How long does it take for an unemployment claim to be approved in NYS?
Just filed my first unemployment claim through the NYS Department of Labor website yesterday after getting laid off from my retail job. The confirmation email said my claim was received but I have no idea what happens next or how long this whole process takes. My landlord is already asking about next month's rent and I'm starting to panic. Does anyone know the typical timeline for getting unemployment benefits approved in New York? Should I expect to wait weeks or is it usually faster than that?
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Aaliyah Jackson
The NYS Department of Labor typically processes initial claims within 2-3 weeks if there are no issues that require adjudication. You should receive a monetary determination letter first showing your benefit amount, then you'll need to start filing weekly claims. Make sure you're certifying for benefits every week even while waiting for approval.
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Giovanni Rossi
•Thank you! I didn't realize I needed to do weekly claims while waiting. Where do I file those?
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KylieRose
mine took forever last year, like 6 weeks because they had to verify my employment history with my previous employer... hopefully yours goes smoother
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Miguel Hernández
The timeline really depends on whether your claim gets flagged for adjudication. Simple layoffs usually process quickly, but if there's any question about why you left your job or issues with your work history, it can take much longer. Check your my.ny.gov account regularly for any requests for additional information.
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Sasha Ivanov
•What kind of things trigger adjudication? I'm worried mine might get delayed because I had a temp job that ended right before my regular job layoff.
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Liam Murphy
honestly the whole system is a mess, I've been waiting 4 weeks just to talk to someone at NYS Department of Labor about why my claim is stuck in pending status with no explanation whatsoever
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Amara Okafor
•I had a similar issue with getting through to someone at NYS Department of Labor. After weeks of busy signals, I ended up using Claimyr.com to get connected to an actual agent. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI that shows how it works. Finally got my adjudication issue resolved after months of trying on my own.
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Liam Murphy
•Never heard of that service but at this point I'm willing to try anything. The phone system is absolutely useless.
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CaptainAwesome
Just wanted to add that even after approval you won't get paid immediately - there's usually a one week waiting period for your first payment. Budget accordingly!
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James Johnson
I went through this process about 8 months ago after my company downsized. The good news is that since you were laid off (not fired for cause), your claim should process relatively smoothly. In my experience, I got my monetary determination letter in about 10 days, and my first payment came 3 weeks after filing. The key is to keep certifying weekly even while you're waiting - you can do this through the same portal where you filed your initial claim. Also, make sure to apply for jobs and keep records since they may ask for proof later. Hang in there, the process feels slow but it does work!
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