New York Unemployment
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Can't reach New York Unemployment? Claimyr calls for you, so you don't have to wait on hold.
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Claimyr is a pay-as-you-go service. We do not charge a recurring subscription.
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 :)
Can I get NY unemployment if quarantined after COVID exposure?
My supervisor just told me I have to quarantine for 10 days because I was in close contact with a coworker who tested positive for COVID. I work at a restaurant and can't do my job remotely. Do I qualify for NY unemployment benefits during this quarantine period? My boss said I should apply but wasn't sure if I'd qualify since technically I'm not laid off. Has anyone been through this? I'm really worried about missing almost two weeks of pay.
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NY unemployment benefits not showing up after activating new key card - what to do?
So I lost my key card jus got a new one last week I call and activate it then I call into claim my benefits for last week and the week before that it's says my claim accept it but when I check online it doesn't say my money was deposited or released.... Can anyone tell me what I have to do now 😣 My account shows both weeks as processed but no money on the card or pending deposits. Do I need to call someone to fix this? The automated system says everything is fine but obviously it's NOT fine if I can't access my money!
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glad u got it fixed! next time this happens (and with NY unemployment, there's always a next time lol) u know what to do
OF COURSE it was a "security hold" they "forgot" to tell you about!!! They do this ALL THE TIME. At least you got your money. I'm still fighting with them over back payments from December!!!
If you're still having issues with back payments from December, you should request a callback from a supervisor specifically. Regular agents often don't have the authority to release payments that far back. Make sure to mention you need to speak with someone about "retroactive payment authorization.
NY unemployment backpay denied for June-September claim - need help with appeal letter
Really frustrated right now! Just got off the phone with a NY unemployment agent about my claims. She said my claim from September 5, 2025 forward is approved (finally!) but everything from June 10th to September 5th won't be paid. When I asked why, she just said that since I was eligible, the only way to get my backpay is to write some kind of letter explaining my situation. Apparently this letter is the ONLY way to receive backpay from my previous claim period. Has anyone dealt with this backpay letter process before? What should I include in the letter? And where exactly do I send it? The agent was super vague and I'm worried about missing out on almost 3 months of benefits I'm entitled to.
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make sure u follow up every week after u send the letter. call them and ask for status update. if u dont bug them they will just ignore it trust me
Thank you everyone for all the helpful advice! I'm going to write the letter today and include all the documentation I have about the technical issues I experienced. Will definitely send it certified mail and follow up regularly. Will update when I hear back from them!
Good luck! Hope you get your backpay soon. The waiting is the hardest part.
NY unemployment tax question - anyone have money deducted from tax returns after receiving benefits?
Just finished my 2025 taxes and got hit with a surprise - looks like I owe money because of the NY unemployment benefits I received last year. I didn't have taxes withheld from my weekly payments (big mistake, I know). Has anyone else dealt with this? How much did you end up owing? I'm looking at about $1,800 in additional taxes and wondering if that sounds right or if I messed something up on my return.
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When I tried calling NYSDOL to set up tax withholding, I couldn't get through for two weeks. Finally used Claimyr (claimyr.com) and got connected to an agent in about 20 minutes. Was able to set up the withholding and also fix another issue with my claim. Totally worth it to avoid the headache of trying to get through on my own.
Does it cost $$$? Im already broke from owing all these taxes!
Update: I set up an IRS payment plan online - it was actually pretty easy! For anyone in the same situation, I'm paying about $35/month over 72 months with a small setup fee. Will try to pay it off faster when I can, but this takes the pressure off for now. For NY state taxes, I had to call and it took a while, but got on a 24-month plan for that portion. Thanks everyone for the advice!
Glad you got it sorted out! That's a very manageable payment. Just remember that interest continues to accrue on the unpaid balance, so paying it off faster when you're able will save you money in the long run.
NY unemployment frustration - can't reach anyone since December, ID.me issues after moving
I'm at my breaking point with NY unemployment. Been claiming since December 2024 and haven't received a SINGLE payment yet. I try calling literally the second the phone lines open and all I get is 'we're experiencing high call volume' then it hangs up!!! I went through the id.me verification process but since I moved recently, they won't accept half my documents. My address doesn't match on everything and now I'm stuck in verification hell. Can't reach a human being to save my life. Lost my job right before the holidays and burning through savings. Anyone found a way to actually get through to a real person? This is beyond frustrating.
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I'm in the same boat right now except I'm dealing with a former employer who's contesting my claim. THREE HOURS on hold yesterday and then the call dropped. This is America in 2025 - can't even get basic services working right. Makes me want to move to Canada honestly.
Canada's unemployment system has its own problems. My sister lives in Toronto and says their system is just as backlogged.
Just checking in - were you able to try any of the suggestions? The early morning call trick works about 40% of the time in my experience.
I tried the 7:58am call yesterday and today - no luck yet. I'm going to try the Claimyr service tomorrow if I still can't get through. I did find and submit that UI-501R form and converted all my documents to JPEGs for the ID.me verification. Fingers crossed something works soon. Really appreciate everyone's help!
Sounds like you're taking all the right steps! The UI-501R form usually takes 7-10 business days to process, so don't worry if you don't hear anything immediately. Keep us posted on how things work out.
Oliver Becker
my sister works at the DOL call center and she says they get tons of these questions every day. the answer is always file anyway and let them determine eligibility. worst they can say is no!!
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Paolo Marino
To summarize what everyone's said: Yes, you can likely get regular UI benefits for your quarantine period, but success depends on: 1. Filing immediately 2. Having documentation of the quarantine directive 3. Making sure your employer categorizes this as temporary layoff rather than leave of absence 4. Answering the weekly certification questions correctly And be prepared for the waiting week where you won't receive benefits, plus possible processing delays. Hope it all works out for you!
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StardustSeeker
AuthorI really appreciate everyone's help. I just submitted my application and made sure to classify it as temporary layoff due to employer-mandated quarantine. My manager sent me an email about the quarantine so I have that as documentation. Fingers crossed it goes through smoothly!
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