How long does it take to find out if you qualify for unemployment with NYS Department of Labor?
I submitted my unemployment application through the NYS Department of Labor website last Tuesday and I'm still waiting to hear back about whether I qualify. My claim status just says 'under review' but doesn't give any timeframe. I worked at a retail chain for 8 months before getting laid off due to store closure. Does anyone know how long the NYS Department of Labor typically takes to determine eligibility? I'm getting anxious because I need to know if I should look into other options for income.
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Yara Nassar
The NYS Department of Labor usually takes 2-3 weeks to make an initial determination on eligibility, but it can vary depending on your specific situation. Since you were laid off due to store closure, that's typically considered qualifying separation, so you should be fine. Keep checking your my.ny.gov account for updates and make sure you're filing your weekly claims even while waiting for the determination.
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Connor Murphy
•Thanks! I didn't realize I should be filing weekly claims already. I thought I had to wait until I was approved first.
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StarGazer101
mine took forever last year... like 5 weeks before i heard anything and then they needed more info about my previous job
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Keisha Jackson
If your claim gets flagged for adjudication, it can take much longer - sometimes 6-8 weeks. This usually happens if there are questions about your separation reason or work history. Since you mentioned store closure, that should be straightforward, but sometimes the NYS Department of Labor needs to verify details with your former employer.
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Paolo Romano
•What exactly is adjudication? My claim has been saying that for 3 weeks now and I have no idea what it means!
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Keisha Jackson
•Adjudication is when the NYS Department of Labor needs to investigate something about your claim before approving it. Could be your separation reason, earnings verification, or other eligibility factors. You should receive a questionnaire or request for additional documents if they need more info.
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Amina Diop
I've been dealing with the NYS Department of Labor for months and honestly their timeline estimates are garbage. They'll tell you 2-3 weeks but then it drags on forever with no explanation. The whole system is broken and they don't care about people who actually need help.
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Oliver Schmidt
•I feel you on the frustration but complaining doesn't help OP get their answer faster
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Yara Nassar
If you're having trouble getting through to the NYS Department of Labor by phone to check on your claim status, I recently found out about a service called Claimyr that helps people connect with unemployment agents. They have a website at claimyr.com and there's a demo video at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI showing how it works. Might be worth checking out if you need to speak with someone directly about your claim.
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Connor Murphy
•Interesting, I'll look into that if I don't hear back soon. The phone lines are always busy when I try calling.
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Natasha Volkov
Just wanted to say hang in there! I was in a similar situation last year when my restaurant closed permanently. It took about 3 weeks to get approved and then I started receiving benefits. The waiting is the worst part but store closures are usually pretty clear-cut for eligibility.
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Amara Nnamani
I'm going through the same thing right now - filed my claim about 10 days ago and still waiting. From what I've read online, the NYS Department of Labor is pretty backed up right now but store closures are usually processed faster since there's less investigation needed. Have you tried calling the customer service line? I know it's hard to get through but sometimes they can at least tell you if there are any issues with your application. Also make sure you keep filing those weekly certifications even while waiting - that's what trips up a lot of people.
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