How long does the employer have to respond to unemployment claim verification request?
I filed my unemployment claim two weeks ago and it's been sitting in pending status this whole time. My former employer got some kind of notice from NYS Department of Labor asking them to verify my employment details and reasons for separation. Does anyone know how long they actually have to respond? I'm getting really anxious because I have bills coming due and can't afford to wait much longer. The my.ny.gov portal just shows 'adjudication in progress' but gives no timeframe.
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Aurora St.Pierre
Employers typically have 10 business days to respond to the initial separation verification request from NYS Department of Labor. However, if they request additional time or if there are complicating factors, it can take longer. The adjudication process usually wraps up within 21 days of your initial filing, but that's not guaranteed.
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Christopher Morgan
•Thanks! It's been exactly 10 business days since I filed, so hopefully they'll make a decision soon. Do you know if they send any notification when the employer responds?
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Grace Johnson
ugh same thing happened to me last month!! took FOREVER for my old boss to get back to them, like she was doing it on purpose. mine took almost 4 weeks total
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Christopher Morgan
•Four weeks?? That's terrifying. Did you eventually get approved? I'm worried my employer might be dragging their feet too.
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Grace Johnson
•yeah I got approved but then had to wait another week for the first payment. the whole thing was a nightmare honestly
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Jayden Reed
The 10-day rule is correct, but here's what actually happens: NYS Department of Labor sends the employer a Notice to Employer form. If the employer doesn't respond within 10 business days, the department can make a determination based on the information you provided. However, if the employer contests your claim or provides conflicting information, that triggers a more detailed investigation which extends the timeline significantly.
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Nora Brooks
•This is exactly what I was dealing with. My employer waited until day 9 to submit their response and then disputed my reason for leaving. Turned my simple claim into a 6-week ordeal with phone interviews and everything. If you're having trouble reaching anyone at NYS Department of Labor about the status, I used this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that actually got me through to a real person. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI showing how it works.
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Eli Wang
honestly the whole system is broken, employers know they can just ignore these things and nothing happens to them. meanwhile we're sitting here struggling to pay rent while they take their sweet time
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Cassandra Moon
•Wait, so if my employer just ignores the request completely, do I automatically get approved? That seems too good to be true...
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Aurora St.Pierre
•Not automatically, but NYS Department of Labor will make a determination based on the information available. If you provided accurate details about your separation and there's no employer pushback, approval is likely.
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Zane Hernandez
hope this helps!! went through the same thing when I got laid off from my restaurant job in December
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Sydney Torres
Just went through this exact situation a few months ago! The 10 business day timeline is accurate, but here's a tip that helped me: you can actually call the Telephone Claims Center at 888-209-8124 after the 10 days are up to check on the status. I found out my employer had responded on day 8 but there was a backlog in processing. The rep was able to tell me my case was moving to final review. Also, make sure you keep certifying your weekly benefits even while it's pending - you'll get backpay for those weeks once approved. Hang in there, the waiting is the worst part but most claims do get resolved within that 21-day window they mention.
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