When do unemployment benefits start after filing with NYS Department of Labor?
I just filed my unemployment claim with NYS Department of Labor last Tuesday and I'm wondering when I can expect my first payment. The woman at the office said something about a waiting week but I wasn't sure what that meant. Do benefits start right away or is there a delay? I need to know so I can plan my budget accordingly. Also do I need to do anything else besides filing my weekly claims?
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Amun-Ra Azra
In New York, there's typically a one-week waiting period before you receive your first unemployment payment. This means you won't get paid for your first eligible week. After that, if your claim is approved and you continue filing your weekly claims, payments usually start within 2-3 business days of filing each weekly claim. Make sure you're filing every week even during the waiting period.
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Harold Oh
•Thanks! So I should keep filing weekly claims even though I won't get paid for the first week? And do the payments go to direct deposit or do they mail a check?
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Summer Green
yeah there's definitely a waiting week, learned that the hard way when I was expecting money right away lol. but once it kicks in the payments are pretty regular if you keep up with your weekly certifications
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Gael Robinson
The waiting week is standard across most states. What's important is making sure your claim doesn't get stuck in adjudication. If NYS Department of Labor needs to verify your employment history or reason for separation, that can delay everything by weeks. Check your online account regularly for any pending issues that need attention.
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Edward McBride
•What does adjudication mean exactly? My claim status just says 'pending' and I'm worried something went wrong.
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Gael Robinson
•Adjudication is when NYS Department of Labor reviews your claim for eligibility. They might need to contact your former employer or verify information. It's normal but can take time. If it's been more than 2 weeks, try calling.
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Darcy Moore
I had issues getting through to NYS Department of Labor when my claim was delayed. Spent hours on hold just to get disconnected. Finally found this service called Claimyr at claimyr.com that helped me get through to an actual person. There's a video demo at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI showing how it works. Made all the difference in getting my claim status sorted out quickly.
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Dana Doyle
•Never heard of that but honestly anything beats sitting on hold for hours. The NYS Department of Labor phone system is brutal.
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Liam Duke
The whole system is so confusing! I filed three weeks ago and still haven't seen a dime. They keep asking for more paperwork and every time I call I get a different answer about what I need to submit. How are people supposed to survive while waiting for this bureaucratic mess to sort itself out??
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Amun-Ra Azra
•I understand the frustration. Make sure you're responding to any correspondence immediately and keep copies of everything you submit. Sometimes it helps to visit a local career center for in-person assistance with document submission.
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Keisha Johnson
Just went through this process myself a few months ago. The waiting week is required by law - you won't get paid for your first week of unemployment even if approved. After that, payments typically arrive within 2-3 business days of filing your weekly certification. You can set up direct deposit through your online account which is much faster than waiting for a paper check. Make sure you keep filing every single week even during the waiting period or you could lose benefits. Also document your job search activities since they may audit that later.
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Leslie Parker
•That's really helpful information about the direct deposit option! I didn't realize you could set that up through the online account. Quick question - do you remember how long it took for the direct deposit to get activated once you set it up? I'm worried about any additional delays if I switch from paper checks to direct deposit mid-process.
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