This is a COMPREHENSIVE guide to getting through to NY unemployment based on my 3 months of hell dealing with them: First, understand that their phone system is deliberately designed to frustrate you. They have limited agents and unlimited callers. Here's what works: 1. Call patterns matter. Try calling Tuesday-Thursday (avoid Monday/Friday). Best times are 8:00-8:30am or 4:30-5:00pm. 2. If regular calls fail, try the TTY line, employer services, or even the fraud department - they can sometimes transfer you. 3. Use the online message center - responses take 5-7 days but they do eventually respond. 4. Contact your state representatives - both Assembly and Senate. They have special contacts at unemployment. 5. If all else fails, use a service like claimyr.com - they'll keep calling for you and connect you to an agent when they get through. This is what finally worked for me after weeks of trying everything else. 6. Keep certifying weekly no matter what! Even if your claim is pending, you need to certify to get those weeks paid retroactively once approved. Hang in there - the system is broken but eventually it does work if you're persistent. I went 11 weeks without income before finally getting it all resolved and receiving backpay.

check ur inbox messages. sent u some info that helped me

Four weeks is becoming standard due to increased fraud prevention measures. If you want to expedite things, try these steps: 1. Call at 7:55am - right before they open 2. Try the callback feature on their website (though it's hit or miss) 3. Contact your state assembly person or senator's office 4. Make sure you're checking your online account for document requests 5. Continue certifying weekly If you're desperate to get through on the phone quickly, I had success using claimyr.com - they kept calling until they got through and then connected me with an agent. Saved my sanity after trying for weeks.

the whole system is FUBAR right now. my claim sat in limbo for 6 weeks then was randomly approved with no explanation. keep certifying every week while you wait so you don't miss out on payments.

just fyi - if you're getting desperate and need the money now, I found a workaround. Apply for the NY Taxpayer Assistance Program. They can sometimes issue a hardship payment while you wait for your refund to process. You'll need to prove financial hardship though.

This happened to me too. Called for weeks and couldn't get through. Finally paid for claimyr.com and got connected to someone in about an hour. Found out my refund was on hold for "income verification" but they never sent me any notice about it! The agent released it right away and I got my money 2 weeks later. It's ridiculous we have to jump through these hoops but at least I finally got my money.

make sure you put some aside for taxes if they didnt take it out already...learnin from experience here 🥴

They just released a press statement saying they're working through a backlog of identity verification cases. Maybe that's why you and others are suddenly getting paid?

Just a reminder that the DOL is severely understaffed and running on ancient computer systems. Not excusing the horrible service, but there are structural reasons why this keeps happening to EVERYONE. We need to demand better funding and technology upgrades from our state representatives!

Ok, but have you tried looking at your payment history in your online account? Sometimes the system will show a payment was "released" but with an "outstanding issue" code next to it. That can tell you exactly why it's held up.