How long does unemployment application take to process in New York?
I submitted my unemployment application through my.ny.gov last Tuesday and it's been 6 days with no update. My status just says 'claim under review' and I'm getting nervous because I need to start receiving benefits soon to pay my rent. I lost my job at a warehouse unexpectedly and this is my first time filing for unemployment. Does anyone know how long the NYS Department of Labor usually takes to process new applications? Should I be worried that it's taking this long?
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Megan D'Acosta
The initial processing time for unemployment applications can vary, but typically the NYS Department of Labor takes 2-3 weeks to fully process a new claim. During this time they're verifying your employment history, wages, and reason for separation. Since you filed last Tuesday, you're still within the normal timeframe. Make sure you continue filing your weekly claims even while your initial application is being processed, as you can only be paid for weeks you've certified.
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Samantha Howard
•Thank you! I wasn't sure if I should keep doing the weekly claims while it's still under review. I'll make sure to file this week too.
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Sarah Ali
mine took almost 3 weeks but that was because they had to contact my previous employer to verify why i was laid off. if your separation was straightforward it might be faster
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Ryan Vasquez
•Did they notify you when they contacted your employer? I'm worried my old boss might say something that could hurt my claim even though I was laid off due to budget cuts.
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Avery Saint
If you're having trouble getting through to check on your claim status, I had success using Claimyr to reach a NYS Department of Labor agent directly. It's a service that helps you get through the phone lines - you can check it out at claimyr.com and they have a demo video at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI showing how it works. I was able to get clarification on my claim processing timeline when I couldn't get through on my own.
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Samantha Howard
•Thanks for the suggestion! I've been trying to call for two days but keep getting busy signals. I'll look into that service.
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Taylor Chen
The NYS Department of Labor system is SO SLOW. They take forever to process anything and then if there's even one tiny issue they flag your whole claim for adjudication which can take MONTHS. I've been waiting 8 weeks for them to resolve an issue with my work search log from when I was on standby. It's absolutely ridiculous how long everything takes in this state.
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Keith Davidson
•8 weeks is way too long! Have you tried reaching out to your local legislator's office? Sometimes they can help push things along with state agencies.
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Ezra Bates
Just wanted to say hang in there! I know the waiting is stressful but most people do get approved eventually. The key is just being patient and making sure you keep up with your weekly claims.
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Paolo Longo
I'm in a similar situation - filed my application 5 days ago and also seeing "claim under review" status. It's my first time applying too after being let go from my retail job. The uncertainty is really stressful when you're counting on these benefits to cover basic expenses. Has anyone had experience with how they notify you once a decision is made? Do they send an email or do you just have to keep checking the portal?
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Brielle Johnson
•Hey Paolo, I'm dealing with the same anxiety about waiting! From what I've read online, they typically send notifications through the my.ny.gov portal rather than email, so you'll need to keep checking your account regularly. Some people also mentioned getting a determination letter in the mail, but the online portal usually updates first. The waiting really is the hardest part, especially when you're worried about paying bills. At least we're both still within that normal 2-3 week processing window that Megan mentioned earlier.
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Nia Davis
I'm going through the exact same thing right now - filed my application 8 days ago after being laid off from my job at a local restaurant and I'm still seeing "claim under review" status. The financial stress is really getting to me since I have rent due next week. What I've learned from calling (when I could actually get through) is that they're just really backlogged right now. The representative told me that as long as you were laid off or terminated through no fault of your own, and you have sufficient work history, you should be fine - it's just a matter of them getting through all the applications. Keep filing those weekly certifications even while waiting, because once approved they'll pay you retroactively for all the weeks you certified. Hang in there!
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Freya Pedersen
•Thanks so much for sharing your experience, Nia! It's really reassuring to hear from someone going through the exact same timeline. The retroactive payment info is especially helpful - I didn't realize they would pay back for all the weeks you certified while waiting. That takes some pressure off knowing I won't lose those weeks even if the approval takes longer. I'm going to try calling again tomorrow to see if I can get any update, but it sounds like patience is really the key here. Hope we both hear back soon!
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Zara Khan
I just wanted to add my experience for anyone else going through this - I filed my unemployment claim about 3 weeks ago and finally got approved yesterday! My status changed from "claim under review" to "approved" and I received my first payment the next day. The whole process took exactly 21 days from when I submitted my initial application. During the waiting period, I kept up with my weekly certifications like everyone suggested, and they did pay me retroactively for all those weeks. I know the waiting is incredibly stressful, especially when you're worried about rent and bills, but try to stay patient. The system works, it just takes time. Make sure all your information is accurate and keep certifying weekly - that's really all you can do while they process everything.
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Andre Moreau
•Congratulations Zara! This gives me so much hope. I'm on day 9 of waiting and was starting to panic, but hearing that yours took exactly 21 days and then you got paid the next day is really encouraging. The retroactive payment for all the weeks you certified is such a relief to know about - I was worried I might lose those weeks if the process dragged on. Thanks for taking the time to share your timeline, it really helps those of us still waiting to have realistic expectations.
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