How many people are collecting unemployment in NY right now - NYS Department of Labor numbers?
I'm trying to get a sense of how many people are currently on unemployment benefits in New York. Is there anywhere the NYS Department of Labor publishes these statistics? I keep hearing different numbers in the news but can't find official data. My claim has been processing for weeks and I'm wondering if high numbers might be causing delays in the system. Does anyone know where to find current unemployment recipient counts?
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Jamal Washington
The NYS Department of Labor publishes monthly labor statistics on their website. Last I checked, there were around 350,000-400,000 people receiving regular UI benefits statewide, but that fluctuates seasonally. You can find the official numbers in their monthly Labor Market Report. The processing delays you're experiencing are more likely due to adjudication backlogs than overall volume though.
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Zoe Papadopoulos
•Thanks! I'll check their website for those reports. My claim has been stuck in adjudication for 3 weeks now with no updates.
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Mei Wong
i think its way higher than that... everyone i know is on unemployment right now
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Liam Fitzgerald
The numbers vary a lot depending on what you're counting. Are you looking at regular UI, standby benefits, or total claims including people who aren't currently collecting? NYS Department of Labor tracks continued claims (people actively collecting) separately from new claims filed. If you're having processing delays, try calling their agent line but be prepared for long hold times.
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Zoe Papadopoulos
•I've tried calling multiple times but can never get through. The automated system just hangs up on me after 20 minutes on hold.
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PixelWarrior
•I had the same problem reaching NYS Department of Labor agents until someone told me about Claimyr (claimyr.com). They have this service that gets you connected to actual agents without the endless hold times. There's a video demo at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI that shows how it works. Helped me resolve my adjudication issue in two days after weeks of trying on my own.
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Amara Adebayo
The real question is why it matters how many people are collecting. The system should work regardless of volume! NYS Department of Labor needs to hire more staff instead of making people wait months for benefits they're entitled to.
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Giovanni Rossi
Just wanted to say I'm in the same boat with the processing delays. It's frustrating not knowing what's normal vs what's a problem.
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Nora Bennett
I work with labor statistics and can confirm the numbers Jamal mentioned are pretty accurate. The NYS Department of Labor publishes their Labor Market Report monthly - you can find it under "Research and Statistics" on their website. As of the latest report, continuing claims (people actively collecting) were around 380,000 statewide. But keep in mind this includes all types of UI benefits. The processing delays you're experiencing are unfortunately common right now - the department has acknowledged staffing shortages in their adjudication units. Three weeks isn't unusual, though I know that doesn't make it less stressful when you're waiting.
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