How long does it take to qualify for unemployment benefits with NYS Department of Labor?
Just got laid off from my retail job last Friday and I'm trying to figure out the timeline for getting approved for unemployment benefits. I worked there for about 8 months full-time before the layoff. When I go to file my claim on the NYS Department of Labor website, how long does it typically take to find out if I qualify? And then how long until I actually start receiving payments? I've never filed for unemployment before so I'm not sure what to expect with the whole process.
9 comments
Join the conversation
Emma Morales
The qualification determination usually takes 1-2 weeks after you file your initial claim, assuming there are no complications. Since you worked 8 months full-time, you should meet the base period requirements. After approval, there's typically a one-week waiting period before your first payment. So you're looking at roughly 2-3 weeks total from filing to first payment if everything goes smoothly.
0 coins
Declan Ramirez
•That's helpful, thank you! Do I need to keep filing weekly claims during that waiting period or do I wait until I'm approved?
0 coins
Katherine Hunter
You need to file your weekly claims starting immediately, even during the waiting period. Don't skip any weeks or you could lose benefits for those weeks. The NYS Department of Labor requires continuous weekly certifications to maintain eligibility. Also make sure you're actively job searching and keeping a log - they can ask for proof at any time.
0 coins
Lucas Parker
•This is so important! I made the mistake of not filing one week because I thought I had to wait for approval first and lost that week's benefits permanently.
0 coins
Donna Cline
ugh the whole process is such a pain honestly. took me almost a month to get my first payment because they kept asking for additional documentation. even though i qualified they wanted like 3 different proofs of income and had to verify my identity twice. hope you have better luck than i did
0 coins
Declan Ramirez
•Oh no, what kind of documentation did they ask for? I want to make sure I have everything ready just in case.
0 coins
Harper Collins
If you're having trouble getting through to NYS Department of Labor on the phone to check your claim status, I had good luck using Claimyr (claimyr.com). They have this system that helps you actually reach a human agent instead of getting stuck in the phone queue forever. There's a video demo at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI that shows how it works. Saved me hours of calling and redialing when I needed to verify some information about my claim.
0 coins
Kelsey Hawkins
•Never heard of that service before but honestly anything is better than spending 3 hours on hold just to get disconnected
0 coins
Dylan Fisher
Just went thru this myself last month! Filed on a Tuesday, got approved the following Friday, then had the one week waiting period. First payment hit my account exactly 3 weeks after filing. Make sure your direct deposit info is correct or it'll take even longer if they have to mail a check.
0 coins