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just keep filing ur weekly claims thats the main thing, even if its not approved yet u can still get backpay
I'm in a similar situation - filed my claim 2 weeks ago after my company did layoffs and still waiting for approval. From what I've read on the NYS DOL website, they're currently experiencing higher than normal claim volumes which is causing delays. 10 days is still within the normal processing window, so I wouldn't panic yet. The important thing is to keep doing your weekly certifications like others mentioned. You might also want to double-check that all your employer information was entered correctly when you filed, since any discrepancies can slow down the verification process.
Wait times have been crazy lately! I know someone who applied in December and didn't get their first payment until mid-January because their employer contested the claim. The NYS Department of Labor has to investigate those situations which adds weeks to the process. Hopefully since your restaurant closed permanently that won't be an issue for you.
That's good to know - my employer definitely isn't contesting since they went out of business completely. Hopefully that means no adjudication delays for me.
been there! restaurant industry is tough right now. make sure you're doing your job search activities because NYS Department of Labor requires 3 work search contacts per week even while your claim is processing. keep good records of where you apply because they can audit your job search log at any time
@Diego Ramirez That s'a great point about the work search requirements! I didn t'realize I needed to be doing that right away. Are there specific types of jobs I should be applying to, or can I apply to anything in my field? Also, do online applications count or do they prefer in-person contacts?
I'm going through this same process right now and this thread is incredibly helpful! One thing I want to add - if you worked multiple jobs before becoming unemployed, make sure you list ALL of them in the employment history section, not just your most recent one. I almost missed including a part-time job I had alongside my main job, but it turns out that can affect your benefit calculation. Also, when they ask about any severance pay or vacation payout, be completely accurate about the amounts and dates - they'll verify this with your employer anyway, and any discrepancies will just slow things down. The whole system seems intimidating at first but reading everyone's experiences here makes me feel much more confident about filling it out correctly. Thanks to everyone who shared their tips!
This is such a great point about listing ALL jobs! I hadn't thought about how a part-time side job could impact benefit calculations. I actually have a similar situation - I had a main job plus some freelance work on weekends. Now I'm wondering if I need to report that freelance income too, even though it was irregular. Did you find any guidance on how to handle inconsistent side income like that? Also, your point about severance pay accuracy is spot on - I'd rather over-document everything than risk delays later. Thanks for adding to this already super helpful thread!
I'm currently in the middle of filling out my NYS DOL application and this entire thread has been a lifesaver! I was getting so overwhelmed by all the different questions and terminology. A few things I've learned from my research that might help others: First, the NYS DOL website has a "Filing Your Claim" guide that breaks down each section step by step - it's buried in their resources but super helpful. Second, if you're confused about work search requirements, you can actually create your NY.gov account and register with the job services before filing your claim, which counts toward your weekly requirements later. Finally, I discovered that if you were a union member, your union rep can sometimes help clarify what separation reason was officially reported. The amount of conflicting information out there is crazy, so having this community discussion with real experiences is incredibly valuable. Thank you everyone for sharing your stories and tips!
most construction companies are legit about this stuff, especially if they're doing commercial work. they have to be compliant or they can't get bonded for big jobs
You can also check online through the NYS Department of Labor website - they have an employer lookup tool where you can search by business name to see if they're registered for unemployment insurance. It's usually faster than calling and you get immediate confirmation. Just go to labor.ny.gov and look for the employer services section. If your employer shows up in their database, you're good to go for filing a claim if needed.
Anastasia Popova
Any update? Did your claim appear in the system yet?
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NebulaNomad
•Great to hear! For future reference (and for others reading this thread), this is why it's always best to file claims early in the week when possible. Filing on Friday often means dealing with the weekend processing delay, which can cause unnecessary stress.
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Diego Mendoza
•That's really good advice. I'll remember that for the future, though hopefully I won't need to file again anytime soon!
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Eli Wang
So glad to see you got it sorted out! This thread is going to be super helpful for anyone else who runs into this same issue. The NY DOL system definitely has its quirks, but at least now we know that 2-3 business day processing delay is normal for new claims filed on Fridays. Thanks for updating us with the resolution!
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