NYS Department of Labor unemployment system problems - what is the problem with unemployment claims processing?
I've been dealing with the NYS Department of Labor for months now and I'm honestly confused about what is the problem with unemployment in this state. My claim has been stuck in adjudication since November, I can't get anyone on the phone, and when I do my weekly claims they just sit there pending. My neighbor got approved in 2 weeks but mine is going on 12 weeks now. Is there something fundamentally broken with how they process claims? I worked for the same company for 8 years before getting laid off and provided all the documentation they asked for. What is the problem with unemployment benefits taking so long?
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Demi Hall
The main issues with NYS Department of Labor right now are staffing shortages and outdated computer systems that can't handle the volume. Adjudication delays are common when there's any discrepancy in your work history or if your employer contests the claim. Have you checked if your former employer filed a response? Sometimes employers delay responding which holds up the entire process.
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Elliott luviBorBatman
•How do I check if my employer responded? I don't see anything about that in my account.
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Mateusius Townsend
same boat here, been waiting 10 weeks for adjudication to finish. the problem with unemployment is they're understaffed and overworked. my friend used some service called claimyr.com to get through to an actual person at NYS Department of Labor - they have a video demo at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI showing how it works. might be worth trying since regular calling doesn't work
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Kara Yoshida
•I tried calling for weeks with no luck. The hold times are insane and then they just disconnect you. What exactly does that service do?
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Mateusius Townsend
•basically they handle the calling for you and get you connected to an actual NYS Department of Labor agent. saved me hours of trying to get through myself
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Philip Cowan
THE PROBLEM WITH UNEMPLOYMENT IS THE WHOLE SYSTEM IS DESIGNED TO DENY CLAIMS! They make it so complicated and frustrating that people give up. I've been fighting them for 4 months over a disqualification that makes no sense. They want documentation I already provided twice!
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Caesar Grant
•I'm worried this is going to happen to me too. Should I be preparing for a long fight? This is so stressful when you need the money to survive.
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Lena Schultz
From what I understand, the core problems are: 1) antiquated IT infrastructure that crashes frequently, 2) insufficient staff to handle claim volume, 3) overly complex adjudication procedures that flag routine cases, and 4) poor communication between different NYS Department of Labor departments. The weekly claim system works fine but anything requiring human review gets bottlenecked.
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Elliott luviBorBatman
•That explains a lot. Is there anything I can do to speed up the adjudication or am I just stuck waiting?
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Lena Schultz
•You can submit additional documentation through your online account if you think something is missing, or try to reach an agent to check your case status. But mostly it's a waiting game unfortunately.
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Gemma Andrews
ugh this brings back memories of my own unemployment nightmare last year. took forever to get approved and then they said I was overpaid and wanted money back! the whole system is just broken. hang in there OP
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Rajan Walker
I'm dealing with a similar situation - been waiting 8 weeks for adjudication after being laid off from my job of 5 years. What's frustrating is the lack of transparency about what's actually happening with your claim. They just say "pending" with no timeline or explanation. I've tried calling dozens of times but can never get through. Has anyone had success with contacting their local assembly member or senator's office? I heard they sometimes have staff who can help navigate NYS Department of Labor issues.
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Natasha Volkova
•Yes, contacting your assembly member or senator's office can actually be really helpful! I did this when I was stuck in limbo for 14 weeks last year. Their constituent services staff know how to escalate cases within NYS Department of Labor and can often get a real person to look at your file. You'll need to provide them with your claim details and they'll reach out on your behalf. It's definitely worth trying since the normal phone lines are basically useless. Just be prepared to wait a few days for them to get back to you, but it's way better than the black hole of regular customer service.
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