How long is waiting week for unemployment in NY - when do payments actually start?
I just filed my first unemployment claim with NYS Department of Labor last Monday and I'm confused about this waiting week thing. My claim was approved but it says I have to complete a waiting week before getting any payments. How long is this waiting week exactly? Is it a full 7 days from when I filed, or does it start from when my claim was approved? I really need to know when I can expect my first payment because rent is due next week and I'm starting to panic a bit.
11 comments
Join the conversation
Connor Gallagher
The waiting week in New York is exactly 7 days, but it's tied to your benefit week calendar, not when you filed. Your first payable week starts the Sunday after your waiting week ends. So if your claim started on a Monday, your waiting week would run Sunday through Saturday, and you'd be eligible for payment starting the following Sunday. You still need to file your weekly claims during the waiting week though - just won't get paid for that first week.
0 coins
Zainab Omar
•Thanks! So I still have to do the weekly certification even for the waiting week? That seems weird if I'm not getting paid for it.
0 coins
Yara Sayegh
Yeah you definitely have to keep filing your weekly claims during the waiting week or you'll mess up your whole claim. I learned that the hard way - missed filing one week thinking it didn't matter since it was unpaid and then had to call NYS Department of Labor to fix it. Took forever to get through to someone.
0 coins
Keisha Johnson
•I had the same issue trying to reach NYS Department of Labor by phone. If you need to talk to an agent, I used a service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that helped me get through. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI showing how it works. Saved me hours of calling and getting hung up on.
0 coins
Paolo Longo
Just went through this myself. Filed on a Wednesday, waiting week was still the full Sunday-Saturday cycle. Got my first actual payment 10 days after filing. The waiting week is really just NYS Department of Labor making sure you're actually unemployed and not just taking a vacation or something.
0 coins
Zainab Omar
•10 days total doesn't sound too bad. I was worried it would be weeks before I saw anything.
0 coins
Nathaniel Stewart
Just to add some clarity - the waiting week is a federal requirement that most states follow, including NY. It's designed to give the state time to verify your claim and make sure you meet all the eligibility requirements. During this week, you're essentially proving that you're actively looking for work and available to work. The good news is that once you get through it, your payments should come regularly as long as you keep filing your weekly certifications on time. Make sure to keep detailed records of your job search activities during this period too, as NYS Department of Labor may ask for proof later.
0 coins
Dylan Campbell
•That's really helpful context about it being a federal requirement! I didn't realize the waiting week was about verifying eligibility. Quick question - when you mention keeping records of job search activities, do you know how many job contacts NYS Department of Labor typically requires per week? I want to make sure I'm meeting their requirements from the start.
0 coins
Gilberto Cabrera
I filed for unemployment on September 25th 2025, I then received an email on October 6th stating that my claim was approved and my benefits will be paid. It is now October 21st and I still haven’t received anything. I have bills due in a few days bruh
0 coins
Lucas Lindsey
•That's way too long - something is definitely wrong with your claim. After approval, payments usually start within 1-2 weeks max. You need to call NYS Department of Labor ASAP or log into your online account to see if there are any issues holding up your payments. Sometimes there are additional verification steps or pending issues that aren't obvious. Don't wait any longer with bills coming due - be persistent about getting answers from them.
0 coins
Donna Cline
•@Gilberto Cabrera That delay is definitely not normal - I agree with @Lucas Lindsey that you need to get on this right away. When you log into your NY.gov account, check if there are any pending issues "or if" they re requesting'additional documentation. Sometimes they need identity verification, wage verification, or other paperwork before releasing payments. Also check if your direct deposit info is set up correctly - I ve seen'people wait weeks only to find out their bank info was wrong. If you can t get'through by phone, try the live chat feature on the NYS Department of Labor website during off-peak hours early morning (works best for me . )
0 coins