what is an adjudication issue with unemployment - NYS Department of Labor claim stuck
Can someone explain what it means when my unemployment claim shows 'adjudication in progress' status? I filed my initial claim 2 weeks ago and it's been stuck like this ever since. I haven't received any benefits yet and when I call NYS Department of Labor I can't get through to anyone. I did report that I was laid off from my restaurant job due to slow business but I'm not sure if that's causing the delay. Is this normal? How long does adjudication usually take?
13 comments


Jacinda Yu
Adjudication means NYS Department of Labor is reviewing your claim to determine if you're eligible for benefits. They're basically investigating the circumstances of your job separation to make sure you qualify. Since you mentioned being laid off due to slow business, they might be verifying this with your employer or checking if there were other factors involved. The process can take anywhere from 2-6 weeks depending on how complex your case is.
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Brian Downey
•Thanks for explaining that! Should I be worried that it's taking this long? I really need these benefits to pay rent.
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Landon Flounder
I went through the same thing last year. Adjudication basically means they need to verify your eligibility before approving benefits. For layoffs, they usually contact your employer to confirm the reason you were separated. The good news is that if you're approved, you'll get back pay for all the weeks you've been waiting. Just make sure you keep filing your weekly claims even while it's under review.
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Brian Downey
•Oh good to know about the back pay! I was wondering if I should keep filing weekly claims. I'll make sure to do that.
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Callum Savage
ugh the adjudication process is so frustrating!! mine took almost a month and they never even told me what they were investigating. just kept saying 'under review' every time i called
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Ally Tailer
If you're having trouble getting through to NYS Department of Labor by phone, you might want to try claimyr.com - it's a service that helps people get connected to unemployment agents. I used it when my claim was stuck in adjudication for 3 weeks and finally got through to someone who could explain what was happening. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI that shows how it works. Made the whole process way less stressful than sitting on hold for hours.
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Aliyah Debovski
•Never heard of that before. Did it actually work for you? I'm getting desperate trying to reach someone at NYS Department of Labor.
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Ally Tailer
•Yeah it worked great for me. Got connected within a day and the agent was able to tell me exactly what documents they needed to finish reviewing my case.
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Miranda Singer
Same boat here - been in adjudication for 3 weeks now. The waiting is killing me financially. At least we're not alone in this mess!
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Anastasia Popov
I'm going through the exact same thing right now - filed 3 weeks ago and still stuck in adjudication! It's so nerve-wracking not knowing what's happening or how much longer it will take. From what I've read online, it seems like restaurant layoffs sometimes take longer to process because they want to make sure it wasn't actually a firing for cause or something like that. The uncertainty is the worst part. Hang in there Brian - hopefully we'll both hear something soon!
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Zainab Ismail
•@Anastasia Popov Thanks for sharing your experience! It s'definitely reassuring to know I m'not the only one dealing with this. The restaurant industry angle makes sense - I guess they want to make extra sure it wasn t'performance related or anything like that. The financial stress while waiting is really getting to me though. Are you also continuing to file your weekly claims while in adjudication? Hoping we both get good news soon!
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Aisha Mohammed
I'm new to this community but wanted to share my recent experience since I see so many people struggling with adjudication delays. I went through this same situation about 6 months ago - filed for unemployment after being laid off from my retail job and got stuck in adjudication for almost 5 weeks. It was incredibly stressful financially, but I learned a few things that might help others here. First, definitely keep filing your weekly claims even while under review - you'll get backpay if approved. Second, try to gather any documentation you have about your layoff (termination letter, final paycheck stub showing reason, etc.) in case they ask for it. Third, be patient but persistent - I eventually got through on the phone after calling first thing in the morning on a Tuesday. The whole process is frustrating but most legitimate layoffs do get approved eventually. Wishing everyone dealing with this the best of luck!
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Zara Perez
•@Aisha Mohammed Thank you so much for sharing your experience! This is really helpful to hear from someone who actually made it through the process. The tip about calling first thing Tuesday morning is great - I ve'been trying random times and never getting through. I do have my termination paperwork that shows reduction "in force due to decreased business volume so" hopefully that will help if they need documentation. It s'reassuring to know that 5 weeks isn t'unusual and that legitimate layoffs typically do get approved. The financial stress while waiting is real but your post gives me hope that there s'light at the end of the tunnel. Really appreciate you taking the time to help newcomers like me navigate this confusing process!
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