How fast do you get unemployment benefits approved through NYS Department of Labor?
I just got laid off yesterday from my restaurant job and I'm trying to figure out the timing for unemployment benefits. How fast do you actually get unemployment once you file with NYS Department of Labor? I heard some people say it takes weeks but others got it right away. I need to know because I have rent due in 10 days and no savings. Should I file today or wait until I get my final paycheck next week?
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Miguel Ramos
The NYS Department of Labor usually processes claims within 1-2 weeks if there are no issues, but you should file immediately. Don't wait for your final paycheck - you can file the day after your last day of work. The longer you wait, the longer it takes to get your first payment. Make sure you have all your employer information ready when you file.
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Ava Thompson
•Thanks! I wasn't sure about the timing. Do I need to wait for my W2 or anything like that?
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Zainab Ibrahim
it took me 3 weeks to get my first payment but that was because they had to verify my identity or something... the waiting week is gone now so once approved you should get paid pretty quick
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StarSailor
File today through my.ny.gov and complete your weekly claim certification every week even while your initial claim is being processed. If everything goes smoothly, you're looking at about 7-10 business days for approval and then 2-3 days for payment processing. However, if your claim goes into adjudication for any reason (like if your employer contests it), it can take much longer - sometimes 4-6 weeks.
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Connor O'Brien
•What would cause it to go into adjudication? I'm worried about that happening to me too.
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StarSailor
•Common reasons include employer disputes about why you left, issues verifying your identity, or questions about your work history. Restaurant workers sometimes face issues if tips weren't properly reported.
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Yara Sabbagh
I've been trying to get through to NYS Department of Labor for weeks about my claim status. Their phone system is absolutely useless - you wait for hours just to get hung up on. I finally used this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that actually got me connected to a real person at NYS Department of Labor in like 10 minutes. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI that shows how it works. Saved me so much frustration when I needed to check why my payments stopped.
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Ava Thompson
•That actually sounds really helpful. I hate phone trees and being on hold forever.
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Keisha Johnson
The whole system is a joke honestly. I filed 2 months ago and STILL haven't gotten a penny. My claim has been stuck in some kind of review process and nobody can tell me why. Meanwhile my landlord doesn't care that the state can't get their act together.
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Paolo Rizzo
Mine was approved in exactly 8 days but I think I got lucky. Had all my documentation ready and my previous employer didn't fight it. The key is being really careful when you fill out the application - any mistakes can cause delays.
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