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Ryan Kim

How long does ny unemployment take to process first payment?

Just submitted my first claim for unemployment benefits after getting let go from my retail job due to 'restructuring.' My supervisor said I should be eligible since I worked there for 18 months. The website says processing could take 2-4 weeks, but when I mentioned this to my cousin, she said it took almost 7 weeks for her to get her first payment! I'm getting really anxious since rent is coming up and my savings won't last that long. Has anyone applied recently? What's the actual timeframe I should expect for my first payment to come through? The uncertainty is killing me, and the online status just says 'pending' with no other details.

Applied back in October and it took exactly 3 weeks for me. But I've heard it varies wildly person to person. Make sure you do your weekly certifications regardless! That's super important and they won't backpay if you miss them.

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Thanks for the info! Definitely keeping up with the weekly certifications. Did your status also just say 'pending' the whole time?

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Yeah it said pending until literally the day before the money hit my account. The system is pretty bad at keeping people updated tbh

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This is why i always tell peeps to just keep certifying! The status barely tells u anything useful 🤷‍♀️

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After struggling to reach anyone on the phone for weeks (constant busy signals and disconnects), I found this service called Claimyr that helped me finally get a live agent on the phone. Talking to a real person got my benefits flowing within days after being stuck for over a month! It was the best money I've spent just to get my benefits moving. Check out their explanation video: https://youtu.be/Rdqa1gKtxuE

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this sounds like one of those sketchy services... did it actually work? seems too good to be true with how impossible it is to reach nysdol

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I was skeptical too, but it actually worked for me. They just automate the calling process and wait on hold for you. When an agent picks up, you get connected. After 3 weeks of trying myself with no luck, I got through first try with them.

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sounds like another scam trying to profit off desperate unemployed people 🙄

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Not a scam at all. They don't handle your benefits or claim info - they literally just call and wait on hold so you don't have to. Then they connect you when a human answers. Talking to the agent directly is what got my claim moving.

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hmm does this actually work for anyone else? i've been trying for 2 weeks to get thru with no luck

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For me it took 8 weeks!!! I had to send in additional documentation because my previous employer contested my claim saying I quit (I didn't). If everything is straight forward and no issues, probably 3-4 weeks. But if there's ANY issue at all, expect long delays.

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Oh no, that's what I'm afraid of. My former employer has been known to contest claims even for legitimate layoffs. Did you eventually get backpay for all those weeks?

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Yes I did get backpay for everything, but only after I finally got someone on the phone who could actually help. The online system is useless for resolving disputes.

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It depends on if your claim gets flagged for review. Mine only took 10 days but my brother's took over 2 months because they needed to verify his identity. Make sure u submit EVERYTHING they ask for the first time to avoid delays.

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LOL 6 weeks would be a miracle. Try 3 months for me. NY unemployment system is a complete disaster. I had to contact my state rep to finally get it resolved after getting nowhere with phone calls and emails. Good luck!

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Same here! 11 weeks and no movement until I got my assemblymember involved. Should be criminal how they leave people hanging.

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i only waited 2 weeks 🤷‍♂️ guess I got lucky

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You must have the unemployment gods on your side then! What was your secret?

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idk maybe cuz I had a super simple case - worked at same place for 4 years, clear layoff with documentation. nothing complicated

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Here's my comprehensive guide based on helping dozens of people through this process: The NY unemployment system typically processes straightforward claims in 2-4 weeks. However, there are specific factors that can extend this timeframe: - Identity verification issues (often adds 2-3 weeks) - Employer disputes (can add 4+ weeks) - Incomplete documentation (varies widely) - System glitches (unfortunately common) What you should do RIGHT NOW: 1. Make sure you're doing your weekly certifications regardless of payment status 2. Double-check that your direct deposit/payment info is correct 3. If it's been more than 3 weeks, start actively trying to reach a human at NYSDOL The most efficient way to resolve delays is speaking directly with an agent. After numerous failed attempts with traditional methods, I've had exceptional success using Claimyr.com to get through the phone system. It's been a game-changer for getting claims unstuck. Remember: document EVERYTHING, including call reference numbers, agent names (when possible), and dates of all communications. This will be invaluable if you need to escalate your case.

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This is the best advice on here! I followed a similar approach and got my benefits after 5 weeks of waiting. Talking to a real person was definitely the key.

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Is claimyr.com actually legit? seems fishy

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Yes, it's legitimate. They don't access your personal info or handle your claim - they just solve the phone problem by waiting on hold for you, then connect you with an agent when one is available.

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I can second this - used it last month when I was about to lose my mind from being on hold. Finally got through and had my issue fixed in 10 minutes once I actually spoke to someone.

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I applied in March and got my first payment in 22 days. BUT I made sure to call them after the first week to confirm everything was processed correctly. Getting ahead of any potential issues makes a huge difference.

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how did you even get through on the phone???? I've been calling for weeks and can't get past the automated system 😭

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I called right when they opened at 8am on a Tuesday. Took a few tries but got through. Wednesdays and Thursdays seem impossible.

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Pro tip: use claimyr.com if you can't get through. Worth every penny to not waste hours on hold. They called for me and connected me when an agent answered.

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The whole 'estimated time' thing is a joke. My sister got her first payment in 9 days. Mine took 57 days for the exact same situation. It's literally just luck of the draw with NY unemployment.

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anyone else notice how the system magically works faster if you manage to talk to a human? I waited 5 weeks with no movement, finally got someone on the phone, and BOOM payment 2 days later. not a coincidence.

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THIS!!! I swear they purposely delay claims until you can get through to someone. It's like a sick game.

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facts. i think the system is designed to hope people just give up. talking to a human changes everything

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My timeframe: Applied Feb 2, first payment March 11. About 5 weeks total. But my neighbor applied around the same time and got paid in just under 3 weeks. There's no rhyme or reason to it tbh

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if u really need the money ASAP, call your state assembly person. That's what sped up my claim when I was about to be evicted. They have special contacts at the DOL who can expedite truly urgent cases.

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100% this. My assemblyman's office got my claim unstuck in less than a week after I was stuck in pending for over a month.

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This is really helpful, thank you! Do you just call their main office? Did you have to provide any special documentation?

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Just call their constituent services office, explain your situation, and they'll tell you what they need. Usually just your claim info and proof of your financial hardship.

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don't believe anyone who says its predictable. my claim took 13 days, my wife's took 49 days, and we applied on the SAME DAY with nearly identical work histories. the system is broken and random af.

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i waited TEN WEEKS before i got a single cent. ten. freaking. weeks. and then suddenly all the backpay hit at once. absolute garbage system that leaves people hanging for months

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Did you have any special circumstances? Or was it just standard processing that took that long?

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they said my identity needed extra verification but never bothered to tell me until I finally got through on the phone. could have been resolved in week 2 if they'd just communicated properly!

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this is why I tell everyone to just call and confirm everything is good with your claim. the website status is useless

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Took me exactly 4 weeks and 2 days from application to money in my account. Make sure you check your spam folder daily! They sent me an important document that went to spam and would have delayed things if I hadn't caught it.

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the ny unemployment system runs on hamster wheels and prayer. applied in september, got first payment in october (about 4 weeks). just make sure ur claim is 100% accurate cuz any tiny mistake can add weeks to the process

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hamster wheels and prayer 💀💀💀 accurate af tho

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Been there! Applied 3 weeks ago and still waiting - the anxiety is real when you're watching your savings disappear. From what I'm seeing here, it really depends on if your claim gets flagged for anything. Mine has been stuck on "pending" too with zero updates. One thing that's helped my peace of mind is knowing that as long as you keep doing your weekly certifications, you'll get backpay for everything once it finally processes. Still doesn't help with rent NOW though 😅 Have you tried calling early morning right when they open? Seems like that's when people have the best luck getting through to an actual person who can tell you what's going on with your specific case.

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Same boat here! Just hit the 2 week mark and getting nervous about next month's bills. The "pending" status is so frustrating - like, give us SOMETHING to work with! I tried calling yesterday around 8:15am but still got the busy signal. Going to keep trying though since everyone says talking to a human is the magic key. Thanks for the reminder about the backpay - that's honestly the only thing keeping me sane right now knowing I won't lose those weeks of benefits.

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