Lost my apartment because of unemployment benefits delay - anyone else dealing with housing issues?
I can't believe I'm writing this but I had to move out of my apartment last week because of unemployment delays. Filed my claim back in November and it's been stuck in adjudication ever since. My landlord was understanding at first but after 6 weeks of no payments, I got evicted. Now I'm staying with my sister and her family which is really awkward. Has anyone else lost housing because of unemployment benefit delays? I'm trying to figure out if there's any emergency assistance or if I should expect my claim to process soon. The whole situation is just devastating and I feel like the system completely failed me.
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Giovanni Martello
I'm so sorry you're going through this. Housing instability due to unemployment delays is unfortunately more common than it should be. First, check if your county has emergency rental assistance programs - many still have funding available. For your claim, adjudication can take 4-8 weeks depending on the complexity. You should call NYS Department of Labor to check if they need additional documentation. Also look into local food banks and utility assistance programs while you wait.
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Grant Vikers
•Thank you for the practical advice. I've been so stressed I didn't even think about county assistance programs. Do you know if they help with security deposits for new places too?
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Savannah Weiner
this is exactly why the unemployment system is broken!! they take forever to process claims while people lose everything. i went through something similar last year but luckily my family could help with rent until my benefits came through. took 2 months total
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Levi Parker
•How did you finally get your claim processed? I've been calling the NYS Department of Labor for weeks but can never get through to a real person.
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Libby Hassan
Had a similar issue with getting through to NYS Department of Labor agents about my stuck claim. After weeks of busy signals and disconnected calls, I found this service called Claimyr at claimyr.com that actually gets you connected to unemployment agents. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI showing how it works. Used it to finally talk to someone about my adjudication issue and got it resolved within a few days. Might be worth trying since you need answers about your claim status.
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Grant Vikers
•Never heard of that service before. Did they actually help you get through or is it just another scam? I'm pretty desperate at this point.
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Libby Hassan
•It's legitimate - they basically handle the calling process so you don't have to sit on hold forever. Got me connected to an actual NYS Department of Labor rep who could see my file and explain what documents they needed.
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Hunter Hampton
omg this is my worst nightmare. staying with family when you're an adult is so humbling. at least you have somewhere to go though? some people end up literally homeless because of unemployment delays
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Sofia Peña
The adjudication process exists for a reason - they need to verify eligibility and work history. While I understand the frustration, most legitimate claims do get approved eventually. Make sure you've submitted all required documentation and continue filing your weekly claims even during adjudication. Contact your local social services office about emergency assistance programs while you wait.
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Savannah Weiner
•that's easy to say when you're not the one getting evicted because the 'process' takes forever. 6 weeks is ridiculous for adjudication
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Mateo Rodriguez
I'm really sorry to hear about your situation - losing your housing due to unemployment delays is incredibly stressful and shouldn't happen. In addition to the county assistance programs others mentioned, you might want to reach out to 211 (dial 2-1-1) for a comprehensive list of local resources including emergency housing assistance, food banks, and utility help. Also, document everything about your unemployment claim delays - dates you called, reference numbers, etc. This could be helpful if you need to escalate your case or seek legal assistance. Some legal aid organizations help with unemployment issues for free. Hang in there, and don't feel ashamed about staying with family - you're dealing with a system failure, not a personal one.
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