How long does it take to get unemployment money from NYS Department of Labor?
I just filed my unemployment claim last week after getting laid off from my warehouse job. I'm really stressed about bills coming up and need to know how long it typically takes to actually receive the first payment from NYS Department of Labor. My claim status just says 'pending' and I've done my first weekly claim certification. Some people are telling me it could be weeks but others say it's faster now. Can anyone share their recent experience with timing? I'm in upstate NY if that makes a difference.
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CosmicCadet
The standard processing time for NYS Department of Labor is typically 2-3 weeks from when you file your initial claim to receiving your first payment, assuming there are no issues that require adjudication. Since you've already done your weekly certification, you're on the right track. The payment usually comes within 1-2 business days after your weekly claim is processed each week going forward.
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Mei Chen
•Thanks for the info! Is there any way to tell if my claim needs adjudication or if it's just normal processing time?
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Liam O'Connor
took me about 10 days last month but i had direct deposit set up which probably helped. make sure you check your my.ny.gov account regularly for any messages or documents they might need
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Amara Adeyemi
If your claim shows 'pending' without any specific issues listed, that's usually just normal processing. However, if you see anything about 'adjudication' or if they request additional documentation, that can add several weeks to the process. The key is to respond immediately to any requests from NYS Department of Labor and keep filing your weekly claims even while waiting.
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Giovanni Gallo
•What kind of documentation do they usually ask for? I'm worried they might ask for something I don't have readily available.
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Amara Adeyemi
•Common requests include pay stubs from your last employer, separation paperwork if you have it, or sometimes they want to verify your identity with additional documents. Most of it can be uploaded through the online portal.
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Fatima Al-Mazrouei
The whole system is so slow its ridiculous!! I waited FIVE WEEKS for my first payment last year because they said they needed to verify my employment history but never told me what documents to send. Finally got through to someone who said it was all a computer glitch. Meanwhile bills dont wait for the state to get their act together!
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Dylan Wright
•That's exactly why I used Claimyr when I couldn't get through to NYS Department of Labor on the phone. Their service at claimyr.com helped me reach an actual agent who could check my claim status and explain the delay. There's even a video demo at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI showing how it works. Saved me weeks of frustration trying to call myself.
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Mei Chen
•How much does something like that cost? I'm already stressed about money and don't want to pay for something if I can avoid it.
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Dylan Wright
•It's worth checking out their site for the details, but honestly when you're waiting weeks for thousands of dollars in benefits, getting through quickly to resolve issues is pretty valuable. The peace of mind alone was worth it for me.
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NebulaKnight
Just went through this in December - filed on a Tuesday and got my first payment the following Friday, so about 10 days total. I think they've gotten faster since the pandemic backlog cleared up. Just make sure you're doing everything online through my.ny.gov and not trying to call unless you absolutely have to.
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QuantumLeap
•That's really encouraging to hear! Did you have direct deposit set up from the beginning, or did you have to wait for a debit card? I'm trying to figure out if I should expect the money on a card or in my bank account.
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