How long does it take to start collecting unemployment benefits through NYS Department of Labor?
I just got laid off from my job at a restaurant last week and I'm trying to figure out when I can expect my first unemployment payment. I filed my initial claim on the NYS Department of Labor website three days ago and it says my claim is being processed. I know I have to do the weekly certification thing but I'm really stressed about how long this whole process takes. My rent is due in two weeks and I'm starting to panic. Has anyone gone through this recently? How long did it take before you actually saw money in your account?
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Zainab Omar
The typical timeline is about 2-3 weeks from when you file your initial claim to receiving your first payment, assuming there are no issues with your application. You'll need to complete your weekly certification each week during this waiting period. Make sure you're checking your my.ny.gov account regularly for any requests for additional information that could delay your claim.
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Miguel Ortiz
•Thanks! I've been checking every day but so far it just says 'claim processing.' Should I be worried if I don't hear anything by next week?
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Connor Murphy
mine took forever!! like almost a month because they wanted more info about why i got laid off. the restaurant industry can be tricky because they sometimes question if it was really a layoff or if you quit. did you get any paperwork from your employer?
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Miguel Ortiz
•Yeah I have the separation notice from HR. It clearly says laid off due to slow business. Hopefully that helps speed things up.
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Yara Sayegh
If you're having trouble getting through to NYS Department of Labor by phone to check on your claim status, I had success using a service called Claimyr. They help you get connected to an actual agent without waiting on hold for hours. Check out claimyr.com - they even have a video demo at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI showing how it works. Really helped me when I was stuck in adjudication limbo.
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NebulaNova
•Is that legit? I've been trying to call for days and keep getting disconnected after being on hold forever.
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Yara Sayegh
•Yeah it's totally legitimate. I was skeptical at first too but it actually worked. Way better than spending half my day trying to get through the regular phone lines.
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Keisha Williams
The waiting is the worst part honestly. I remember when I filed last year it felt like forever but looking back it was only about 18 days total. Just make sure you keep doing your weekly certifications even if you haven't gotten paid yet - that's really important or it can delay everything even more.
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Paolo Conti
Don't count on getting anything quickly from NYS Department of Labor. The whole system is a joke and they make you jump through a million hoops just to get what you're entitled to. I've been waiting 3 weeks and still nothing.
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Zainab Omar
•Have you checked if your claim is in adjudication? That can add extra time if they need to verify employment details or separation circumstances.
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