How long does it take to apply for unemployment with NYS Department of Labor?
I'm getting laid off next week and trying to figure out the timing for filing my unemployment claim. How long does the actual application process take with NYS Department of Labor? I've heard mixed things - some people say it's quick online but others mention it taking hours. Should I block out a whole day or can I do it during lunch break? Also wondering if there's any benefit to filing immediately vs waiting a few days after my last day of work.
10 comments
Join the conversation
Daniel Washington
The online application itself usually takes about 30-45 minutes if you have all your information ready. You'll need your Social Security number, employment history for the past 18 months, and your employer's details. The key is having everything organized beforehand - wages, dates of employment, reason for separation. Don't wait to file - you should apply for benefits during your first week of unemployment to avoid losing any potential payments.
0 coins
Lauren Zeb
•Thanks! What specific employer info do I need? Just the company name and address or more detailed stuff?
0 coins
Aurora Lacasse
I filed mine last month and it took maybe 20 minutes max. The my.ny.gov system is pretty straightforward. BUT - and this is important - getting your claim actually processed and approved can take 2-3 weeks. The application is the easy part, waiting for NYS Department of Labor to review everything is what takes forever.
0 coins
Anthony Young
•This is so true! I thought I was done after submitting but then had to wait weeks for them to verify my employment. Make sure you file your weekly claims even while waiting for approval.
0 coins
Charlotte White
honestly the hardest part for me was getting through to someone at NYS Department of Labor when I had questions during the application. Their phone lines are always busy and you get disconnected constantly. I ended up using this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that got me through to an actual agent in like 10 minutes. They have a video demo that explains how it works: https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI. Worth checking out if you run into issues.
0 coins
Admin_Masters
•Never heard of that but might be useful. Did they charge you anything for getting through?
0 coins
Charlotte White
•They focus on just getting you connected to the right person rather than charging fees. Was definitely worth it when I was stuck in adjudication limbo.
0 coins
Matthew Sanchez
Make sure you have your bank account info ready too for direct deposit setup. And if you worked for multiple employers in the past year, get all those details together. I forgot about a part-time job I had and had to go back and update everything later which delayed my whole claim.
0 coins
Ella Thompson
The system has been pretty reliable lately but I'd still recommend not waiting until Sunday night to file. Weekday mornings seem to work best in my experience. Also double-check everything before submitting because fixing mistakes later is a huge pain with NYS Department of Labor.
0 coins
Andre Dupont
Just went through this process myself two weeks ago! The application took me about 40 minutes, but I had to stop and hunt down some old pay stubs. Pro tip: if you're still employed, try to get a copy of your recent pay statements and employment letter before your last day - HR departments are usually more helpful while you're still on payroll. Also, file as soon as possible after your separation date. I waited three days thinking I needed to "settle in" first and ended up kicking myself because those are days I could have been accumulating benefits. The waiting period for approval is real though - still haven't gotten my first payment yet but at least the claim is processing.
0 coins