NYS Department of Labor claim review taking forever - how long does unemployment take to review a claim?
Filed my unemployment claim 2 weeks ago and it's still showing 'under review' status. I've been checking my.ny.gov every day but there's no update on when they'll finish reviewing it. My former employer contested it so now I'm worried this could drag on for months. Does anyone know the typical timeframe for NYS Department of Labor to complete their review process? I'm getting stressed about bills piling up while I wait.
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Luca Esposito
When there's an employer contest, the review process typically takes 3-6 weeks for NYS Department of Labor to complete their investigation. They need to gather information from both you and your employer, review documentation, and make a determination. If it goes to adjudication, you should receive a notice explaining the next steps.
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Zara Ahmed
•Thanks for the info. Should I be doing anything while I wait or just sit tight? I haven't received any requests for additional documentation yet.
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Nia Thompson
mine took almost 2 months last year when my boss tried to say i quit instead of being laid off... the waiting is the worst part but they eventually sorted it out and i got all my back pay
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Zara Ahmed
•Two months?! That's terrifying. How did you manage financially during that time?
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Mateo Rodriguez
The review timeline depends on several factors: complexity of the case, employer response time, and current NYS Department of Labor caseload. During peak periods, it can take longer. Keep filing your weekly claims even while under review - if approved, you'll receive retroactive payments for eligible weeks.
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GalaxyGuardian
•Wait, you have to keep filing weekly claims even when it says under review? I stopped filing because I thought I wasn't supposed to until it was approved.
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Mateo Rodriguez
•Yes, absolutely keep filing! If you stop filing weekly claims, you could lose those weeks of benefits even if your claim is ultimately approved. Always continue filing unless specifically told to stop.
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Aisha Abdullah
I had a similar situation and couldn't get through to anyone at NYS Department of Labor for weeks. Finally used a service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that got me connected to an actual person who could check my claim status. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI showing how it works. Really helped me understand what was happening with my review.
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Ethan Wilson
•Never heard of that service before. Did it actually help speed things up or just give you information?
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Aisha Abdullah
•Didn't speed up the actual review process, but at least I could find out what stage my claim was in and what they were waiting for. Much better than wondering in the dark.
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Yuki Tanaka
NYS Department of Labor is SOOO slow with everything these days!! I swear they just let claims sit there hoping people give up and find jobs before they have to pay out benefits. The whole system is designed to frustrate you into quitting.
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Nia Thompson
•i mean they are pretty overwhelmed but yeah the waiting really sucks when you need the money
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Ethan Wilson
Just wanted to say I'm in the exact same boat - filed 3 weeks ago, employer contested, still waiting. At least we're not alone in this mess!
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