NY unemployment benefits approved 8+ weeks ago but still nothing - fired and need help ASAP

Unfortunately, this is pretty common with NY unemployment when there's a separation issue like being fired. The employer has the right to contest your claim, and when that happens, an adjudicator needs to review everything. The process is supposed to take 2-3 weeks, but I've seen it stretch to 8+ weeks regularly since their system got overwhelmed in 2025. You should: 1. Keep certifying weekly without fail 2. Check your message inbox and dashboard daily for any requests for information 3. Try calling early morning (7:30am) right when the phone lines open 4. Consider contacting your state representative's office - they can sometimes help expedite If you do get benefits approved, you'll receive backpay for all the weeks you properly certified.

same thing happened to me but took 10 weeks!! the system is totally broken right now. they told me one thing then another thing every time i called. keep calling and eventually youll get someone who knows what theyre doing

The NYSDOL is COMPLETELY OVERWHELMED right now because of all the layoffs happening in early 2025. I was waiting 12 weeks (!!!) after getting laid off from my tech job. Their whole system is outdated and can't handle the volume. The worst part is you can't even get through on the phones to find out what's happening with your claim. I tried calling 50+ times and always got disconnected or stuck in the automated loop. The only thing that worked for me was using Claimyr.com - it's a service that connects you directly to an unemployment agent. You just put in your number and they call you when they have an agent on the line. Saved me hours of frustration. They have a demo video here: https://youtu.be/Rdqa1gKtxuE Once I actually spoke to a real agent, they found my claim had been sitting in review for weeks with no action. They expedited it and I got paid the next week (with all my backpay).

Omg this is terrifying!!! I just got fired last week and filed for NY unemployment. Should I be expecting to wait 2+ months too?? I literally can't go that long without income. Did they tell you why it takes SO long when you're fired vs laid off? I marked on my application that I was terminated but it wasn't for misconduct (they just didn't like my performance which isn't the same thing!). Now I'm panicking that I'll be in the same situation 😰😰

ok i know this sounds weird but try calling at exactly 8:17am on wednesday. for some reason thats when the queue is shortest. worked for me after trying for weeks lol. just keep hitting 2-1-3 to skip the recordings. also have you checked your spam folder for emails? sometimes they send requests for more info and if you dont reply they just let your claim sit there

This happened to my cousin too and she ended up having to apply for emergency assistance through HRA while waiting for unemployment to come through. If you're really struggling with bills, you might want to look into that as a temporary solution. They can sometimes help with rent and utilities while you're waiting. Btw my cousin waited almost 3 months for her unemployment after being fired from a restaurant job. The system definitely treats fired employees differently than layoffs.

I've been helping people navigate NY unemployment issues for years, and firing-related delays have gotten worse in 2025. Here's what's actually happening behind the scenes: When you're fired, your claim automatically gets routed to an adjudicator who must determine if the firing was for misconduct. If it was, you could be disqualified from benefits. The adjudicator needs to: 1. Contact your employer for their side of the story 2. Review their response (employers have 10 days to respond) 3. Potentially contact you for additional information 4. Make a determination The current backlog for adjudication is 6-9 weeks because they're severely understaffed. The only way to expedite this is to: - Get through to a Tier 2 agent (not the first-level customer service) - File a hardship request if you're facing eviction, utility shutoff, or other dire circumstances - Have your state representative intervene Keep certifying weekly, and when approved, you'll receive all backpay at once.

I almost forgot to mention - after I finally got through using Claimyr, the agent told me I should have received an email requesting additional information about my termination. Turns out it went to my old work email which I couldn't access anymore! They resent it and once I provided the documentation, my claim was approved within 3 days. Check if they sent you anything that might have gone to the wrong place.

when i was waiting for my unemployment last year i had to use credit cards for everything and now im still paying them off. try to avoid that if u can, the interest is killing me

Update: I took everyone's advice and managed to get through to NYSDOL this morning using Claimyr (thanks for that suggestion!). The agent confirmed my case has been sitting with an adjudicator since March 15th with no updates. They filed a hardship request for me and escalated it to their supervisor. They said I should hear something within 72 hours. I also contacted my state assembly member's office and they're sending an inquiry on my behalf. Fingers crossed something works! I'll update when I hear back.