How long after applying for NY unemployment before approval or denial decision?

Generally, NY unemployment decisions take about 2-3 weeks, though it can vary. Keep certifying weekly even while waiting for a decision - if approved, you'll get retroactive payments for those weeks. They might call you for an interview if there are questions about your application. Make sure your contact info is correct in the system.

mine took almost 5 weeks in feb 2025 so dont panic if it takes longer than what ppl say. the system is always backed up

The official timeframe from NYSDOL is 2-3 weeks, but realistically it can take 3-6 weeks depending on your claim complexity and current department workload. Some important things to know: 1) Definitely certify weekly while waiting 2) Check your online account AND email daily 3) Answer your phone even if unknown numbers call (could be NYSDOL) 4) Make sure your ID.me verification is complete 5) If you worked in multiple states or had unusual employment, expect delays If you see your status change to "pending" for more than 3 weeks, that usually means there's an issue they need to resolve.

I just went through this myself! Applied January 15th and got approved February 9th this year so about 3.5 weeks for me. BUT my coworker who applied the same day got approved in 10 days! Seems totally random tbh

The NYSDOL is COMPLETELY BROKEN right now!!! I applied in early January 2025 and STILL haven't gotten a decision. When I call, I can't even get through to anyone. Been calling FOR WEEKS and just get disconnected or told to call back. My rent is due next week and these incompetent bureaucrats are just sitting on their hands!!!! Don't expect anything to happen quickly with these people.

I was struggling to reach anyone at NYSDOL for weeks about my pending claim, but then I found this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that got me through to an agent in under 20 minutes! They have this system that basically waits on hold for you and calls when an agent is available. Saved me from waiting 3+ hours on hold. You can see how it works in their video demo: https://youtu.be/Rdqa1gKtxuE Once I actually spoke with someone, they found an issue with my claim that was causing the delay and fixed it right away. My claim was approved two days later after being stuck for almost a month.

btw make sure u answer all calls even if u dont recognize the #. they sometimes call from weird numbers and if u miss it they might delay ur claim

One more important thing to mention - when you DO get approved, you'll need to wait for your debit card to arrive in the mail before accessing funds (unless you set up direct deposit during application). The KeyBank debit cards typically arrive 7-10 business days after approval. So factor that into your financial planning as well.

Has anyone else noticed that if you applied on a Monday or Tuesday the process seems faster? My friend told me this and it seemed to work for me but could just be coincidence lol

Based on recent NYSDOL data, here's what most claimants can expect in 2025: - Simple claims (clean work history, employer doesn't contest): 1-2 weeks - Standard claims (typical situation): 2-3 weeks - Complex claims (multiple employers, eligibility questions): 3-6+ weeks The most important thing is to keep certifying weekly while you wait and respond immediately to any requests for additional information. About 70% of delays are caused by missing documentation or unanswered questions.

Just wanted to add that you should also make sure to keep detailed records of your job search activities from day one, even while waiting for approval. NY requires you to make at least 3 job contacts per week once benefits start, and they can ask for proof retroactively. I learned this the hard way when they requested my job search log during a random audit. Keep a simple spreadsheet with company names, dates, positions applied for, and contact methods. It'll save you headaches later!