Understanding how an increase in unemployment affects NYS Department of Labor claim processing
I'm trying to understand the economics behind what happens when unemployment rates go up in NY. My econ professor mentioned something about movement from one point to another on a graph representing increased unemployment, but I'm more concerned about the practical side. Does anyone know if higher unemployment numbers in our region affect how fast NYS Department of Labor processes claims? I filed my initial claim 2 weeks ago and it's still pending. My friend says when more people file, everything slows down because they're overwhelmed. Is this actually true or just speculation?
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Javier Morales
Your friend is partially correct. When unemployment spikes in a region, NYS Department of Labor does experience higher claim volumes which can slow processing times. However, they also have procedures to scale up staffing during peak periods. Two weeks is still within normal processing time for initial claims, especially if you're going through identity verification or if there are any issues with your work history that need review.
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Olivia Clark
•That makes sense about the scaling up. Do you know if there's a way to check what's causing the delay on my specific claim?
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Natasha Petrov
yeah the whole system gets backed up when theres more claims. i filed during covid and it took forever but now its better. check your my.ny.gov account for any red flags or messages
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Connor O'Brien
The processing delays you're experiencing are likely due to the standard adjudication process rather than just volume. NYS Department of Labor has to verify your employment history, wages, and reason for separation from your last job. If you worked for multiple employers in the past 18 months or if your employer hasn't responded to their requests for information, that can add time. Log into your my.ny.gov account and check if there are any outstanding items requiring your attention.
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Amina Diallo
•What if there's nothing showing that needs attention but it's still stuck? I've been waiting 3 weeks now and getting really anxious about paying rent.
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GamerGirl99
I had a similar situation last year where my claim was stuck for weeks with no explanation. The automated phone system was useless and I couldn't get through to talk to an actual person at NYS Department of Labor. I ended up using a service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that helped me get connected to an agent. They have this video demo that explains how it works: https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI. Basically they handle the calling and waiting for you, then conference you in when they reach someone. It saved me so much frustration.
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Olivia Clark
•Never heard of that service before. Did they actually help resolve your issue or just get you connected?
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GamerGirl99
•They got me connected to an agent who was able to tell me exactly what was holding up my claim - turned out my previous employer had filed an incorrect separation reason. The agent fixed it during that call and my benefits were released within 2 days.
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Hiroshi Nakamura
The NYS Department of Labor system is a joke honestly. Whether unemployment is up or down, they find ways to make everything complicated. I've been dealing with them for months over an overpayment issue that makes no sense.
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Isabella Costa
Thanks for asking this question! I'm also waiting on my claim and was wondering the same thing about processing times.
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