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Finley Garrett

How long for NY unemployment hearing decision? Judge taking forever

Had my NY unemployment hearing with a judge about 4 weeks ago over the phone and still haven't gotten any decision. The representative at the hearing said it could take 2-3 weeks to get a decision but it's been longer than that now. My account still shows 'determination pending' when I log in. Anyone know what the typical wait time is these days for hearing decisions? Should I be calling someone about this or just keep waiting? I'm getting really anxious because my benefits have been on hold while waiting for this decision.

Madison Tipne

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.

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Finley Garrett

7 weeks?! That's insane. I'm already struggling to pay rent without these benefits. Do you know if there's any way to check the status or get them to speed things up?

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Holly Lascelles

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

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Finley Garrett

Thanks, I've been certifying every week but the anxiety is killing me not knowing how much longer it'll take.

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Malia Ponder

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.

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Kyle Wallace

This is spot on. I also recommend checking your online message inbox regularly because sometimes they send the decision there before it arrives in the mail. That's how I found out about mine.

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Ryder Ross

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.

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Finley Garrett

That's terrifying to hear. I really can't wait that long. Did you eventually get approved and receive backpay?

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Ryder Ross

Yes I did eventually get approved and got all the backpay, but those weeks of waiting were a financial nightmare. Had to borrow money from family just to survive. The DOL doesn't care at all how this affects real people with bills to pay.

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Gianni Serpent

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.

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Finley Garrett

I've never heard of this service before. Did they actually help speed up your decision or just give you information?

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Gianni Serpent

They didn't speed up the actual decision (no one can do that), but the agent I spoke to was able to tell me exactly which judge had my case and confirmed it was actually being worked on. They also noted in my file that I had called asking about the status, which the agent said sometimes helps get attention on delayed cases. The peace of mind was worth it to me.

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Henry Delgado

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

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Finley Garrett

Thanks for the tip about checking online. I've been obsessively checking both my online account and my mailbox every day.

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Olivia Kay

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.

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Madison Tipne

I've actually observed the opposite. My approval came through in 5 weeks, but my coworker's denial took nearly 12 weeks. I think it's more about case complexity and evidence review than approval vs denial. The judges need to write more detailed justifications for denials to protect against further appeals.

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Olivia Kay

Interesting! Maybe there's no pattern then. The whole process just feels so random.

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Kyle Wallace

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.

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Ryder Ross

I tried that route. My state rep's office made some calls but ultimately couldn't do much. They said the Appeals Board operates pretty independently and there's no real way to expedite decisions. Worth a try though if you're desperate.

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Malia Ponder

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.

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Finley Garrett

Thank you for the clear information. I guess I just need to be patient. The waiting and uncertainty is the hardest part.

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Holly Lascelles

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

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Malia Ponder

No, unfortunately that's not correct. When benefits are held pending an ALJ decision, there is no partial payment option in New York. Your friend may be confusing this with partial benefits while working reduced hours, which is a different situation entirely.

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Madison Tipne

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.

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Finley Garrett

That's really helpful, thank you! There's a center about 20 minutes from me. I'll try going there tomorrow to see if they can tell me anything more specific about my case status.

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