How long does it usually take to get unemployment benefits approved in NY?
I just filed my initial claim with NYS Department of Labor last week and I'm wondering what the typical timeline is for getting approved and receiving my first payment. I'm getting really stressed about my bills and need to know if I should be looking at other options while I wait. My claim status just says 'under review' and I haven't heard anything yet. Has anyone been through this recently? How long did it take from filing to actually getting money?
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CosmicCruiser
The processing time can vary quite a bit depending on your situation. For straightforward claims with no issues, NYS Department of Labor typically processes initial claims within 2-3 weeks. However, if there are any complications like needing to verify your employment history or if your claim requires adjudication, it can take 4-6 weeks or even longer. Make sure you're filing your weekly claims even while waiting for approval, since you can only get paid for weeks you've certified.
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Diego Vargas
•Thanks! I've been doing my weekly claims. What exactly triggers adjudication? I'm worried there might be something wrong with my application.
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Carlos Mendoza
•@Diego Vargas Adjudication usually happens when there are questions about why you left your job like (if you quit vs were laid off ,)if your employer disputes the claim, or if there are inconsistencies in your employment dates or wages. Since you just filed last week, you re'still within the normal timeframe. Try not to worry too much yet - most claims without red flags get processed within that 2-3 week window CosmicCruiser mentioned.
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Anastasia Fedorov
took me about 3 weeks to get my first payment but my friend waited almost 2 months because they had to verify her last job. depends on if they need more info from you or your employer
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Sean Doyle
If you're having trouble reaching NYS Department of Labor to check on your claim status, I had good luck using a service called Claimyr that helps you get through to an actual agent. They have a website at claimyr.com and there's a demo video at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI that shows how it works. It was way easier than trying to call myself and sitting on hold for hours.
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Zara Rashid
•Never heard of that service before. Is it legit? I'm desperate to talk to someone at this point but don't want to get scammed.
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Sean Doyle
•Yeah it's legitimate, I was skeptical too but it actually worked. They basically handle the calling and waiting for you until they can connect you with a real NYS Department of Labor representative.
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Luca Romano
THE WHOLE SYSTEM IS A MESS! I waited 7 weeks for my claim to get approved and when I finally got through to someone they said there was a 'computer glitch' that held up my case. Meanwhile I'm behind on rent and can barely afford groceries. NYS Department of Labor needs to get their act together!
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Nia Jackson
•I feel you on this. The wait times are ridiculous and they give you no real updates on what's happening.
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CosmicCruiser
To answer your earlier question about adjudication - it can be triggered by several things: if you were fired vs laid off, if there are discrepancies in your work history, if you had multiple employers, or if your employer contests your claim. The good news is that most claims do get approved eventually, it just takes patience unfortunately.
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