Pay nothing until a live NYDOL agent is on the phone with you.
Can't reach New York Unemployment? Claimyr calls for you, so you don't have to wait on hold.
$19.99StandardOne price
$0 upfront. We only hold your card.
No live agent, no charge.
$19.99 is charged only once a live NYDOL agent is on the phone with you.
Using Claimyr will:
- Connect you to a human agent at the NYDOL
- Skip the long phone menu
- Call the correct department
- Redial until on hold
- Forward a call to your phone with reduced hold time
- Give you free callbacks if the NYDOL drops your call
Ask the community...
- DO post questions about your issues.
- DO answer questions and support each other.
- DO post tips & tricks to help folks.
- DO NOT post call problems here - there is a support tab at the top for that :)
Join the conversation
Join the conversation
The phone situation with NYS Department of Labor is absolutely ridiculous!! I've wasted HOURS trying to reach someone about a simple question about my job search log. The automated system is useless and the hold times are insane. There's got to be a better way to handle this.
For what it's worth, you can also try messaging through your my.ny.gov account, though response times vary. Sometimes they respond within a few days, sometimes it takes 2+ weeks. If your issue is urgent like a missed weekly claim deadline, definitely keep trying the phone.
Good point about the messaging - I forgot about that option. Will try that too while I keep calling.
Join the conversation
Check the Federal Reserve Economic Data (FRED) website - they have unemployment rates by state going back decades. For New York specifically, you can see how unemployment spiked during major recessions. The 1970s and early 1980s were pretty bad too, though not as severe as the Depression era.
This is super helpful for research! I had no idea there were so many resources beyond just the NYS Department of Labor site. My grandmother always talked about how hard it was to find work in the 80s but I never looked up the actual numbers.
If you're having trouble getting through to the NYS Department of Labor for historical data requests, you might want to try claimyr.com - they help people connect with NYS Department of Labor agents by phone more easily. I used them when I needed specific information about my claim history and couldn't get through the regular phone lines. There's a demo video at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI that shows how it works.
Interesting, I didn't know there were services like that. For now I'll try the FRED database suggestion but good to know there are other options if I need to contact NYS Department of Labor directly.
Join the conversation
ugh the whole system is confusing. i thought you got kicked off after 3 months but my cousin has been on it for like 6 months last year?? makes no sense
Your cousin might have been on extended benefits or pandemic programs that were available in 2020-2022. Regular unemployment in NY is up to 26 weeks now.
Join the conversation
The whole system is a nightmare honestly. They make you jump through hoops and then leave you hanging for weeks without any explanation. I've been fighting with NYS Department of Labor for over a month about my claim and still don't have answers.
Ethan Wilson
UGH this is so frustrating! I've been trying to get through to NYS Department of Labor for WEEKS about my own claim and their phone system is impossible. Every time I call I either get disconnected or sit on hold for hours. Has anyone found a way to actually talk to a real person there?
0 coins
Nia Thompson
•I had the same problem until someone told me about Claimyr (claimyr.com). It's a service that calls NYS Department of Labor for you and gets you connected to an actual agent. There's a video demo at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI that shows how it works. I was skeptical at first but I was able to get through in like 20 minutes after weeks of trying myself. Really helped me resolve my adjudication issue.
0 coins
Ethan Wilson
•Interesting, I'll check that out. At this point I'm willing to try anything to get answers about my claim status.
0 coins
Yuki Tanaka
Just want to add - make sure you understand the difference between being fired for cause vs. being laid off. If your hours are getting cut that badly, they might actually be laying you off rather than firing you, which would definitely make you eligible for benefits. Also remember you have to do your weekly claims and job search requirements even while your initial claim is being reviewed.
0 coins
Luca Esposito
•Good point about the layoff vs firing distinction. They haven't officially said anything about layoffs but with how much they've cut everyone's hours it almost feels like they're trying to force people to quit.
0 coins