How long does it take to get a response from NYS Department of Labor unemployment office?
I submitted my unemployment claim two weeks ago and haven't heard anything back from NYS Department of Labor. My claim status just says 'under review' but there's no timeline given. I've tried calling but keep getting disconnected after waiting on hold for over an hour. Does anyone know how long it typically takes to get a response from unemployment? I'm starting to worry something went wrong with my application.
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Chloe Boulanger
Response times vary a lot depending on what type of review your claim needs. If it's just standard processing, you should hear back within 2-3 weeks. But if your claim went to adjudication (which happens if there are any issues with your work history or reason for separation), it can take 4-6 weeks or longer. Check your my.ny.gov account to see if there are any pending issues you need to resolve.
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Noah Ali
•Thanks! I checked my account and don't see any pending issues listed. Just shows 'claim under review' with no other details.
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James Martinez
I waited 5 weeks for my claim to get approved last year. The NYS Department of Labor is really backed up and their phone system is terrible. Keep trying to call though, sometimes you can get through early in the morning around 8am when they open.
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Olivia Harris
I had the same issue with getting through by phone. What finally worked for me was using a service called Claimyr that helped me get connected to an actual NYS Department of Labor agent. You can check it out at claimyr.com - they have a video demo at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI that shows how it works. I was able to get my claim status checked and resolved an issue that was holding up my payments.
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Alexander Zeus
•How much does something like that cost? I'm already struggling financially waiting for my claim to process.
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Olivia Harris
•They focus on getting you connected rather than charging high fees. For me it was worth it because I was able to resolve my issue in one call instead of weeks of trying to get through on my own.
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Alicia Stern
Two weeks isn't unusual unfortunately. The NYS Department of Labor has to verify your employment history with your previous employers, which can take time. If you were laid off or quit for qualifying reasons, make sure you have documentation ready in case they request it. Sometimes employers don't respond quickly to verification requests which can delay your claim approval.
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Gabriel Graham
ugh the whole system is so frustrating!!! I've been waiting 3 weeks and my rent is due next week. They make it SO HARD to get help when you actually need it. The website is confusing and the phone lines are always busy. How are people supposed to survive while waiting for benefits??
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Drake
•I totally feel your frustration. Hang in there - once your claim gets approved you'll get back pay for all the weeks you've been waiting.
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StarSurfer
I'm going through the same thing right now! Filed my claim 10 days ago and still showing "under review" with no updates. It's really stressful not knowing when to expect a decision. I've been documenting everything and keeping all my paperwork organized just in case they need additional info. Has anyone had success reaching them through their online messaging system instead of calling? I'm wondering if that might be faster than sitting on hold for hours.
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Zane Gray
•I tried the online messaging system about a week ago and haven't gotten a response yet either. It seems like they're just overwhelmed across all their communication channels right now. One thing that might help is making sure you've completed your weekly certifications even while your claim is under review - I read somewhere that you need to keep doing those to maintain your place in the queue. Also check if your employer has responded to their request for information yet, since that can be a major holdup.
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