What is the current rate of unemployment in NY - does this affect my NYS Department of Labor claim timing?
I keep seeing different unemployment rate numbers in the news and I'm wondering how this affects my claim with NYS Department of Labor. Filed my initial claim 2 weeks ago and still waiting for adjudication to complete. My friend says when unemployment rates are high it takes longer to process claims because they're overwhelmed. Is there any truth to this? Also does anyone know what the actual current unemployment rate is for New York? Some sites say 4.2% others say 3.8% and I'm confused about which numbers are accurate.
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Giovanni Colombo
The unemployment rate doesn't directly impact your individual claim processing time. NYS Department of Labor processes claims based on completeness of documentation and any issues that need adjudication, not based on how many other people are filing. That said, higher volume periods can create delays. Current NY unemployment rate is around 4.1% as of the latest Bureau of Labor Statistics report, but this fluctuates monthly.
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Amara Okafor
•Thanks! So my 2 week wait is probably normal then? I was getting worried it meant there was a problem with my claim.
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Fatima Al-Qasimi
been waiting 3 weeks for my adjudication too, think its just slow right now regardless of the unemployment rate
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StarStrider
I had issues reaching NYS Department of Labor by phone to check on my adjudication status last month. Kept getting disconnected after waiting an hour. Found this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that helped me get through to an actual agent. They have a video demo showing how it works: https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI. Might be worth trying if you need to speak with someone about your claim status.
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Dylan Campbell
•Interesting, never heard of that service. Did they actually help you get answers about your adjudication or just get you connected?
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StarStrider
•They got me connected to an agent who was able to explain exactly what documents they were waiting for to complete my adjudication. Saved me weeks of wondering.
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Sofia Torres
The unemployment rate is a lagging indicator anyway - it reflects what happened in the past, not what's happening now with claim processing. NYS Department of Labor has pretty consistent processing times regardless of the broader economic picture. Your 2 week wait sounds normal for adjudication.
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Dmitry Sokolov
wait why does adjudication take so long anyway?? seems like they could just check if you got fired or quit and approve it
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Giovanni Colombo
Adjudication involves verifying employment history, reason for separation, wages earned, and sometimes conducting interviews with both you and your former employer. It's not just a simple approve/deny decision - they need to ensure all information is accurate before determining benefit eligibility and amount.
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