How long does it take for unemployment determination from NYS Department of Labor?
I submitted my initial unemployment claim about 6 weeks ago and I'm still waiting for a determination. The status just says 'pending' and I haven't heard anything from NYS Department of Labor. I worked in retail for 3 years before getting laid off due to store closure. I've been filing my weekly claims but haven't received any payments yet. Is this normal? How long should I expect to wait for them to make a determination on my eligibility?
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Zoe Alexopoulos
The determination process can vary widely depending on your specific situation. For straightforward cases with clear employment history, NYS Department of Labor typically issues determinations within 2-4 weeks. However, if there are any complications like disputed separation reasons, wage verification issues, or multiple employers, it can take 6-8 weeks or longer. Since you mentioned store closure as the reason, that should be straightforward, but they may be backlogged.
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CyberSamurai
•Thanks for the info. My separation was definitely due to the store closing - I have the letter from corporate. Should I be worried that it's taking this long?
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Jamal Carter
I had a similar situation last year. Took about 7 weeks for my determination to come through. The key thing is to keep filing your weekly claims even while it's pending - you'll get backpay if approved. Also make sure you're meeting the job search requirements during this time. NYS Department of Labor requires 3 work search activities per week.
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Mei Liu
•Wait, I thought it was only 1 job search activity per week? When did they change it to 3?
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Jamal Carter
•It's been 3 activities per week for regular UI claims since they ended the pandemic waivers. You can check the current requirements on the NYS Department of Labor website.
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Liam O'Donnell
Six weeks is definitely on the longer side but not unheard of. I've been trying to call NYS Department of Labor for weeks about my own claim issue and can never get through. The phone system is a nightmare - always busy or you get disconnected after waiting forever. Has anyone found a way to actually talk to someone there?
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Amara Nwosu
•I had the same problem with getting through to NYS Department of Labor by phone. A friend told me about this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that helps you get connected to unemployment agents. I was skeptical but tried it and actually got through to speak with someone within a day. They have a video demo showing how it works: https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI. Might be worth checking out if you're stuck waiting.
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AstroExplorer
UGH the whole system is so slow and frustrating!! I've been waiting 8 weeks for my determination and I'm about to lose my apartment. Why does everything with NYS Department of Labor take FOREVER?? This is supposed to be emergency assistance but by the time they approve anything you're already homeless!
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Giovanni Moretti
•I feel you on the frustration. The wait times are really rough when you're dealing with bills and rent.
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Fatima Al-Mansour
I'm going through something similar right now - submitted my claim 5 weeks ago after my company had layoffs and still waiting on determination. From what I've researched, NYS Department of Labor is dealing with high volume right now which is causing delays. One thing that helped me was creating an online account on their website to track my claim status more easily. You can also submit additional documentation there if needed. I've been keeping detailed records of all my job search activities just in case they ask for them later. Hang in there - the waiting is definitely stressful but it sounds like your case should be straightforward since you have the store closure documentation.
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