How to cope with unemployment while waiting for NYS Department of Labor claim approval

I completely understand what you're going through. The uncertainty with NYS Department of Labor claims can be really tough mentally. A few things that helped me during my 2-month unemployment period: 1) Create a daily routine that includes your job search but also self-care activities, 2) Set small, achievable goals each day beyond just applying for jobs, 3) Stay connected with friends and family even when you don't feel like it, 4) Remember that adjudication delays are common and don't necessarily mean anything is wrong with your claim. The mental health aspect is just as important as the financial piece.

One practical thing - if you haven't already, make sure you're continuing to file your weekly claims even while your initial claim is in adjudication. NYS Department of Labor won't backpay weeks you didn't certify for. Also, keep detailed records of your job search activities since they'll likely ask for that documentation once your claim is approved. Having that structure helped me feel more in control during the waiting period.

oh god the mental health part is SO real. i was unemployed for 4 months last year and honestly some days were really dark. what helped me was volunteering at a local food bank - gave me purpose and got me out of the house. also free or cheap activities like hiking, library events, etc. unemployment benefits eventually came through but the waiting was brutal

I had a similar situation where I couldn't get through to NYS Department of Labor for weeks to check on my adjudication status, which made the anxiety so much worse. A friend told me about this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that basically calls the unemployment office for you and gets you connected to an actual agent. I was skeptical at first but watched their demo video (https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI) and decided to try it. Got through to someone at NYS Department of Labor the same day and found out my claim just needed one additional document. Having that clarity really helped with the mental stress of not knowing.

This might sound weird but I found it helpful to treat job searching like a part-time job - work on it for 4-5 hours a day then give yourself permission to do other things. The guilt of 'I should always be looking for work' was eating me alive. Also, if you're really struggling mentally, many areas have free counseling services for people dealing with unemployment.