I feel your pain! The system is designed to make you give up. After trying everything, what worked for me was using claimyr.com to get through to an agent. It's basically a service that does the calling/waiting for you. They call when they get a human on the line. Talking to a real person fixed my issues that had been pending for over a month.

I'm dealing with the exact same nightmare right now - been trying for 2 weeks straight and it's driving me insane! I see a lot of people mentioning claimyr.com in the comments. Has anyone here actually used it recently? I'm desperate enough to try anything at this point but want to make sure it's legit before I spend money on it. The regular calling methods clearly aren't working for any of us. Really hoping someone can confirm this actually works because I'm running out of options and money fast 😰

Good luck with your appeal! The system is designed to discourage people but don't give up. Document everything and stay organized with your paperwork.

I went through a similar situation with NYS Department of Labor about 8 months ago. My advice: request all your personnel records from HR immediately if you haven't already. Also, if your company had any WARN notices or announcements about layoffs, those are gold for your case. The administrative law judge will want to see clear evidence that this was an economic layoff, not a performance issue. Don't wait - start gathering everything now since you're working against that 30-day deadline.

Wait, can you still file weekly claims while your appeal is pending? I'm confused about this part.

I just went through this same situation a few months ago. Make sure you write a detailed timeline of what happened leading up to your termination - include any performance reviews, emails, or documentation that shows you weren't given proper warnings. Also, if you have coworkers who witnessed the scheduling disagreement or can vouch for your work performance, ask them for written statements. The hearing officer will want to hear both sides, so having witnesses or documentation that contradicts their "misconduct" claim is really important. Good luck with your appeal!

For your specific situation with a claim pending for 3 weeks, I would recommend trying these three approaches simultaneously: 1. Call at precisely 8:00:00 AM using a landline if possible (more reliable connection) 2. Submit a detailed message through your online account specifying the 3-week delay 3. Contact your state assembly member's office - they have dedicated liaisons with NYSDOL who can often expedite claims that are stuck The third option is often overlooked but can be quite effective, especially for claims that have been pending beyond the standard processing window.

I feel your pain! I went through this exact same thing last year and it was absolutely maddening. One thing that helped me was using an auto-redial app on my phone so I didn't have to manually keep calling. I'd set it to redial every 30 seconds starting at 7:59 AM. Also, if you have multiple phones available (cell phone, landline, work phone), try calling from all of them simultaneously at 8:00 AM sharp - increases your odds of getting into that queue before it fills up. The system is definitely broken but don't give up! It took me 8 days of calling but I eventually got through and got my claim resolved.

Good news - I just checked the NYSDOL website and they've implemented a new processing system as of March 2025 that's supposed to expedite claims. According to their update, most eligible claims should now be receiving payments within 10 business days after the employer notification process. If you've been waiting longer than that, there's likely a specific issue with your claim that needs addressing. Keep trying to reach an agent, and in the meantime, check your message inbox on your NY.gov account for any notices requiring additional information.

One last tip - if you do manage to speak with an agent, be sure to ask them to note in your file that you're experiencing financial hardship due to rent being due. This specific notation can flag your claim for expedited processing in their system. Also ask them to check if there are any "non-monetary determinations" pending on your claim, as these are often invisible to you but can hold up payment.