NYS Department of Labor unemployment status says 'open' - what does it mean if my unemployment status says open?

An 'open' status is actually good news! It means your claim has been accepted and is active in the NYS Department of Labor system. This is different from 'pending' or 'under review' which would indicate problems. The delay in payments is likely just the normal processing time - first payments usually take 2-3 weeks after filing your initial claim.

yeah open means your good to go, just keep filing those weekly claims on time every week or you'll mess it up

Open status means your claim is established and you're eligible to receive benefits as long as you continue meeting the requirements. Make sure you're completing your job search activities - NYS Department of Labor requires 3 work search contacts per week. Keep detailed records because they do audit these randomly.

I had so much trouble getting through to NYS Department of Labor when my claim was stuck. Spent hours on hold every day for weeks. Finally found this service called Claimyr at claimyr.com that actually got me connected to a real person. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI showing how it works. Saved me so much frustration!

Open is definitely what you want to see. I've been through this process multiple times unfortunately and open means you're all set. Just don't miss any weekly certifications or your claim will go inactive and then you have to reopen it which is a pain.

Just wanted to add that "open" status is definitely the green light you want to see! I was in a similar situation last year - filed my claim, saw "open" status, but had to wait about 2.5 weeks for my first payment. The waiting is nerve-wracking when bills are due, but it's completely normal processing time. One tip: make sure your direct deposit info is correct in your account because that can speed up payments once they start processing. Also keep doing those weekly certifications even if you haven't been paid yet - missing one can really mess things up down the line.

I went through the exact same thing a few months ago! The "open" status had me confused too because I wasn't sure if it meant they were still reviewing my claim or if I was approved. But like others have said, "open" is actually the status you want - it means your claim is active and approved. The 2-3 week wait for first payment is standard, even though it feels like forever when you're stressed about bills. I got my first payment on day 16 after filing. Just keep doing your weekly certifications religiously and you should see that first deposit soon. Hang in there!

I can definitely relate to this anxiety - I went through the same thing earlier this year! "Open" status is exactly what you want to see, it means your claim has been processed and approved. The 2 week wait you're experiencing is totally normal, though I know it doesn't make the stress any easier. My first payment came through at the 18-day mark. One thing that helped me was setting up text alerts through the NY.gov website so I'd get notified as soon as there was any update. Also, if you haven't already, make sure you're keeping track of your work search activities in writing - even though payments are delayed, the requirements still apply from day one. You're doing everything right by keeping up with the weekly certifications!