NYS Department of Labor adjudication process timeline - how long should I expect to wait?
My unemployment claim has been stuck in adjudication for about 2 weeks now and I'm starting to get really anxious about how long this process takes. I filed my initial claim back in early January and everything seemed fine until they flagged something about my separation from my last job. The issue is that I was laid off due to company downsizing but apparently my former employer reported it differently to NYS Department of Labor. Now my claim status just says 'adjudication in progress' with no other details. I've tried calling the unemployment phone line multiple times but can never get through - it either hangs up on me or puts me on hold for hours. Does anyone know what the typical timeline is for adjudication? I'm really worried about my bills piling up while I wait for this to get resolved.
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Zane Gray
Adjudication timelines can vary quite a bit depending on the complexity of your case. For separation issues like yours, NYS Department of Labor typically takes 2-6 weeks to complete their investigation. They need to contact your former employer and gather documentation about the circumstances of your job loss. During this time, make sure you continue filing your weekly claims even though you're not receiving payments - this preserves your claim dates. You should also gather any documentation you have about your layoff (termination letter, emails, etc.) in case they request additional information.
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Aileen Rodriguez
•Thank you! I've been filing my weekly claims but wasn't sure if I should continue. Do you know if there's any way to check the status or get an update besides calling?
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Maggie Martinez
I went through something similar last year and it took exactly 4 weeks for my adjudication to complete. The frustrating part is that NYS Department of Labor doesn't give you any updates during the process - you just have to wait. In my case, they eventually ruled in my favor and I got all my back payments once it was resolved. The key thing is to keep documenting everything and don't stop filing your weekly claims. Also, if you have any written proof of your layoff, scan it and keep it ready because they might ask for it.
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Alejandro Castro
•4 weeks seems pretty standard from what I've seen. Mine took about 3 weeks but that was for a different type of issue.
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Monique Byrd
The NYS Department of Labor adjudication process is honestly a joke. I've been waiting 7 weeks for mine to complete and still no word. They say 2-6 weeks but that's completely unrealistic. The worst part is you can't reach anyone by phone to get an actual update - the system just hangs up on you automatically when call volume is high. Meanwhile bills are piling up and there's nothing you can do but wait. It's ridiculous that they can take this long to make a decision about something that should be straightforward.
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Jackie Martinez
•7 weeks is way too long! Have you tried reaching out through the secure messaging system on the website? Sometimes that gets faster responses than calling.
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Lia Quinn
If you're having trouble getting through to NYS Department of Labor by phone, I found this service called Claimyr that actually got me connected to an agent within a few minutes. They handle all the calling and waiting for you - you just watch their progress on a video demo (https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI) and they call you back when they have an agent on the line. I used it when my adjudication was taking forever and was able to get an actual status update. Check out claimyr.com if you want to try it. Way better than spending hours on hold yourself.
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Aileen Rodriguez
•That actually sounds really helpful! I've wasted so many hours trying to get through. Is it expensive to use?
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Lia Quinn
•It's worth it for the time savings alone. Much better than the frustration of getting hung up on constantly.
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Haley Stokes
just went thru this last month, took about 3 weeks for me. the waiting is the worst part but they do eventually get to it. make sure ur keeping track of all ur weekly filings because once its approved you'll get backpay for all the weeks you were waiting
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Natasha Volkova
I'm going through the exact same thing right now - filed in December and been in adjudication for about 10 days due to a separation issue. The uncertainty is definitely stressful when you're counting on those payments. From what I'm reading here it sounds like 3-4 weeks is pretty typical, which gives me some hope. I've been continuing to file my weekly claims like others suggested. Has anyone had success with the secure messaging system on the NY.gov website for getting updates? I haven't tried that yet but might be worth a shot if calling isn't working.
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Isabella Silva
•I tried the secure messaging system about a week ago but haven't gotten a response yet. It might be worth trying since it's another avenue, but don't expect a quick turnaround. At least with messaging you have a written record of your inquiry. The waiting really is the hardest part - I keep checking my account obsessively hoping to see some movement. Hang in there, sounds like we're both in the same boat timing-wise.
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