How long does NYS Department of Labor unemployment claim processing actually take?
I submitted my initial unemployment claim through the NYS Department of Labor website 2 weeks ago and I'm still waiting to hear anything back. The status just says 'under review' and I haven't received any determination letter yet. I keep reading different timeframes online - some say 3-4 weeks, others say it can be 6-8 weeks. Does anyone know how long unemployment claims are actually taking to process right now? I'm starting to get really anxious about when I'll see my first payment.
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Diego Flores
The NYS Department of Labor typically processes straightforward claims within 3-4 weeks from the date you file. However, if your claim requires adjudication (which happens when there are questions about your separation from work, earnings, or eligibility), it can take 6-8 weeks or sometimes longer. Since yours shows 'under review,' it might be in adjudication. You should receive a determination letter explaining the decision once it's complete.
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Chloe Taylor
•Thanks for explaining that. I'm not sure why mine would need adjudication - I was laid off due to company downsizing and have all the paperwork. Should I be worried?
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Anastasia Ivanova
mine took forever too, like 7 weeks before i got approved and thats with no issues on my end. the nys department of labor is just super backed up right now from what i heard
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Sean Murphy
•Same experience here. Filed in early January and didn't get my first payment until mid-March. Even simple claims are taking way longer than the official timeframes they post on their website.
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StarStrider
If you're having trouble getting through to check on your claim status, I had success using a service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that helped me get connected to an actual NYS Department of Labor agent. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI that shows how it works. I was able to find out my claim was stuck because they needed additional verification documents that I never received notice about.
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Zara Malik
•How much does that cost? I've been trying to call for weeks but can never get through the phone lines.
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StarStrider
•They focus on the value of actually reaching someone rather than discussing pricing. For me it was worth it just to know what was going on with my claim instead of being stuck in limbo.
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Luca Marino
The whole system is a joke honestly. They tell you 3-4 weeks but then half the claims get stuck in their adjudication black hole for months. I've been waiting 10 weeks now and still nothing. Meanwhile bills keep piling up and they act like we're asking for charity instead of benefits we paid into.
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Nia Davis
•I feel your frustration! The waiting is the worst part because you can't plan anything.
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Sean Murphy
One thing to keep in mind is that even if your initial claim is delayed, once it's approved you'll receive retroactive payments back to your filing date. So you won't lose any benefits you're entitled to, just the timing of when you receive them. Make sure you keep filing your weekly claims even while waiting for the determination.
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Chloe Taylor
•Oh I didn't know about filing weekly claims before approval! I haven't been doing that. Do I need to go back and file for the weeks I missed?
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Sean Murphy
•Yes, you should log into your my.ny.gov account and file for any weeks you missed. The system usually allows you to file retroactive claims for recent weeks.
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Yuki Sato
I'm going through the exact same thing right now! Filed my claim about 10 days ago and it's been stuck on "under review" status with no updates. It's so stressful not knowing when to expect anything. I called the phone line multiple times but either get a busy signal or sit on hold for hours before getting disconnected. Has anyone had any luck getting status updates through their online portal, or is calling really the only way to get information about what's causing the delay?
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