How long is the waiting period for unemployment benefits in NY?

In New York there's a one-week unpaid waiting period for regular unemployment benefits. This means your first week of unemployment won't be paid, but you should start receiving benefits for your second week if your claim is approved. Make sure you keep filing your weekly claims even during this waiting period or you could lose benefits later.

yeah theres def a waiting week but sometimes it takes longer if they need to verify stuff about your job or whatever. took me like 3 weeks to get my first payment last year

The waiting period is just one week, but there can be additional delays if your claim goes into adjudication. That's when NYS Department of Labor needs to investigate something about your separation from work or eligibility. If you were laid off for lack of work, it should process normally. But if there were any issues with your termination, expect longer delays.

I had the WORST time trying to get through to NYS Department of Labor when my claim was delayed. Spent hours on hold just to get hung up on. Finally found this service called Claimyr that actually got me connected to a real person at claimyr.com. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI showing how it works. Saved me so much frustration when I needed to check on my claim status.

Just keep filing those weekly claims religiously! Even if you don't see payments right away, you need that continuous filing record. Miss a week and you could lose benefits permanently. The NYS Department of Labor system is pretty unforgiving about gaps.

ugh the whole system is such a pain. waited forever for my benefits too but at least once they start coming theyre regular. hang in there

Hey Everett, I went through the same thing last year when I got laid off from my retail job. That one-week waiting period is standard, but here's what helped me get through it - check your online account regularly to make sure your claim status shows "active" and not "pending" or "under review." If everything looks good and you were clearly laid off due to downsizing, your first payment should hit about 2-3 weeks after you filed (accounting for the waiting week plus processing time). The key is to keep filing those weekly certifications no matter what - even if you don't see money yet. I made the mistake of getting discouraged and almost stopped filing, which would have messed up my whole claim. Hang in there, it's stressful but it does work out if you stay on top of it!

I totally understand your stress about rent - been there myself! The one-week waiting period everyone mentioned is correct, but here's something that might help ease your mind: even though you won't get paid for that first week, once your benefits start flowing they're usually pretty reliable. Since you filed last week and you're still within normal processing time, I'd say you're on track. The fact that you're keeping up with your weekly claims is exactly what you should be doing. One tip that helped me - set up direct deposit if you haven't already, it'll get your payments to you faster than waiting for a check in the mail. Also, if you're really tight on rent, some landlords are understanding about unemployment delays if you show them your claim documentation. Don't lose hope, you should see that first payment soon!

Hey Everett! I just went through this exact situation a few months ago when I got laid off from my manufacturing job. The waiting period stress is so real - I was checking my account obsessively every day! Here's what I learned: that one-week waiting period is definitely standard, but the timing can be confusing. When they say "one week waiting period," it means you won't get paid for your first eligible week, but the actual payment timing depends on when you filed and their processing schedule. Since you filed last week, you should expect your first payment in about 1-2 more weeks if everything goes smoothly. The key thing is your weekly certifications - keep doing those religiously even though you're not seeing money yet. I made the mistake of getting discouraged around week 2 and almost gave up, but my first payment finally came through and then they were consistent after that. Also, double-check that your direct deposit info is set up correctly in your account - that'll speed things up once payments start. Hang in there, the waiting is the worst part but it does get better!

I went through this same waiting period anxiety when I got laid off from my office job earlier this year. The one-week waiting period is definitely real, but what helped me was understanding that it's just the first week that goes unpaid - after that, payments should be regular if your claim is approved. Since you filed last week and were clearly laid off due to downsizing (not fired for cause), you should be in good shape. I'd suggest calling the automated phone line to check your claim status if you're worried - sometimes there are delays if they need to verify employment info with your former employer, but that usually resolves within a few days. The most important thing is to keep filing those weekly certifications on time. I know the rent stress is real, but most people I know got their first payment within 2-3 weeks of filing. You're doing everything right by staying on top of the weekly filings!

Hey Everett! I totally feel your stress about the waiting period - I went through this exact same thing when I got laid off from my construction job about 6 months ago. Everyone's right about the one-week waiting period being standard in NY, but here's what really helped me get through it: I created a simple calendar to track my weekly filing dates so I wouldn't miss any, and I also reached out to local food banks and my electric company to explain the situation. Many utilities have hardship programs that can give you extra time if you show them your unemployment claim documentation. Since you were clearly laid off due to downsizing (not misconduct), your claim should process smoothly. I got my first payment exactly 2 weeks after filing once that waiting week was over. The anxiety is totally normal but you're doing everything right by keeping up with those weekly certs. Also, if you haven't already, screenshot your weekly filing confirmations - it's probably overkill but gives you proof if any issues come up later. You got this!