How long do unemployment claims take to process with NYS Department of Labor?
Filed my unemployment claim with NYS Department of Labor two weeks ago and still haven't heard anything back. My account just shows 'claim under review' with no updates. I'm starting to panic because I need to pay rent next week. How long does this process usually take? I thought it was supposed to be faster than this. Has anyone else experienced these delays recently?
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Zoe Christodoulou
The initial processing time for NYS Department of Labor claims varies depending on your situation. Standard claims typically take 2-4 weeks if there are no issues. However, if your claim goes into adjudication (which happens when they need to verify employment history or separation reasons), it can take 6-8 weeks or longer. Check your my.ny.gov account for any pending issues that might need documentation.
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Andre Moreau
•Thanks for the info. My account doesn't show any pending issues, just says 'under review.' Does that mean it's in adjudication or is it still in the initial processing phase?
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Jamal Thompson
mine took 3 weeks last month but my friend's has been stuck for over a month now. seems like they're really backed up lately
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Mei Chen
If you're having trouble getting updates on your claim status, I had success using Claimyr (claimyr.com) to actually reach a NYS Department of Labor agent. I was stuck in the same situation - claim under review for weeks with no updates. Their service got me connected to an agent who could see what was holding up my claim. There's a video demo at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI that shows how it works. Turned out my employer hadn't responded to their inquiry, and the agent was able to expedite it.
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Andre Moreau
•That sounds helpful but is it legit? I'm worried about giving my information to third parties when it comes to unemployment stuff.
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Mei Chen
•I was skeptical too, but you don't give them any sensitive info. They just help you get through the phone system to reach an actual NYS Department of Labor person. Worth checking out the demo video to see how it works.
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CosmicCadet
THE WHOLE SYSTEM IS A JOKE!!! I've been waiting 7 weeks and every time I call they just say 'still processing' or hang up on me. Meanwhile bills are piling up and I'm about to lose my apartment. They make it impossible to get through to anyone who can actually help.
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Liam O'Connor
•I feel your frustration! The wait times are really stressful when you're counting on that money. Have you tried calling first thing in the morning? Sometimes the hold times are shorter around 8am.
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Amara Adeyemi
Just wanted to update - I was in a similar situation last year and it ended up taking 5 weeks total. The key thing is to keep filing your weekly claims even while it's under review, because if you miss those you'll lose benefits for those weeks. Also document everything in case you need to appeal later.
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