How long does a NYS Department of Labor unemployment appeal take to process?
My unemployment claim got denied last month and I filed an appeal right away. It's been 5 weeks now and I haven't heard anything back from NYS Department of Labor. The website just says 'appeal pending review' with no timeline. I'm getting really stressed about money and wondering if this is normal? Does anyone know how long these appeals usually take to get decided?
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Ella rollingthunder87
Appeals typically take 6-12 weeks from the date you file, sometimes longer if there's a backlog. The NYS Department of Labor has to schedule a hearing, notify all parties, conduct the hearing, and then issue a written decision. You should receive a hearing notice in the mail with a specific date and time at least 10 days before your scheduled hearing.
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Tony Brooks
•Thanks for the info! I haven't gotten any hearing notice yet. Should I be worried that something went wrong with my appeal?
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Yara Campbell
mine took almost 3 months last year but that was during covid backlog... still waiting is the worst part, especially when you need the money
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Isaac Wright
The process varies but here's what typically happens: First, they review your appeal for completeness (1-2 weeks). Then they schedule a hearing which can be 4-8 weeks out depending on availability. The hearing itself takes 30-60 minutes, and you get a written decision within 2-3 weeks after that. If you need to check status, you can try calling but honestly the wait times are brutal. I used claimyr.com to get through to an actual NYS Department of Labor agent when I needed updates on my appeal - there's a demo video at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI that shows how it works. Way easier than sitting on hold for hours.
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Tony Brooks
•That sounds really helpful, I'll check out that service. I've been trying to call for weeks with no luck.
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Maya Diaz
•Just be prepared for your hearing - gather all your documentation, any witnesses, and be ready to explain your side clearly. The judge will ask questions about why you were denied.
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Tami Morgan
UGH the appeal process is such a joke!! Filed mine in January and STILL waiting for a hearing date. NYS Department of Labor is completely overwhelmed and doesn't care about people who need benefits. Meanwhile bills keep piling up while they take their sweet time reviewing obvious cases.
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Rami Samuels
What was your original denial reason? That can affect timing too - if it's a simple eligibility issue vs something more complex like misconduct allegations, the process might be different.
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Anastasia Sokolov
I'm going through a similar situation right now - filed my appeal about 7 weeks ago after getting denied for "voluntary quit" even though I was laid off. Still no hearing notice either. From what I've read on the NYS DOL website, they're supposed to send the hearing notice at least 10 days before your scheduled date, so you might still be in the normal timeframe. The uncertainty is definitely the hardest part when you're already stressed about finances. Have you tried creating an online account on the DOL website? Sometimes you can see status updates there before you get anything in the mail.
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