When does unemployment pay start after filing with NYS Department of Labor?

There's usually a one week waiting period before your first payment. So if you filed last Tuesday and did your first weekly claim, you should see payment within 2-3 business days after your second weekly claim is processed. Make sure you're filing every Sunday for the previous week.

yeah thats about right, took me like 2.5 weeks to get my first check from NYS Department of Labor. the waiting period is killer but once it starts coming its pretty regular

The timing depends on whether your claim goes into adjudication or not. If NYS Department of Labor needs to verify your employment or reason for separation, it can take much longer. Check your online account to see if there are any pending issues that need to be resolved.

I've been trying to get through to someone at NYS Department of Labor for weeks about my payment delays. The phone system is absolutely useless - either busy signals or they hang up on you after an hour on hold. It's ridiculous that we can't get basic information about when our benefits start.

I had the same frustration with reaching NYS Department of Labor by phone until someone told me about Claimyr. It's a service that handles the calling for you - you just go to claimyr.com and they'll get you connected to an actual agent. There's even a video demo at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI that shows how it works. Saved me hours of trying to get through myself.

OMG I'm in the same boat! Filed two weeks ago and still nothing. I keep checking my account like 10 times a day hoping something changes. Did you have to provide any additional documents when you filed? I'm worried I messed something up...

Don't panic yet. As long as you're filing your weekly claims and there are no pending issues in your account, the payments will start. The first payment always takes the longest because of the waiting period plus processing time. After that, it's usually pretty consistent if you file on time every week.

I went through this exact same situation last year. The waiting period is frustrating but it's standard - you won't get paid for your first week of unemployment, and then it takes about 2-3 business days after your second weekly claim is processed. So you're looking at roughly 2.5-3 weeks from when you first filed. I know it's stressful with rent coming up, but hang in there. Once the payments start, they're usually pretty reliable as long as you keep filing every Sunday. Also, when you do get your first payment, it should include the back pay for the eligible weeks, so it'll be a bit larger than your regular weekly amount.

Hey QuantumQuasar, I totally understand the stress about rent! I went through the same thing when I first filed. One thing that helped me was calling my landlord early to explain the situation - many are understanding about unemployment delays, especially if you have a good rental history. You might be able to work out a short extension or payment plan. Also, don't forget to check if you qualify for any emergency rental assistance programs in your area while waiting for your unemployment to kick in. The waiting period really is the worst part, but once it starts flowing, you'll be okay. Hang in there!