How long does it take to get my first NYS Department of Labor unemployment check after filing?
I just filed my unemployment claim last Thursday and I'm wondering how long it typically takes to get your first payment from NYS Department of Labor? I completed my initial application online and got a confirmation number, but I haven't heard anything since then. My savings are running low and I need to know what to expect timing-wise. Should I have received something by now or is this normal? Also do I need to do anything else besides wait?
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Yara Nassar
It usually takes 2-3 weeks from when you file your initial claim to receive your first payment, assuming there are no issues with your application. You need to make sure you're filing your weekly claims every week starting the week after you applied - that's crucial. Check your my.ny.gov account to see if your claim status shows as approved or if it's stuck in adjudication.
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Connor O'Neill
•Thanks! I did file my first weekly claim this past Sunday. My account just says 'claim filed' but doesn't show approved yet. Should I be worried?
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Keisha Robinson
mine took exactly 3 weeks to get first payment but that was because they had to verify my employment history with my last employer
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GalaxyGuardian
•Same here - the employer verification seems to be the biggest delay factor. If your last employer doesn't respond quickly to NYS Department of Labor's request for information, it can add extra time to the process.
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Paolo Ricci
I've been waiting 5 weeks now and still nothing!! Called the NYS Department of Labor customer service line about 50 times and can never get through. This system is completely broken and they don't care that people are struggling to pay rent and buy food while they take their sweet time processing claims.
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GalaxyGuardian
•Have you tried using Claimyr? I was having the same problem getting through to NYS Department of Labor on the phone and someone here recommended it. You go to claimyr.com and they basically call the unemployment office for you and get you connected to an actual agent. There's a video demo at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI that shows how it works. I used it last month and finally got through to someone who told me my claim was stuck because of a simple issue that took 5 minutes to fix.
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Paolo Ricci
•Interesting, never heard of that before. Might be worth a try since nothing else is working.
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Amina Toure
Wait so we have to file weekly claims even before we get approved? I thought you only filed weekly claims after you start getting payments. I filed my initial claim 2 weeks ago but haven't filed any weekly claims yet because I haven't heard back from them.
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Yara Nassar
•Yes, you absolutely need to file weekly claims starting the week after you apply! If you miss filing weekly claims, you won't get paid for those weeks even if your claim gets approved later. Log into your my.ny.gov account right now and file claims for the weeks you missed.
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Amina Toure
•Oh no, I had no idea! Logging in now to file the missing weeks. Thanks for the heads up.
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Oliver Zimmermann
Just wanted to add that if your claim goes into adjudication for any reason, the timeline can be much longer. Mine was in adjudication for 6 weeks because they needed to review why I left my previous job. Make sure all your information is accurate when you file because any discrepancies can trigger additional review.
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CosmicCowboy
I'm going through this same process right now and it's so stressful not knowing when that first payment will come! Based on what I'm reading here, it sounds like 2-3 weeks is typical if everything goes smoothly. @Connor O'Neill - since you filed last Thursday and already did your first weekly claim on Sunday, you're doing everything right. The "claim filed" status is normal at this stage. I'd give it another week or two before getting too worried. In the meantime, maybe look into local food banks or assistance programs to help stretch your savings while you wait. Hang in there!
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Raul Neal
•@CosmicCowboy thanks for the encouraging words! You're right about looking into assistance programs - I hadn't thought of that. Do you know if there are any specific NYC food banks or programs that are good for people waiting on unemployment? Also curious what your timeline has been like so far with your claim?
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