


Ask the community...
depends on ur situation tbh... if theres any red flags it could take months. but most ppl get approved pretty quick if everything checks out
Oh this brings back memories! When I was laid off from my teaching job a few years ago, it took forever to get approved because they had to verify my work history or something. But my friend who got laid off from Target got approved super fast. I think it just depends on your specific case and how busy they are.
The NYS Department of Labor system is deliberately slow to discourage people from filing. They make it as difficult as possible hoping you'll just give up and find another job instead of collecting benefits you're entitled to. It's all about saving the state money at the expense of working people who paid into the system.
If you're having trouble getting through on the website, I actually found a service called Claimyr that helped me reach a NYS Department of Labor agent when I was stuck. You can check it out at claimyr.com - they have a video demo at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI that shows how it works. Really saved me time when I couldn't get through the regular phone lines.
I was in a similar situation last year and had trouble getting through to NYS Department of Labor to ask about options. Spent weeks calling and either getting busy signals or hung up on. Finally used a service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that helped me get connected to an actual agent. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI showing how it works. The agent confirmed there are no extensions available but helped me understand other benefit programs I could apply for. Worth checking out if you need to speak with someone directly.
wait I thought there were extended benefits when unemployment rates are high? isn't that automatic or something
Victoria Stark
If you're having trouble reaching NYS Department of Labor to ask about your specific situation, I used a service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that helped me get through to an actual agent. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI showing how it works. Really helped when I was stuck in adjudication limbo.
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Benjamin Kim
•Thanks for this! I've been trying to call for days and keep getting disconnected.
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Benjamin Kim
Also remember you need to have worked enough hours and earned enough wages in your base period. For 2025 it's pretty specific requirements. And once you start collecting you HAVE to do the job search activities they require or they'll cut you off.
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Connor Richards
•How many job contacts do you need per week? I heard it was 3 but someone told me it changed.
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