How long for NYS Department of Labor unemployment claim to process - been waiting 5 weeks
Filed my unemployment claim back in early December and it's now mid-January - still showing 'pending' on my ny.gov account. I lost my job at a retail store when they downsized after the holidays. This is my first time ever filing for unemployment so I'm not sure what's normal. The automated phone system just says my claim is being reviewed but doesn't give any timeframe. I've been doing my weekly certifications but haven't received any payments yet. My rent is due next week and I'm starting to panic. Does anyone know how long NYS Department of Labor usually takes to process new claims? Is 5 weeks normal or should I be worried something went wrong?
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Noah Torres
5 weeks is definitely longer than usual for a straightforward claim. Typically NYS Department of Labor processes new claims within 2-3 weeks if there are no complications. Since you're still seeing 'pending' status, there might be an issue that needs to be resolved. Check your online account for any messages or requests for additional documentation. Sometimes they need wage verification from your employer or have questions about your separation reason.
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Natalie Wang
•I checked and there's nothing in my messages section. Should I try calling again or is there another way to find out what's holding it up?
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Samantha Hall
Same thing happened to my cousin last year, took almost 6 weeks because they were backed up during the winter months. Eventually got approved and received all the back payments at once.
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Ryan Young
The phone lines are usually swamped which makes it really hard to get through to an actual person at NYS Department of Labor. I had success using a service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that helped me get connected to an agent when I couldn't reach anyone on my own. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI that shows how it works. Might be worth trying since you need answers about your claim status.
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Natalie Wang
•Never heard of that before but willing to try anything at this point. The regular phone number just keeps hanging up on me after waiting an hour.
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Sophia Clark
UGH this system is SO broken!! I've been waiting 3 weeks myself and getting nowhere. They make it impossible to reach anyone and then wonder why people are frustrated. Five weeks is ridiculous especially when you need the money to survive.
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Katherine Harris
Make sure you're continuing to file your weekly claims even while it's pending. If there was a delay in processing, you'll still get paid for those weeks once it's approved. Also double-check that you answered all the questions correctly on your initial application - sometimes a wrong answer can trigger a review.
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Natalie Wang
•Yes I've been doing the weekly certifications religiously. Hopefully that means I'll get back pay for all these weeks once it goes through.
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Ravi Sharma
Five weeks is definitely on the longer side, but unfortunately not unheard of during busy periods. I went through something similar last winter - my claim took about 6 weeks to process because there was a discrepancy with my employer's wage reporting that required manual review. The good news is once it gets approved, you should receive all your back payments for the weeks you've been certifying. In the meantime, try reaching out to your local career center - sometimes they have direct contacts at the Department of Labor who can help expedite stuck claims. Also check if your county has any emergency rental assistance programs while you're waiting. Hang in there!
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