warehouse workers typically have any issues with their claims? I'm worried they might question why I got laid off.
0 coins
Gabriel Freeman
honestly the system is still pretty messed up from what i've seen. my neighbor filed 6 weeks ago and still hasn't gotten approved, keeps getting stuck in some adjudication thing. but like the other person said you gotta file anyway cause you can't get backpay if you don't start the process
0 coins
Laura Lopez
•Adjudication delays are usually because of missing documentation or employment verification issues. If you file with complete information and your employer responds quickly to NYS Department of Labor requests, most claims process within 2-3 weeks now.
0 coins
Victoria Brown
File immediately but be prepared for potential headaches. I had to deal with NYS Department of Labor for months last year when they incorrectly flagged my claim for fraud. The phone system is absolutely terrible - you'll get disconnected constantly when trying to call. I ended up using this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that actually got me through to a real person at NYS Department of Labor. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI showing how it works. Saved me weeks of frustration trying to get my claim sorted out.
0 coins
Samuel Robinson
•How much does something like that cost? I'm already broke from being laid off.
0 coins
Victoria Brown
•It was worth it for me since I was losing more money every week my claim was delayed. Much cheaper than missing out on benefits while waiting for the phone system to work.
0 coins
Camila Castillo
The unemployment rate in NY is actually not terrible compared to some other places right now, but that doesn't mean the NYS Department of Labor system is running smoothly. My advice is file your weekly claims religiously even if your initial claim is still pending. Missing a week can cause huge problems later.
0 coins
Brianna Muhammad
ugh don't even get me started on how broken this whole system is!! I've been fighting with them for MONTHS over an overpayment notice that makes no sense. They want me to pay back $2800 because apparently I didn't report some work correctly but I followed their instructions exactly. The whole department is a joke and they make it impossible to talk to anyone who can actually help.
0 coins
Gabriel Freeman
•that sucks man, did you try appealing it?
0 coins