I think it depends on your situation honestly. Mine got approved in like a week because it was straightforward - got laid off from my restaurant job when they closed permanently. But my friend who got fired is still waiting after a month because they're investigating whether it was misconduct or not.

From my experience, the decision makers are adjudication specialists who are trained staff members at NYS Department of Labor. They handle cases that need manual review - things like disputed separations, eligibility questions, or when employers contest claims. The automated system only handles straightforward cases where everything checks out immediately. Since you're at 2 weeks pending, you're likely in the manual review queue. I'd recommend documenting everything about your job separation and keeping records of your job search activities just in case they need additional info. The waiting is frustrating but try to be patient - they do eventually get through all the cases.

I feel your pain! I went through almost the exact same thing last year - 10 weeks of pending status with zero communication. What finally worked for me was a combination approach: I contacted my state assemblyperson's office (they have direct lines to unemployment) AND used one of those callback services to get through the phone system. The assemblyperson's office was actually really helpful - they submitted an inquiry on my behalf and I heard back within a week. Also make sure you're checking for any employer contests on your claim, that's what was holding mine up and nobody bothered to tell me. Don't give up, the system is designed to frustrate you into quitting but you deserve those benefits!

I'm so sorry you're dealing with this - the NY unemployment system is absolutely brutal. I just went through something similar a few months ago and it's incredibly frustrating. Unfortunately there's no email address that actually gets monitored or responded to. The only way to get anywhere is by talking to a human agent, which I know sounds impossible right now. A few things that helped me: 1) Try calling the fraud hotline instead of the regular number - they can sometimes transfer you and the wait times are shorter 2) Call RIGHT at 8am when they open, have multiple phones dialing if possible 3) Consider using Claimyr or a similar callback service - I was skeptical but it actually worked for me after weeks of failed attempts 4) Contact your state assemblyperson's office immediately - they have direct contacts at unemployment and can submit inquiries on your behalf. Also double check if your employer contested your claim, that's a common cause of these endless pending statuses and they never tell you about it. Don't give up! The system wants you to quit but you've earned those benefits. Keep certifying every week no matter what while you fight this.

I'm going through something similar right now - filed in June, approved, but only got 3 payments before everything just stopped. It's incredibly frustrating because like you, I keep certifying every week but my account just shows "pending" with zero explanation. One thing I discovered is that you can also try reaching out through their Twitter account @nylabor - they sometimes respond faster there than through phone calls. I sent them a DM with my claim details and got a response within 48 hours (though they just told me to keep waiting, at least it was acknowledgment). Also, if you have any documentation from your previous employer about your termination/layoff, make sure you have copies ready. Sometimes they request this stuff randomly during reviews and having it ready can speed things up. Hang in there - from what I'm reading here it seems like most people eventually get their payments, it's just a matter of persistence. The system is clearly broken but we have to work within it unfortunately.

I'm dealing with almost the exact same situation! Filed in late June, got approved with a $520 weekly benefit, but haven't seen a penny since August. It's now been 10 weeks of certifying with nothing but "pending" status. What's really helped me so far is documenting EVERYTHING - screenshots of my account status, dates I called, any emails or messages. I started a spreadsheet to track it all because I have a feeling I'll need this documentation later. Also, try calling the technical support line instead of the regular claims line sometimes - the number is 888-581-5812. I've had slightly better luck getting through there, and they can at least confirm if there are any technical issues with your account. One thing that's kept me sane through this process is remembering that once it gets resolved, you should receive all the back payments for every week you properly certified. So even though it's financially devastating right now, the money is technically accumulating. Doesn't help with immediate bills though... Keep pushing - from reading everyone's responses here it seems like persistence is really the only way through this broken system.

This thread has been so helpful! I'm a new member dealing with a similar situation - my unemployment claim was approved 3 weeks ago and I've been filing weekly but no payments yet. After reading all these comments, I immediately went and checked my correspondence inbox (which I honestly had no idea existed) and sure enough, there was a notice from last week asking for additional identity verification documents. The notice was just sitting there with no email alert or anything on the main dashboard. It's crazy how they hide these critical notices! Now I at least know why my payments are delayed and what I need to do. Thank you everyone for sharing your experiences - this community is a lifesaver when the NYS Department of Labor system is so confusing to navigate.

I'm new to this community but going through the exact same frustrating situation! Got approved for unemployment 2 weeks ago, been filing my weekly claims religiously, but haven't seen a penny yet. After reading through all these comments about checking the correspondence inbox, I went digging and found a notice I completely missed about needing to verify my last day of work with my previous employer. The notice was dated 10 days ago but there was absolutely no alert on the main dashboard - just buried in that correspondence section that I didn't even know existed! It's honestly infuriating how the NYS Department of Labor hides these critical notices. At least now I know what's holding up my payments and can take action. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences - this thread literally saved me from weeks more of confusion and stress!

I actually just went through this process about 3 months ago when I moved from NYC to my parents' place in New Jersey. The most important thing is definitely calling NYS Department of Labor BEFORE you move - I learned this the hard way when my first payment got held up because I updated my address online without talking to anyone first. When I finally got through to them (took about 2 hours of calling), they were actually pretty understanding about the situation. They told me as long as I could demonstrate I was actively looking for work and would be available to return to NY for suitable employment, I could continue receiving benefits. The tricky part is the job search requirements - you still need to do your 3 work search activities per week, and they expect at least some of those to be for positions you could realistically take if offered. I've been mixing remote jobs, NJ local positions, and some NY-based remote roles to cover my bases. My benefits amount stayed exactly the same, and I've had no issues with my weekly certifications. Just make sure you document everything and keep detailed records of your job search activities in case they ever audit your claim.

I'm in a really similar situation - been on unemployment for about 6 weeks after getting laid off from my job in Buffalo, and I'm considering moving back home to Pennsylvania to stay with my parents while I get back on my feet. Reading through everyone's experiences here is super helpful, especially the advice about calling NYS Department of Labor BEFORE making the move. I had no idea that was so important - I was just going to update my address online and figure it out later. Does anyone know if there's a best time of day to call them to actually get through? I've tried calling a few times about other issues and could never get past the automated system. Also wondering if the process is any different for people who are moving to stay with family versus those who are moving for other reasons - do they ask about your living situation or is it more just about confirming you'll still be available for work?