When can I receive unemployment benefits from NYS Department of Labor - timeline question
I just lost my job yesterday due to company layoffs and I'm trying to figure out when I can actually start receiving unemployment benefits. I know I need to file a claim but I'm confused about the waiting periods and when payments actually begin. Do I get paid right away after filing or is there a delay? Also wondering if there's a specific day of the week I need to file or if it matters. Any help understanding the timeline would be really appreciated.
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Carmen Diaz
You can file your claim immediately after losing your job, but there's typically a one-week waiting period before you receive your first payment. After you file, you'll need to complete weekly certifications every week to continue receiving benefits. The NYS Department of Labor usually processes payments within 2-3 business days after you certify each week, assuming there are no issues with your claim.
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Yuki Tanaka
•Thank you! So if I file today, I won't see any money for at least a week plus processing time?
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Andre Laurent
just file asap dont wait! i waited like 3 days thinking i needed to get paperwork together first and that was 3 days of benefits i lost
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Emily Jackson
•Actually, you don't lose those days if you file within a reasonable time. The NYS Department of Labor calculates your benefit year from when you became unemployed, not when you filed. But yes, filing sooner is always better to avoid any potential complications.
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Liam Mendez
I'm in a similar situation and called the NYS Department of Labor but couldn't get through - the phone lines are always busy! Has anyone found a way to actually talk to someone there? I have questions about my specific situation that the website doesn't really answer clearly.
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Sophia Nguyen
•I had the same problem trying to reach them for weeks. I ended up using this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that actually got me through to a real NYS Department of Labor agent. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI showing how it works. Saved me so much frustration trying to call myself.
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Liam Mendez
•Interesting, I'll check that out. At this point I'm willing to try anything to get some real answers about my claim.
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Jacob Smithson
The whole system is so confusing honestly. I filed three weeks ago and I'm still waiting for my first payment because they said my claim is under adjudication whatever that means. The website just says pending with no explanation of how long this takes.
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Carmen Diaz
•Adjudication means they're reviewing your claim to determine eligibility. This can happen if there's a question about why you lost your job or if you have earnings from multiple employers. It can take anywhere from 2-6 weeks depending on the complexity of your case.
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Jacob Smithson
•6 weeks?! That's insane, how are people supposed to pay bills while waiting that long?
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Isabella Brown
Make sure you keep filing your weekly claims even if your initial claim is still processing! I made the mistake of not doing that thinking I should wait until everything was approved and then had to appeal to get those weeks back.
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