Senate Unanimously Votes for Mayer's Bill to Require the Department of Labor to inform Applicants Seeking Unemployment Benefits of their Status within 30 days

SENATE UNANIMOUSLY VOTES FOR MAYER'S BILL TO REQUIRE THE DEPARTMENT OF LABOR TO INFORM APPLICANTS SEEKING UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS OF THEIR STATUS WITHIN 30 DAYS

Click here to watch Senator Shelley B. Mayer's floor remarks.

(Albany, NY) -- At the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, an unprecedented number of New Yorkers applied for unemployment assistance through the Department of Labor, including thousands of constituents in Senate District 37. Many were frustrated by the system's inability to handle the influx of cases. The Office of Senator Shelley B. Mayer, like many other offices, intervened to expedite individual cases.  

On Monday, June 7, the New York State Senate unanimously passed (63-0) S6828A, sponsored by Senator Shelley B. Mayer, to require that notice of initial determinations for unemployment benefits be provided to claimants within 30 days of such claimant furnishing all necessary documentation, and if the commissioner is unable to issue a determination within such time frame, they shall inform the claimant of the new estimated time frame for the issuance of a determination.

Senator Shelley B. Mayer said: “Unfortunately, even now, thousands of applicants are having challenges getting their unemployment approved and paid in a timely manner. COVID has made clear that our system needs clear deadlines so that those desperate for unemployment relief receive timely decisions of their approval or disapproval for benefits. This bill makes that important change by requiring the Department of Labor to provide notice within 30 days of receipt of needed documents whether an applicant is approved or disapproved, except in exigent circumstances.”  

This bill has advanced through Assembly committees and is in the final stage of consideration. It is in a good position to be debated and voted on by Assembly members in the next three days.