How long for NY unemployment hearing decision? Judge taking forever

Unfortunately there's no set timeframe for NY unemployment hearing decisions right now. In my experience (I went through this last winter), it took almost 7 weeks to get my decision. The judges are extremely backed up in 2025. They're technically supposed to issue decisions within 30 days, but they rarely meet that deadline anymore. Your best bet is to continue certifying each week while you wait - that way if the decision is in your favor, you'll get all the backpay at once.

mine took 8 weeks back in jan. just keep certifying every week!!!

The Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) decision timelines vary significantly depending on case complexity and current backlog. While officially they aim for 2-3 weeks, in 2025 most decisions are taking 6-10 weeks due to the increased volume of appeals. Make sure you continue certifying weekly even while in pending status - this ensures you'll receive all backpay if the decision is favorable. You can try contacting the Appeals Board at 1-888-209-8124, but unfortunately that rarely expedites the process. The determination will eventually be mailed to you, and your online account will update once the decision is processed.

I waited ELEVEN WEEKS after my hearing last fall!!! The system is completely BROKEN. I called every single day for the last three weeks of my wait and could never get through to anyone who could actually help. Just generic "it's still pending" responses. Even my state rep's office couldn't get any useful info. It's absolutely ridiculous that they can just hold our money hostage for months with no explanation!!! Good luck, you're going to need it.

After trying for WEEKS to get updates on my hearing decision (and never getting through), I finally used Claimyr to connect with an actual unemployment agent. It was the only way I could get a real status update on my case. The agent told me exactly where my case was in the review process and gave me a more realistic timeline. Check out their demo at https://youtu.be/Rdqa1gKtxuE - basically they get you through to a real person instead of waiting on hold forever. For something as important as your hearing decision, it's worth knowing exactly what's happening with your case.

i had my hearing in february took 5 1/2 weeks for decision... keep checking ur online account not just mail cause mine showed up online first... good luck hope u win

Has anyone else noticed that the decisions seem to take longer when they're going to approve you? My first claim got denied quickly (like 3 weeks after hearing) but when I appealed that one and won, it took almost 9 weeks to get that decision. My friend had the same experience. Maybe they rush the denials but take their time with approvals? Just a theory.

I'm also waiting for a decision (about 5 weeks now). This thread is making me nervous about how much longer it might take. Has anyone tried asking their state representative for help? I'm wondering if that might help move things along.

Just to clarify some misinformation I'm seeing: There is no mechanism for "expediting" ALJ decisions based on financial hardship. The cases are generally processed in the order received, with some variation based on case complexity. The best actions you can take while waiting are: 1. Continue certifying weekly without fail 2. Keep your contact information updated in the system 3. Check both your online account and physical mail regularly 4. Document all your job search activities in case they're requested later While waiting is extremely difficult, know that if your appeal is successful, you will receive all backpay for the weeks you properly certified.

anybody know if u can get partial benefits while waiting for the hearing decision? my friend said he did but i think hes confused

Update from my experience earlier this year: I was finally able to get some insight into my case status by contacting my local Workforce1 Career Center. While they couldn't expedite anything, the staff person there had access to slightly more detailed status information than what shows on the online portal. Might be worth a visit if there's one near you.

I'm going through the exact same thing right now - had my hearing 6 weeks ago and still waiting. The anxiety is absolutely killing me because I have no idea when this will end. Reading everyone's experiences here is both helpful and terrifying at the same time. It sounds like anywhere from 5-11 weeks is the new normal, which is just insane. I've been certifying every week like everyone suggests, but I'm running out of savings fast. Has anyone found that calling the main DOL number helps at all, or is it just a waste of time? I'm tempted to try the Workforce1 center suggestion too.

I'm at 3 weeks since my hearing and reading all these responses is making me realize I need to prepare for a much longer wait than I expected. The judge told me 2-3 weeks too, but it sounds like that's just what they say to everyone. I've been checking my account obsessively every day hoping to see an update. At least now I know to keep certifying weekly no matter how long this takes - I hadn't realized that was so important for getting backpay. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences, even though they're pretty scary. It helps to know I'm not alone in this frustrating process.

I'm at 6 weeks post-hearing and this thread is both validating and terrifying. My judge also gave me the "2-3 weeks" timeline which clearly means nothing. What's frustrating is that I keep seeing people say "just keep certifying weekly" but when I try to certify, the system won't let me because of the pending appeal status. Has anyone else had this issue? I'm worried I'm missing out on potential backpay because the system won't accept my weekly certifications. Should I be calling someone about this or is this normal during the appeals process?

I'm currently at 8 weeks post-hearing and finally got my decision yesterday - I was approved! Just wanted to give everyone some hope that these decisions are still coming through, even though the wait times are absolutely brutal. My advice after going through this nightmare: 1) Don't believe the "2-3 week" timeline judges give you - it's completely unrealistic in 2025, 2) Keep certifying weekly no matter what (I got all my backpay), 3) Check your online account daily because mine updated there before I got the mail, and 4) Try to find other income sources if possible because this wait can be financially devastating. The system is completely broken but most people do eventually get their decisions. Hang in there everyone - I know how stressful and scary this waiting period is.

I'm currently at 7 weeks post-hearing and this thread has been incredibly helpful - both reassuring to know I'm not alone and terrifying to see how long some people have waited. Like many others here, my judge gave me the standard "2-3 weeks" line which clearly doesn't reflect reality anymore. I've been certifying weekly and checking my account obsessively. The financial stress is overwhelming - I'm behind on rent and my credit cards are maxed out from trying to survive without benefits. Reading @Theodore Nelson's success story gives me hope that my decision will eventually come through. Has anyone noticed if certain judges tend to be faster or slower with decisions? I'm wondering if there's any pattern to the wait times based on which ALJ handled the case.

I'm at 5 weeks post-hearing and this thread has been both a lifesaver and a source of major anxiety. My judge also gave me the "2-3 weeks" timeline which I now realize is completely meaningless. What's really frustrating is that I've been calling the main DOL number every few days and can never get through to an actual person - just automated messages saying my case is "still under review." The uncertainty is almost worse than just knowing it'll take 10 weeks. I've been following everyone's advice about certifying weekly and checking my online account daily. Has anyone found that the decisions tend to come out on certain days of the week, or is it completely random? I'm trying to find any pattern or sign that might give me hope that mine is coming soon.

I'm currently at 9 weeks post-hearing and still waiting for my decision - this thread has been so helpful to read through everyone's experiences! My ALJ also gave me the completely unrealistic "2-3 weeks" timeline. What's been most frustrating is the complete lack of transparency in the process. I've tried calling, visiting my local Workforce1 center (which did provide slightly more detailed status info as @Madison Tipne mentioned), and even contacted my state rep's office. While none of these actions sped up the process, at least I felt like I was doing something productive while waiting. The financial stress has been overwhelming - I've had to move back in with family temporarily just to survive. But reading @Theodore Nelson's success story and seeing that most people here eventually got approved with full backpay gives me hope. For anyone else in the early weeks of waiting, definitely prepare mentally for at least 6-8 weeks minimum based on all the experiences shared here. Keep certifying weekly no matter what - that seems to be the most important thing you can do to protect your backpay.

I'm at 10 weeks post-hearing and FINALLY got my decision yesterday - approved with full backpay! I know how brutal this waiting period is because I've been following this thread obsessively for weeks. My judge also gave me the standard "2-3 weeks" line which is clearly just what they tell everyone. The financial stress nearly broke me - I had to take out payday loans just to keep my utilities on. What kept me going was reading success stories like @Theodore Nelson's and knowing that most people here eventually got approved. My advice: 1) Ignore the timeline the judge gives you and prepare for 8-12 weeks minimum, 2) Keep certifying weekly religiously (I got every penny of backpay), 3) Don't waste time calling the main DOL line, 4) Check your online account multiple times daily because mine updated there first, and 5) Try to find any temporary income source because this wait can destroy you financially. For everyone still waiting - I know it feels hopeless but these decisions ARE still coming through. The system is completely broken but hang in there!

I'm at 12 weeks post-hearing and just got my decision today - APPROVED with full backpay! I can't believe it took this long but I wanted to share my experience to give hope to everyone still waiting. Like everyone else here, my judge told me "2-3 weeks" which is apparently just a scripted response at this point. The wait was absolutely brutal - I had to sell my car just to pay rent and survive. What really helped me was finding this thread around week 6 and realizing I wasn't alone in this nightmare. Reading success stories from @Theodore Nelson and @Kelsey Hawkins kept me from completely losing hope. My key takeaways: prepare for 10+ weeks minimum (the 2-3 week thing is total BS), never stop certifying weekly even when you feel like giving up, and check your online account obsessively because that's where you'll see it first. I know 12 weeks sounds terrifying but the backpay was substantial - I got every single week I certified for. To everyone still waiting: this system is completely broken but decisions ARE still coming through eventually. Hang in there and don't give up!