Why is NY unemployment approval taking months in 2025? This delay is ridiculous!
I've been waiting over 2 MONTHS for my NY unemployment claim to get approved!!! Like seriously, what is going on with the system??? People I know filed after me and already got their money while I'm still stuck on 'pending review' status. I call every day but can't get through to anyone. Is anyone else dealing with these crazy long wait times? This is getting beyond stressful - I have bills to pay NOW, not whenever they decide to approve my claim. Has the system always been this broken or is something new happening in 2025 causing these delays??
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Victoria Scott
Same boat here! Filed on January 12th and still waiting... it's now mid-March. Every time I call it's just the automated system saying my claim is "under review" with no explanation. The worst part is you can't even talk to a human being! I finally found a service called Claimyr that got me through to an actual agent after weeks of trying. They have this system that holds your place in line and calls you when an agent is available - definitely worth checking out at claimyr.com. There's a video that shows how it works: https://youtu.be/Rdqa1gKtxuE. The agent told me there's a huge backlog because of the new verification system they implemented in January.
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Ezra Collins
•Thanks for the claimyr tip, I'll look into it. Did the agent tell you how much longer the backlog might last? I'm getting desperate here...
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Benjamin Johnson
The NYSDOL is experiencing severe delays because they implemented a new fraud detection system in January 2025. Claims that trigger certain flags get pulled for manual review, which is causing the backlog. Unfortunately, about 40% of new claims are being flagged right now. Some common reasons for delay: 1. Income verification discrepancies 2. Previous employer disputes 3. Multi-state employment history 4. Name/SSN verification issues 5. Identity verification failures If your claim has been pending more than 6 weeks, you should request an expedited review by submitting Form UI-578E through your online account under "Documents" → "Submit Documents" → "Claim Processing Delay".
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Ezra Collins
•THANK YOU for this info - I had no idea about the UI-578E form! Just logged in and submitted it. Fingers crossed this helps speed things up.
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Zara Perez
i waited 3 months last yr, system is always broken lol
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Daniel Rogers
•That's not accurate. The system had actually improved significantly through most of 2024 with average processing times of 2-3 weeks. The current backlog is specifically due to the new fraud detection system implemented January 15, 2025, following the large-scale fraud cases discovered late last year. Please don't spread misinformation that makes people think this is normal - it's not.
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Aaliyah Reed
OMG me too!!! Been waiting since February 3rd and literally cannot pay my rent next month if this doesn't get approved soon. My landlord is already threatening eviction. Has anyone found a way to get their claim expedited?? I'm having panic attacks every day about this.
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Benjamin Johnson
•If you're facing imminent eviction, call the NYSDOL Hardship Line at 888-209-8124 and press options 1, 6, 3 when prompted. Be prepared to provide documentation of your hardship (eviction notice, utility shutoff notice, etc). They have a special team that can expedite claims for people in true financial emergencies.
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Ella Russell
LOL welcome to dealing with the government!! They don't care about us regular people at all. I waited 11 weeks in 2024 and when I finally got approved they didn't even give me all my backpay! Had to fight for another month to get the full amount. The system is DESIGNED to make you give up.
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Mohammed Khan
•While I understand your frustration, it's important to note that these delays aren't intentional. The NYSDOL is dealing with a significant backlog due to implementing enhanced security measures after the December 2024 fraud incident that affected over 32,000 claims. According to their March 2025 statement, they've added 150 additional claims processors and are working overtime to address the backlog. If anyone needs their claim expedited due to financial hardship, they should: 1. Submit Form UI-578E through their online account 2. Contact their state representative's office (they often have direct channels) 3. Request a hardship review if facing eviction or utility disconnection The current estimated timeline is 6-8 weeks for standard claims, though they're working to reduce this to 3-4 weeks by May.
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Zara Perez
try calling right when they open at 8am, sometimes works
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Ezra Collins
•I've tried that every day for the past week - still can't get through no matter what time I call. The system just says they're experiencing high call volume and disconnects me.
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Victoria Scott
Update: Just got approved today after using Claimyr yesterday! The agent I spoke with flagged my account for expedited review after I explained I'd been waiting since January. Apparently my claim was stuck because my previous employer didn't respond to the verification request within the required timeframe. The agent manually overrode that and processed my claim. Check your account - sometimes they don't even notify you when the status changes!
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Ezra Collins
•That's awesome news! I'm definitely going to try Claimyr tomorrow. Just checked my account and still says pending, but gives me hope that speaking to an actual person might help.
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Aaliyah Reed
Has anyone had success contacting their state representative about this? I'm thinking about trying that route too...
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Mohammed Khan
•Yes, contacting your state representative can be surprisingly effective. Their offices often have dedicated staff who handle constituent services and direct channels to NYSDOL. I've seen cases resolved within 1-2 weeks after representative involvement. To find your NY State Assembly member: https://nyassembly.gov/mem/search/ or NY State Senator: https://www.nysenate.gov/find-my-senator
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Ezra Collins
GUYS!! I just got APPROVED this morning!! After submitting that UI-578E form and also using Claimyr to talk to an agent yesterday (thanks again for that tip), my claim finally went through! The agent said my identity verification was flagged because I had moved recently and addresses didn't match up. She manually verified everything while on the phone. Says I should get payment within 3 business days including all backpay!! For anyone still waiting - definitely try both the form AND getting through to an actual human. Made all the difference for me!
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Victoria Scott
•That's fantastic! So glad it worked out for you! Seems like there's always some small technical issue that only a human agent can fix.
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