How long does it take to be approved for unemployment in NYS - timeline questions?
I submitted my initial unemployment claim through the NYS Department of Labor website last Tuesday and I'm wondering what's normal for approval timing? My previous job ended due to company downsizing and I made sure to file within the first week. The status just shows 'pending review' and I haven't heard anything back yet. I keep seeing different timeframes mentioned online - some say 2-3 weeks, others mention months if there are issues. Has anyone gone through this recently? What should I expect for how long it takes to be approved for unemployment benefits in New York?
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Nia Johnson
From my experience helping people with NYS Department of Labor claims, the typical timeline is 2-4 weeks for straightforward cases. Since you filed due to company downsizing, that's usually considered a 'no-fault' separation which tends to process faster. The 'pending review' status is normal - they're verifying your employment history and wages. You should receive your first determination letter within 3 weeks if there are no complications requiring adjudication.
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Luca Conti
•Thanks, that's reassuring! Should I be filing weekly claims even though I haven't been approved yet?
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CyberNinja
took me exactly 18 days last year when i got laid off. but thats only if everything goes smooth with no red flags on your application
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Mateo Lopez
The key factor is whether your claim goes into adjudication or not. Simple layoffs usually don't require adjudication and process within 2-3 weeks. However, if there's any question about your separation reason or if your employer contests the claim, it can take 6-8 weeks or longer. Keep filing your weekly claims regardless of approval status - you'll get backpay once approved.
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Aisha Abdullah
•Wait, what exactly is adjudication? My claim has been showing that status for over a week now and I'm starting to panic about paying my rent.
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Mateo Lopez
•Adjudication means they need to investigate something about your claim - could be the reason you left your job, wage verification, or availability for work. It's not necessarily bad, just means they need more information before making a decision.
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Ethan Davis
I had a nightmare experience with NYS Department of Labor approval timing. Filed in March, didn't get approved until June because they kept asking for more documentation. The phone system is absolutely useless - spent hours on hold just to get disconnected. Finally used a service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that got me through to an actual agent who could explain what was holding up my claim. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI showing how it works. Worth it when you're stuck in the system limbo.
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Yuki Tanaka
•Never heard of that service before, seems interesting though. The phone situation with NYS Department of Labor is definitely horrible.
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Carmen Ortiz
My sister just got approved last month and it took exactly 3 weeks from filing to first payment. She also had a layoff situation so maybe that helps with timing?
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Aisha Abdullah
UGH the whole system is so stressful! I've been waiting 4 weeks now and still nothing. How are we supposed to pay bills while waiting for them to make up their minds? The uncertainty is killing me more than the actual unemployment.
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Nia Johnson
•I understand the stress completely. If it's been 4 weeks, I'd recommend calling the NYS Department of Labor claim center to check on your status. There might be something specific they need from you that you're not aware of.
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