When do I get unemployment benefits after filing with NYS Department of Labor?
I just filed my initial claim with NYS Department of Labor last Wednesday and I'm really confused about the timeline. The website says I'll get a determination letter but doesn't give me any dates. I lost my job two weeks ago and I'm already behind on rent. When should I expect to actually receive my first unemployment payment? Do I need to wait for some kind of approval first or does it start automatically? I've never been unemployed before so this is all new to me.
11 comments
Join the conversation
Anastasia Fedorov
The typical timeline is about 2-3 weeks from when you file your initial claim to receiving your first payment, assuming there are no issues with your claim. You'll need to file weekly claims starting the week after you apply, even while waiting for approval. NYS Department of Labor has to verify your employment history and wages with your former employer first. Make sure you're filing your weekly certifications on time or you could delay everything.
0 coins
Diego Vargas
•So I should be filing weekly claims already? I thought I had to wait for some kind of letter first. How do I know if there are issues with my claim?
0 coins
StarStrider
yeah you gotta file every week even if you haven't been approved yet, otherwise you lose those weeks permanently. i made that mistake my first time and lost like $800
0 coins
Sean Doyle
The process has gotten much faster since COVID ended and they cleared the backlog. If your claim goes into adjudication for any reason (like if your employer contests it), that can add 3-6 weeks to the timeline. You'll get a determination letter via your my.ny.gov account before any payments start. The letter will tell you your weekly benefit amount and whether you're approved or if there are any issues to resolve.
0 coins
Diego Vargas
•What would cause my employer to contest it? I was laid off due to budget cuts, not fired for cause or anything.
0 coins
Sean Doyle
•Budget cuts should be fine - that's typically considered lack of work which qualifies you. Employers sometimes contest claims to keep their unemployment tax rates low, but if you have documentation of the layoff you should be okay.
0 coins
Zara Rashid
ugh the whole system is so slow and confusing. i've been waiting 4 weeks and still haven't gotten my determination letter. tried calling NYS Department of Labor like 50 times and either get busy signals or get hung up on after waiting for hours. it's ridiculous that they can't give you a straight answer about when you'll get paid when people are struggling to pay bills
0 coins
Luca Romano
•I had the same problem with getting through to NYS Department of Labor on the phone. I ended up using this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that calls for you and gets you connected to an actual agent. They have a video demo showing how it works: https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI. I was able to get my claim status updated within a day of talking to someone. Worth checking out if you're stuck in the system.
0 coins
Nia Jackson
Make sure you're doing your job search requirements too! Even while waiting for approval you need to be applying for jobs and keeping track in the system. I think it's 3 job contacts per week now. If you don't do the job search stuff they can deny your whole claim.
0 coins
Mateo Hernandez
•Wait, I thought the job search requirement didn't start until after you got approved?
0 coins
Anastasia Fedorov
•No, the job search requirement starts immediately when you begin filing weekly claims, even during the waiting period. It's 3 work search activities per week that you report when you do your weekly certification.
0 coins