How long does an unemployment audit take - NYS Department of Labor review timeline?
My unemployment claim got flagged for an audit back in November and it's been almost 8 weeks now with no update. The NYS Department of Labor website just says 'under review' but doesn't give any timeframe. I've been filing my weekly claims but haven't received any payments since the audit started. Has anyone been through this process? How long should I expect this to take? I'm getting really stressed about my bills piling up.
12 comments


Giovanni Mancini
Unemployment audits can vary significantly in length depending on the complexity of your case. Generally, NYS Department of Labor audits take anywhere from 6-12 weeks, but I've seen some go longer if they need additional documentation. Make sure you've submitted everything they requested - missing paperwork is the #1 reason for delays. Keep filing your weekly claims during the audit process as this maintains your eligibility timeline.
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Amara Nnamani
•Thanks for the info. They haven't actually requested any additional docs from me yet, which is part of what's confusing. Should I be proactive and call them or just wait it out?
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NebulaNinja
been there done that... my audit took 11 weeks last year. the worst part is you cant get anyone on the phone to tell you whats happening. just kept getting the runaround
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Amara Nnamani
•11 weeks?? That's insane. Did they eventually approve your claim or was there an issue?
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NebulaNinja
•yeah they approved it and gave me all the back pay but man those 3 months were rough financially
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Fatima Al-Suwaidi
If you need to actually reach someone at NYS Department of Labor about your audit status, I had success using Claimyr (claimyr.com). They help you get through to an actual agent instead of sitting on hold forever. There's a video demo at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI that shows how it works. Saved me hours of calling and getting nowhere.
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Dylan Mitchell
•Never heard of that service before - does it actually work or is it just another scam?
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Fatima Al-Suwaidi
•It's legit, I was skeptical too but it got me connected to an agent within 30 minutes. Worth it when you're stuck in audit limbo like this.
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Sofia Morales
THE NYS DEPARTMENT OF LABOR AUDIT SYSTEM IS BROKEN! They audit people randomly just to delay payments and save money. I've been waiting 14 WEEKS for my audit to complete and still nothing. Meanwhile they're sitting on thousands of dollars that should be mine. It's criminal how they treat people who need help.
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Dmitry Popov
•14 weeks is way too long!! Have you tried contacting your state representative? Sometimes they can help push things along when NYS Department of Labor is being unreasonable.
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Ava Garcia
mine was only like 4 weeks but that was during the summer when things might have been slower
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Jean Claude
I went through this same situation last year and it's incredibly frustrating. My audit took about 10 weeks total. What helped me was keeping detailed records of every interaction and continuing to file weekly claims like others mentioned. One thing I learned is that sometimes audits get delayed because they're waiting on responses from your former employer - that was the case with mine. The system doesn't always tell you this is happening though. Hang in there, most people do eventually get their back pay once the audit clears. In the meantime, see if you qualify for any emergency assistance programs in your area to help with bills.
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