How long does it take unemployment to start in NY - still waiting 2 weeks after filing
Filed my initial unemployment claim with NYS Department of Labor two weeks ago after getting laid off from my retail job. My claim shows as 'filed' on the my.ny.gov portal but I haven't received any payments yet. I've been doing my weekly certifications but the payment history is still empty. Is this normal? How long does it take unemployment to start paying out in New York? I'm getting really stressed about rent and bills coming up.
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Taylor Chen
Usually takes about 2-3 weeks for your first unemployment payment if there are no issues with your claim. The NYS Department of Labor has to verify your employment history and wages first. Check if your claim status shows 'adjudication in progress' - that means they're still reviewing something.
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Avery Saint
•It just says 'filed' not adjudication. Should I be worried if it's been 2 weeks already?
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Keith Davidson
took me almost a month to get my first check last year, the system is just slow especially if you worked for multiple employers
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Ezra Bates
The waiting period depends on several factors. NYS Department of Labor typically processes claims within 1-3 weeks, but it can take longer if they need to verify your employment or if there's an adjudication issue. Make sure you're continuing to file your weekly claims even if you haven't been paid yet - you'll get backpay for those weeks once approved. Also check that your direct deposit information is correct in your account.
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Ana Erdoğan
•What if my employer is disputing the claim? Will that delay everything even more?
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Ezra Bates
•Yes, employer disputes can add several weeks to the process. NYS Department of Labor has to investigate and make a determination, which requires gathering information from both you and your employer.
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Sophia Carson
I had issues getting through to NYS Department of Labor when my claim was delayed for weeks. Finally used a service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that helped me get connected to an actual agent. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI showing how it works. Turned out my claim was stuck because of a simple verification issue that got resolved once I talked to someone.
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Elijah Knight
•never heard of that service before, is it legit?
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Sophia Carson
•Yeah it's real, just helps you get through the phone system to talk to NYS Department of Labor reps. Saved me hours of calling and getting busy signals.
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Brooklyn Foley
THE WHOLE SYSTEM IS A JOKE!!! Been waiting 3 WEEKS for my unemployment and still nothing. They make it impossible to reach anyone and then wonder why people are frustrated. NYS Department of Labor needs to get their act together.
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Taylor Chen
•I understand the frustration but 3 weeks isn't unusual, especially if there are any complications with your claim history.
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Keith Davidson
just keep filing your weekly claims no matter what, you'll get backpay for all the weeks once it goes through
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Michael Adams
Two weeks is pretty normal for initial processing, especially in NY where they have high volume. I went through the same thing last year - filed my claim, did my weekly certifications religiously, and felt like nothing was happening. Then suddenly in week 3, all my backpay showed up at once. The key is to keep doing those weekly certifications even though it feels pointless. Also, try logging in at different times of day - sometimes the portal updates overnight and you might see status changes you missed. If you hit the 4 week mark with no updates, that's when I'd start trying to call them directly.
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