I kno this sounds crazy but try calling exactly at 4:57pm. For some reason thats when I always get through. The hold music will play for like 30-45 mins but you'll eventually get a person. Worked for me 3 times.

Email them through the contact form on the website AND send a message through your online account messaging system. Sometimes they respond faster to written communications than phone calls. Make your message short, specific and include all your identifying info (claim ID, last 4 of SSN, etc).

Did anyone notice they updated the phone system recently? Now it disconnects you if the wait is too long instead of keeping you on hold forever... somehow that's even worse?

Their phone system gives me nightmares fr. I can still hear that hold music in my sleep 😭

ID.me is straight TRASH. After my 5th failed attempt I raged so hard 😤 The phone verification actually works though! They ask questions about your credit history that a scammer wouldn't know. Much better system. But getting someone on the phone... good luck with that nightmare lol. I finally used claimyr.com after trying for days to call myself.

Yes! I successfully did phone verification after ID.me kept glitching out. They ask security questions based on your credit report - old addresses, loan amounts, previous employers. Way easier than the ID.me nightmare. The hard part is just getting someone on the phone. I had success by calling right when they open at 8am and specifically asking for the identity verification department due to "multiple ID.me failures." Don't let them transfer you to the general queue! Be persistent about needing the specialized identity verification team.

y'all are lucky to even get through! I've been trying since January and can't even get past the automated system. When I finally do, it hangs up on me after being on hold for 2+ hours. ny unemployment is literally the worst system in the country.

quick tip: if u get a rep who doesn't seem helpful, politely hang up and try again. some reps are WAY better than others. took me 3 different people before someone actually knew how to help with backpay. don't settle for the first person who gives u a generic answer!

After spending literally DAYS trying to reach ny unemployment with no luck, I finally broke down and tried Claimyr. They got me connected to a live agent in about 2 hours. The agent fixed my claim on the spot and my backpay was in my account 3 days later. claimyr.com saved my sanity.

Honestly the only thing that worked for me was getting help from my state assembly person. Google your district and call their office - they have special contacts at unemployment who can push your claim through.