How long for unemployment to kick in after filing with NYS Department of Labor?
I just filed my unemployment claim with NYS Department of Labor last Tuesday and I'm wondering how long it usually takes to get approved and start receiving payments? My boss laid me off from the restaurant where I worked for 2 years due to slow business. I have all my paperwork ready but I'm stressed about bills coming up. Does anyone know the typical timeline from filing to first payment? Also do I need to start doing the weekly claims right away or wait until approved?
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Anastasia Popov
The initial claim processing usually takes 2-3 weeks if there are no issues with your application. You should start filing your weekly claims immediately even before your claim is approved - this ensures you don't lose any eligible weeks. Make sure you're doing your job search activities and logging them because NYS Department of Labor requires 3 job search contacts per week.
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NeonNinja
•Thanks! I didn't know about filing weekly claims before approval. Should I be worried if I don't hear anything for a few weeks?
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Sean Murphy
It really depends on your situation. Mine was approved in 10 days but my friend's took over a month because it went into adjudication. If you have any issues like being fired vs laid off, or if there are questions about your work history, it could take longer. The key is to keep filing those weekly claims no matter what.
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Zara Khan
•What's adjudication? My claim status just changed to that yesterday and now I'm panicking
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Anastasia Popov
•Adjudication means they're reviewing something about your claim - could be separation reason, wages, or work availability. Don't panic, just make sure you respond to any requests for information quickly.
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Luca Ferrari
I've been trying to call NYS Department of Labor for 3 weeks to check on my claim status but can never get through! The phone lines are always busy and when I do get in the queue, I get disconnected after waiting for hours. This is so frustrating when you need answers about your benefits.
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Sean Murphy
•I had the same problem until someone told me about Claimyr. It's a service that helps you get through to NYS Department of Labor agents by phone. Check out claimyr.com - they have a video demo at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI that shows how it works. I was able to speak to someone within a day and get my adjudication issue resolved.
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Luca Ferrari
•Really? That sounds too good to be true. How much does it cost?
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Sean Murphy
•It's worth checking out their site for details. For me it was worth it just to finally talk to a real person and get answers instead of stressing for weeks.
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Nia Davis
The whole system is a joke honestly. They make it so hard to get basic information and the website crashes half the time when you try to file your weekly claim. I've been waiting 6 weeks for my appeal hearing and still nothing!
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Mateo Martinez
•hang in there, appeals do take forever but you'll get backpay once it's resolved
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QuantumQueen
Just remember to keep good records of everything - save confirmation numbers when you file weekly claims, keep screenshots of your job search log, and document any communication with NYS Department of Labor. You'll need this stuff if any questions come up later.
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