ugh the adjudication process is SO frustrating!! I've been waiting 4 weeks now and can't get through to anyone at NYS Department of Labor to find out what's going on. They really need to improve their communication about these delays.

just keep filing your weekly claims even during adjudication! thats important so you dont lose benefits for those weeks

Adjudication by definition is just bureaucratic speak for 'we're taking forever to make a decision.' I've been through this twice and both times it took over a month. Keep filing your weekly claims though because if you're approved, you'll get back pay for all the weeks you certified.

by definition adjudication means they're deciding if you qualify, could be anything really. mine was because my employer said i quit but i was actually laid off. took forever to sort out

Just went through adjudication myself and wanted to share what helped me get through it! Mine lasted about 4 weeks and was due to wage verification issues from a previous job. The waiting was absolutely brutal but I kept myself sane by creating a routine - checked my online account every morning at 9am, called DOL every Tuesday/Thursday at exactly 8:01am, and kept detailed notes of every interaction. One thing that really helped was joining this subreddit and a few Facebook groups where people share real-time updates about their cases. Seeing others go through the same thing made me feel less alone. Also discovered that you can message them through the secure inbox on the NY.gov site - sometimes got faster responses than calling! Most important things: NEVER stop filing weekly claims (even though you won't get paid during adjudication, you need them for backpay), respond to any mail/email within 24 hours, and answer ALL unknown phone calls (they only try calling twice!). When I finally got approved, I received 4 weeks of backpay all at once which was such a huge relief. The system is definitely broken and the uncertainty is the worst part, but stay strong Connor! Document everything, stay persistent, and don't give up. Most legitimate claims do get resolved eventually, even if it takes longer than it should. You got this! 💪

Just wanted to add my experience since I went through adjudication about 6 months ago. Mine was triggered because my employer disputed the reason for my job separation - they claimed I quit voluntarily when I was actually terminated due to company restructuring. The whole process was nerve-wracking but ended up taking about 7 weeks total. What really saved me was keeping meticulous records from day one. I created a simple Google doc with dates, times, who I spoke with, and what was discussed. Also took screenshots of my online account status every few days. When they finally called me for a phone interview (week 5), having all that documentation made it so much easier to provide clear, consistent answers. One tip I don't see mentioned much - if you get scheduled for a phone interview, treat it seriously! Dress professionally even though it's just a call, have all your documents ready, and speak clearly. The adjudicator is trying to determine the facts, so be honest and straightforward. The backpay when it finally came through was life-changing after weeks of stress. Keep your head up Connor, the wait is horrible but most cases do get resolved if you stay on top of everything. This community helped me so much during my wait - you're definitely not alone in this! 🙏

Once you file your initial claim, you'll need to file weekly claims every week to keep getting benefits. Don't forget to do this even if your claim is still pending - you can lose weeks of benefits if you don't certify.

Sorry to hear you're going through this stress - layoffs are really tough. One thing I'd add is to start gathering your employment documents now while you still have access to everything. Keep copies of recent pay stubs, your offer letter, and any company handbook info about layoff procedures. Also, if your company offers any severance package, make sure to understand how that might affect your unemployment benefits timing. Some people don't realize that severance can sometimes delay when your benefits start. The good news is that with 2 years of full-time work, you should definitely qualify. Hang in there!

just to add my experience - i was on medical leave for 6 weeks and definitely couldn't get unemployment. but like others said, short term disability through work covered part of my salary during that time. check with your HR department about what benefits you might have had available

I work in HR and deal with these situations regularly. The confusion is totally understandable because the rules can seem contradictory. Here's the bottom line: NYS unemployment requires you to be "able, available, and actively seeking work." Medical leave automatically disqualifies you because you're declaring yourself unable to work. However, there are a few important things to know: 1) If you had short-term disability insurance through your employer or purchased it independently, that would have been the appropriate benefit during your medical leave, 2) Some people don't realize their employer offers disability benefits - it's worth checking with HR even now to understand what was available, and 3) The timing matters - you could potentially file for unemployment AFTER you're medically cleared but before returning to work, if there's a gap. For future reference, always ask HR about all available benefits when taking medical leave - many people miss out on disability benefits they're entitled to.