Who decides unemployment benefits approval at NYS Department of Labor?
I'm confused about how my unemployment claim gets reviewed. My application has been pending for two weeks and I don't understand who actually makes the decision about whether I get benefits or not. Is it automated or does an actual person at NYS Department of Labor look at my case? I worked as a restaurant manager for 3 years before getting laid off last month, so I think I should qualify, but I'm not sure what criteria they use. Can someone explain how this process works?
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McKenzie Shade
NYS Department of Labor has several levels of review depending on your situation. For straightforward cases where you were laid off through no fault of your own, the initial determination is often automated based on your employment history and wage records. However, if there are any red flags or complications, a human adjudicator reviews your case manually. This includes situations where your employer contests the claim or if there are questions about your reason for separation.
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Caden Turner
•That makes sense. My employer hasn't contested anything as far as I know, so maybe that's why it's taking longer than I expected?
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Harmony Love
The adjudication process is where human reviewers come in. They look at your work history, reason for unemployment, and any documentation from both you and your employer. If you were laid off due to lack of work, it's usually pretty straightforward. But they still need to verify your wages and make sure you meet the monetary requirements for benefits.
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Rudy Cenizo
•How long does adjudication usually take? I've been waiting 3 weeks and getting really anxious about paying my rent.
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Harmony Love
•It varies but typically 2-4 weeks for regular cases. If you need to speak with someone directly about your claim status, I had success using claimyr.com - they help you get through to actual NYS Department of Labor agents when the phone lines are jammed. There's a video demo at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI that shows how it works.
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Natalie Khan
ugh the whole system is so slow!! took them FOREVER to approve mine even though i was obviously laid off. like why does it take weeks for them to figure out something so simple?? makes no sense
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Daryl Bright
•I feel you on the frustration. The system has improved since the pandemic but it's still not great for processing times.
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Sienna Gomez
From what I understand, there are different departments within NYS Department of Labor that handle different types of decisions. Initial eligibility is one thing, but ongoing weekly claims are reviewed differently. Plus if you ever need to appeal a decision, that goes to administrative law judges who are separate from the regular claims processors.
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Caden Turner
•Good to know about the appeal process, hopefully I won't need that! Just want to get through the initial approval.
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Kirsuktow DarkBlade
i think its mostly computers that decide unless something looks weird. my friend got approved in like a week but mine took a month because my last job was part time or something
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