Can't reach New York Unemployment? Claimyr connects you to a live NYDOL agent in minutes.
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
If I could give 10 stars I would
If I could give 10 stars I would If I could give 10 stars I would Such an amazing service so needed during the times when EDD almost never picks up Claimyr gets me on the phone with EDD every time without fail faster. A much needed service without Claimyr I would have never received the payment I needed to support me during my postpartum recovery. Thank you so much Claimyr!
Really made a difference
Really made a difference, save me time and energy from going to a local office for making the call.
Worth not wasting your time calling for hours.
Was a bit nervous or untrusting at first, but my calls went thru. First time the wait was a bit long but their customer chat line on their page was helpful and put me at ease that I would receive my call. Today my call dropped because of EDD and Claimyr heard my concern on the same chat and another call was made within the hour.
An incredibly helpful service
An incredibly helpful service! Got me connected to a CA EDD agent without major hassle (outside of EDD's agents dropping calls – which Claimyr has free protection for). If you need to file a new claim and can't do it online, pay the $ to Claimyr to get the process started. Absolutely worth it!
Consistent,frustration free, quality Service.
Used this service a couple times now. Before I'd call 200 times in less than a weak frustrated as can be. But using claimyr with a couple hours of waiting i was on the line with an representative or on hold. Dropped a couple times but each reconnected not long after and was mission accomplished, thanks to Claimyr.
IT WORKS!! Not a scam!
I tried for weeks to get thru to EDD PFL program with no luck. I gave this a try thinking it may be a scam. OMG! It worked and They got thru within an hour and my claim is going to finally get paid!! I upgraded to the $60 call. Best $60 spent!
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
Just wanted to say thanks for asking this question! I'm in almost the exact same boat - worked somewhere for just under 3 months before getting laid off. Reading these responses makes me feel much better about filing my claim.
Don't let the complexity discourage you from filing! I work as a benefits counselor and see this situation all the time. The NYS Department of Labor system is definitely confusing, but the key thing to remember is that unemployment insurance is designed to help workers who lose their jobs through no fault of their own - regardless of how long they worked at their last position. Your two years of previous employment history is exactly what the base period calculation is meant to capture. I'd recommend filing online at labor.ny.gov as soon as possible since there's a waiting period, and you can always appeal if there are any issues with your initial determination.
This is really reassuring to hear from someone who works directly with benefits! I've been putting off filing because I was so confused by all the requirements, but you're right - I should just go ahead and apply online. Quick question - when you say there's a waiting period, does that mean I should file even if I'm still looking for work, or should I wait until I've been unemployed for a certain amount of time?
Join the conversation
UPDATE: I FINALLY got through!!! Used a combination of the advice here. Called the appeals number at 7:56am, mentioned the "economic hardship expedite request" specifically, and they transferred me to someone who could help! My claim was stuck because of a verification issue with my last employer. They're releasing the payments within 3-5 business days. THANK YOU all for the help - would still be stuck without these tips!
Great to hear! The expedited hardship flag makes a big difference in the current backlog. For anyone else reading this with similar issues, remember to check your message center regularly after requesting assistance, as some departments will send follow-up questions there rather than calling.
So happy you got through! It's crazy how difficult they make this process. I wish they'd fix the system instead of making us jump through all these hoops!
Congratulations Lucas! This gives me hope - I've been stuck in the same situation for about 6 weeks now. Going to try that exact combination tomorrow morning (appeals number at 7:56am + mentioning the hardship expedite request). Quick question - when you called the appeals number, did you immediately ask to be transferred to regular claims, or did you go through their initial questions first? Want to make sure I approach it the right way when I finally get someone on the phone.
@ConnorGallagher When I got through to the appeals line, I was honest right away - told them I was calling about a pending regular claim but couldn't get through on the main line. I mentioned the economic hardship situation immediately and asked if they could help or transfer me. The agent was actually really understanding and said they get these calls a lot. She asked for my claim number and SSN to pull up my case, then was able to see the issue and fix it directly without having to transfer me. I think being upfront about the situation and mentioning the hardship expedite request right away is what made the difference. Good luck tomorrow!
Join the conversation
Ugh the whole system is so broken. Been waiting 3 months for my appeal hearing and still nothing. At least you're only at 6 weeks - consider yourself lucky! The NYS Department of Labor is completely overwhelmed and understaffed.
I'm going through something similar right now - been waiting 5 weeks for my adjudication to complete. What I've learned from calling (took me days to get through) is that most reviews happen because employers contest the claim or there's a discrepancy in the separation reason. The rep told me that warehouse/retail layoffs are especially scrutinized because employers sometimes claim "performance issues" instead of admitting it was a true layoff. Have you tried logging into your NY.gov account to see if there are any employer protest documents? Sometimes they show up there even if you don't get notified. Also definitely keep certifying weekly like others said - that's crucial for getting your back pay when this finally resolves.
Thanks for the tip about checking NY.gov for employer protest documents! I didn't even know that was a thing. Just logged in and sure enough, there's a document from my former employer dated about 3 weeks ago - right when my payments stopped. It looks like they're claiming I was terminated for "attendance issues" instead of the layoff they told me about. This is completely false - I was one of 12 people laid off due to reduced contracts. Do you know what I should do now that I found this? Should I gather my attendance records or wait for them to contact me?
Join the conversation
This thread has been incredibly helpful! I'm also laid off and considering starting freelance marketing work. Reading through everyone's experiences, it sounds like the main takeaways are: 1) Be completely transparent and report everything, 2) Keep detailed records, 3) Consider timing of business activities to maintain "availability for work" status, and 4) Look into SEAP if you want to go full-time on the business. The insider info from Lucas about the dedicated business line (1-888-581-5812) is amazing - I'm definitely calling that number instead of the main line. Has anyone here successfully transitioned from unemployment to full-time self-employment through this process? I'm curious about the long-term success stories and whether the business income eventually replaced the unemployment benefits for people.
Great summary of all the key points! I'm actually in week 12 of this process and can share that it's definitely working out. Started with small freelance projects while being super careful about reporting everything, and my consulting income has grown to about 60% of what my unemployment benefits cover. Planning to transition off unemployment completely in the next month or two as client work picks up. The key really has been that detailed record-keeping everyone mentioned - I track every hour worked, every dollar earned, and every job application I submit. The business line Lucas shared has been a lifesaver when I've had questions. One thing I'd add is to keep screenshots of your weekly certifications showing you reported business income correctly - gives you proof you were transparent if any issues come up later. The whole process has been way less scary than I expected once I understood the rules!
I'm in a similar situation to many here - got laid off from my job in finance two months ago and have been thinking about starting a small bookkeeping service while collecting unemployment. This thread has been incredibly eye-opening! I had no idea about the "availability for work" distinction that Lucas mentioned - I was only focused on the income reporting part. The fact that unpaid business activities during business hours could still affect eligibility is something I definitely need to factor in. I'm going to call that dedicated business line (1-888-581-5812) tomorrow to get official guidance before I do anything. Has anyone here had experience specifically with service-based businesses like bookkeeping or accounting while on unemployment? I'm wondering if there are any industry-specific considerations I should be aware of. Also planning to look into the SEAP program since several people mentioned it - sounds like it could be perfect for my situation if I can get accepted. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences, this is exactly the kind of real-world advice you can't find on the official websites!
I can share some insights about service-based businesses from my experience! I started doing freelance accounting work while on unemployment last year. The good news is that service businesses like bookkeeping are generally viewed favorably because they demonstrate marketable skills and don't require huge upfront investments. However, you'll want to be extra careful about client meetings and work hours since bookkeeping often involves regular scheduled work that could conflict with interview availability. I found it helpful to be upfront with potential clients that I could only meet/work during certain hours due to my job search activities. Also, consider how you'll handle tax season if you're doing bookkeeping - that's when demand spikes but it might also be when you're busiest with job interviews. The SEAP program could be perfect for your situation since it would eliminate the availability restrictions. Definitely call that business line Lucas shared - they were really helpful when I had questions about client confidentiality requirements and how they intersect with unemployment reporting. Good luck!
Ravi Patel
I've been dealing with similar payment status confusion on my.ny.gov for months now! One thing that really helped me was setting up text notifications through the DOL system - you can enable them in your account settings under "Communication Preferences." They'll send you updates when your claim is processed or if there are any issues. It's not perfect but at least you get notified instead of constantly checking the website. Also, I learned that payments typically get released between 2-4 AM on Wednesday mornings, so if you don't see it by Thursday, that's when you know something is definitely wrong and need to call.
0 coins
Kiara Fisherman
•This is really useful information about setting up text notifications! I didn't even know that was an option. Just went into my account settings and enabled the communication preferences - hopefully that will save me from obsessively checking the website every few hours. The timing info about payments being released between 2-4 AM on Wednesdays is also super helpful to know. I've been checking randomly throughout the day but now I know when to actually expect updates. Thanks for sharing these tips!
0 coins
Carmen Flores
I've been through this exact same frustration with the NYS DOL system! One thing that really helped me was downloading the mobile app instead of using the website - it seems to update more consistently and shows payment status more accurately. Also, if you're having trouble with the job search verification that @Tami Morgan mentioned, make sure you're submitting it in the exact format they want. I had to resubmit mine because I used bullet points instead of numbered entries. The whole system is definitely clunky but once you figure out these little quirks it gets easier to navigate.
0 coins