How long does unemployment application take to process in New York?

The initial processing time for unemployment applications can vary, but typically the NYS Department of Labor takes 2-3 weeks to fully process a new claim. During this time they're verifying your employment history, wages, and reason for separation. Since you filed last Tuesday, you're still within the normal timeframe. Make sure you continue filing your weekly claims even while your initial application is being processed, as you can only be paid for weeks you've certified.

mine took almost 3 weeks but that was because they had to contact my previous employer to verify why i was laid off. if your separation was straightforward it might be faster

If you're having trouble getting through to check on your claim status, I had success using Claimyr to reach a NYS Department of Labor agent directly. It's a service that helps you get through the phone lines - you can check it out at claimyr.com and they have a demo video at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI showing how it works. I was able to get clarification on my claim processing timeline when I couldn't get through on my own.

The NYS Department of Labor system is SO SLOW. They take forever to process anything and then if there's even one tiny issue they flag your whole claim for adjudication which can take MONTHS. I've been waiting 8 weeks for them to resolve an issue with my work search log from when I was on standby. It's absolutely ridiculous how long everything takes in this state.

Just wanted to say hang in there! I know the waiting is stressful but most people do get approved eventually. The key is just being patient and making sure you keep up with your weekly claims.

I'm in a similar situation - filed my application 5 days ago and also seeing "claim under review" status. It's my first time applying too after being let go from my retail job. The uncertainty is really stressful when you're counting on these benefits to cover basic expenses. Has anyone had experience with how they notify you once a decision is made? Do they send an email or do you just have to keep checking the portal?

I'm going through the exact same thing right now - filed my application 8 days ago after being laid off from my job at a local restaurant and I'm still seeing "claim under review" status. The financial stress is really getting to me since I have rent due next week. What I've learned from calling (when I could actually get through) is that they're just really backlogged right now. The representative told me that as long as you were laid off or terminated through no fault of your own, and you have sufficient work history, you should be fine - it's just a matter of them getting through all the applications. Keep filing those weekly certifications even while waiting, because once approved they'll pay you retroactively for all the weeks you certified. Hang in there!

I just wanted to add my experience for anyone else going through this - I filed my unemployment claim about 3 weeks ago and finally got approved yesterday! My status changed from "claim under review" to "approved" and I received my first payment the next day. The whole process took exactly 21 days from when I submitted my initial application. During the waiting period, I kept up with my weekly certifications like everyone suggested, and they did pay me retroactively for all those weeks. I know the waiting is incredibly stressful, especially when you're worried about rent and bills, but try to stay patient. The system works, it just takes time. Make sure all your information is accurate and keep certifying weekly - that's really all you can do while they process everything.

I'm currently on day 12 of waiting for my unemployment claim to be processed and reading through everyone's experiences here has been incredibly helpful. I was laid off from my job at a marketing agency due to company restructuring and filed through my.ny.gov almost two weeks ago. Like many others, my status just says "claim under review" and I've been getting anxious about the timeline. Hearing from Zara that hers took exactly 21 days and then got approved with retroactive payments really puts things in perspective. I've been diligent about filing my weekly certifications even though nothing has been approved yet, so it's reassuring to know that won't go to waste. The financial stress is real when you're waiting and have bills piling up, but it sounds like patience is really the key here. For anyone else in the waiting phase - we're all in this together and it seems like most people do get approved eventually if their situation is legitimate.

I'm currently on day 4 of waiting after filing my unemployment claim through my.ny.gov following a layoff from my customer service job. Reading through all these experiences has been so reassuring - especially hearing from Zara about the 21-day timeline and retroactive payments, and seeing that others like Miguel and Micah are in similar waiting periods right now. I've been panicking because I've never filed for unemployment before and wasn't sure if 4 days was already too long, but it sounds like I'm still very early in the normal process. I'm definitely going to keep up with my weekly certifications while waiting. The financial anxiety is real when you're suddenly without income, but this community has really helped me understand what to expect. Thanks everyone for sharing your timelines and experiences!