How long does the unemployment claim process take in NY - still waiting after 6 weeks
Filed my unemployment claim back in early November and I'm still waiting for any kind of decision. My claim shows 'pending adjudication' on the my.ny.gov portal but no details about what they're reviewing or how much longer this might take. I lost my job at a marketing firm due to company downsizing and thought this would be straightforward. How long is the unemployment claim process supposed to take? I've been doing my weekly claims but haven't received a single payment yet. Getting really stressed about rent and bills piling up.
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Oliver Zimmermann
The NYS Department of Labor typically processes straightforward unemployment claims within 2-3 weeks, but adjudication can extend this significantly. During adjudication, they're reviewing your separation from employment to determine eligibility. Since you mentioned company downsizing, they may be verifying the circumstances with your former employer. Keep filing your weekly claims even during adjudication - if approved, you'll receive back pay for all eligible weeks.
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Amina Toure
•Thanks for explaining that! I had no idea they contact the employer. Should I be worried that it's taking this long? The company did lay off about 30 people so maybe they're just busy responding to claims.
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CosmicCommander
I went through something similar last year. My claim took almost 8 weeks because there was some confusion about my last day of work vs when I got my final paycheck. The adjudication process can drag on if there's ANY discrepancy between what you reported and what your employer reports. Have you tried calling the NYS Department of Labor to check on status?
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Amina Toure
•I've tried calling multiple times but can never get through to a real person. The automated system just tells me my claim is under review.
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Natasha Volkova
•I had the same phone problem when I needed to reach someone about my claim status. I ended up using claimyr.com to get through to an actual NYS Department of Labor agent. They have this system that handles the calling for you and connects you when an agent is available. There's a video demo at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI that shows how it works. Got my issue resolved in one conversation instead of weeks of trying to call myself.
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Javier Torres
ugh the waiting is the WORST part of this whole process! been there myself and it's so frustrating when you need money NOW but they take forever to decide anything
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Emma Davis
Six weeks is definitely longer than normal but not unheard of, especially if your employer is slow to respond to their inquiries. The NYS Department of Labor has to verify job separation details, wages, and sometimes conduct interviews with both parties. Make sure you're checking your my.ny.gov messages regularly - sometimes they request additional documentation and if you miss it, the process gets delayed even more.
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Malik Johnson
•This happened to my cousin! She didn't see the message asking for her W-2 for like 2 weeks and it set everything back. Always check those messages!!
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Isabella Ferreira
The unemployment system in this state is completely broken. I've been dealing with NYS Department of Labor for months on different issues and they're understaffed and overwhelmed. Six weeks for a simple layoff claim is ridiculous but unfortunately becoming the norm. Just keep filing your weekly claims and document everything in case you need to appeal later.
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Kai Santiago
I'm going through the exact same thing right now! Filed in mid-November and still stuck in pending adjudication. What's really frustrating is how little information they give you about what's actually happening or when you might hear back. I've been keeping detailed records of all my weekly certifications and any correspondence, just in case there are issues later. Have you tried reaching out to your local career center? Sometimes they can provide updates or at least help you understand what stage your claim is in. Hang in there - I know how stressful it is when bills are piling up and you're just waiting in limbo.
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Ravi Malhotra
•I'm in almost the exact same boat - filed in early November too and still pending! It's so frustrating not knowing what's happening behind the scenes. I haven't tried the local career center yet, that's actually a really good idea. Did they give you any insight into your case when you contacted them? I'm definitely keeping records of everything too, seems like that's the smart move with how unpredictable this process has been.
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Aria Khan
I'm so sorry you're going through this stress - 6 weeks without any payment is really tough, especially during the holidays. One thing that might help is contacting your state assemblyperson or senator's office. They often have constituent services that can make inquiries on your behalf to NYS DOL and sometimes get faster responses than individuals calling directly. Also, if you haven't already, make sure you have documentation of your layoff (like a layoff notice or separation letter) readily available in case they request it. The fact that 30 people were laid off should actually work in your favor since it clearly establishes the reason for separation. Keep hanging in there and definitely keep doing those weekly certifications!
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