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
I'm in a really similar situation and this thread is giving me both anxiety and hope at the same time! My benefit year ends in December and I've been dreading this moment for months. I worked at a hotel for about 6 weeks during the summer making around $1,900 total, which I was convinced wouldn't be enough to qualify for anything. But reading through all these experiences, especially the stories from people who qualified when they thought they wouldn't, is making me realize I might have been too pessimistic. The whole base period calculation thing is way more confusing than I thought, and it sounds like they might look at earnings from before my original claim too. What's really hitting home for me is how many people are saying you absolutely MUST talk to a real person to get accurate information. I've been trying to call for over a month with no success - just busy signals and hangups. After seeing all the success stories with Claimyr here, I think I need to seriously consider it. The stress of not knowing is honestly worse than whatever it costs. I'm definitely going to file a new claim when my benefit year ends, even though I'm scared of getting rejected. This community has shown me that you really never know until you try, and the worst they can say is no. Thanks to everyone for sharing - it's making this whole process feel way less lonely and hopeless!
Welcome to the community! I'm actually pretty new here too and this thread has been such an incredible resource. Your situation with the hotel work sounds really similar to what a lot of us are dealing with - that fear that our part-time earnings won't be enough, but then reading stories like Isabella's where people qualified when they least expected it. The $1,900 you made might be more helpful than you think, especially if they're looking at different base periods like people mentioned. I had no idea about any of this stuff before finding this thread! I totally get the anxiety about calling - I've been putting it off for weeks because the thought of more busy signals and hangups is so frustrating. But seeing how many people here had success with Claimyr is really making me consider it too. At some point the stress of not knowing becomes worse than just paying to get through to someone who can give real answers. You're definitely doing the right thing by planning to file regardless. This whole conversation has really driven home that the system is way more complex than any of us realized, and you truly won't know until you try. Fingers crossed for both of us! Let's all keep each other updated on how our claims go.
I'm in almost exactly the same situation and this thread has been such a relief to find! My benefit year ends in late October and I've been absolutely panicking about what happens next. I worked part-time at a temp agency for about 9 weeks during my benefit year and made around $2,200 total. Like so many others here, I assumed that wouldn't be nearly enough to qualify for a new claim. But reading through everyone's experiences, especially the success stories from people who thought they'd be denied but actually qualified, is giving me real hope. I had no idea about the complexity of base period calculations or that they might look at earnings from before my original claim. The whole Section 596 thing is completely new to me too. What's really standing out is how critical it is to actually speak with a representative instead of trying to figure this out online. I've been calling for weeks with zero success - just endless busy signals. After seeing so many people here recommend Claimyr and share their success stories, I think I need to seriously consider it. The stress and uncertainty at this point is honestly worse than whatever the cost would be. This community is providing way more useful information than months of trying to navigate the official website. I'm definitely going to file a new claim when my benefit year ends, even though I'm nervous about it. Reading everyone's stories has made me realize you really don't know until you try, and there might be more options available than any of us initially thought. Thanks to everyone for sharing your experiences - it's making this whole scary process feel much less isolating!
Join the conversation
I'm currently dealing with week 2 of pending status and feeling overwhelmed by the whole process, but this thread has been incredibly reassuring! @Sean Kelly congratulations on getting your backpay finally - hearing that it was an employer verification issue that wasn't communicated really puts things in perspective. My former employer has been slow with paperwork too, so that could definitely be what's happening with my claim. @Emma Wilson the Office of Special Investigations complaint option is completely new information to me - thank you for sharing that resource! @Giovanni Mancini I'm definitely going to start documenting everything systematically from now on, including reference numbers and call times. It's both frustrating and comforting to see how many people have dealt with this exact same situation. I'm planning to contact my assembly person early next week based on all the success stories shared here. This community has already provided more actionable guidance than anything I've found through official channels. Really appreciate everyone taking the time to share what actually works!
@Ava Martinez You re'catching this early at week 2 - that s'actually great timing to get ahead of the issue! This thread has been such a valuable resource for all of us dealing with NY unemployment problems. @Sean Kelly @Emma Wilson @Giovanni Mancini the advice shared here is pure gold compared to the official channels that just leave you hanging. @Ava Martinez definitely stay on top of that employer paperwork situation since that seems to be the hidden culprit behind so many pending claims based on everyone s experiences. The assembly person'route has consistently shown results, so you re smart to plan that'contact for next week. Starting the systematic documentation now is brilliant too - you ll be way ahead of'the game compared to those of us who figured this out weeks into the process! This community really has cracked the code on navigating this broken system. Looking forward to hearing about your progress and hopefully adding another success story to this thread!
This thread has been absolutely incredible - I'm bookmarking it as the ultimate resource for NY unemployment issues! I'm not currently dealing with a claim myself, but after reading through all these experiences, I feel like I have a complete action plan if I ever need it. @Sean Kelly your success story is so encouraging, and the employer verification revelation explains so much about why these claims get stuck in limbo without any communication. @Emma Wilson the Office of Special Investigations complaint option is brilliant - I never would have known that existed. @Giovanni Mancini the systematic documentation advice is spot on and something everyone should implement from day one. It's amazing how this community has collectively figured out what actually works while the official system leaves people completely in the dark. The assembly person route seems to be the consistent winner based on all these success stories. This thread should honestly be turned into a guide and shared widely - it contains more practical solutions than the entire NYSDOL website! Thank you everyone for taking the time to share your real experiences and what actually moved the needle. This is exactly the kind of community support that makes a difference when people are stuck in bureaucratic nightmares.
@Jamal Edwards I completely agree - this thread should be the official unofficial guide to NY unemployment survival! I m'also not currently dealing with a claim but I m'definitely saving all this wisdom for future reference. @Sean Kelly @Emma Wilson @Giovanni Mancini the collective knowledge you ve all shared here'is invaluable and way more practical than anything from official sources. It s incredible how the'community has reverse-engineered the actual solutions while NYSDOL just leaves people spinning their wheels. The employer verification issue seems to be such a common silent problem that nobody talks about officially. @Jamal Edwards you re absolutely right that this'deserves to be shared more widely - imagine how many people are stuck right now not knowing about the assembly person route or the Office of Special Investigations option. This is exactly why community forums like this are so important when official systems fail people. Really grateful to everyone who took the time to document their experiences and what actually worked!
Join the conversation
Just wanted to follow up for anyone still checking this thread - I experienced the same delay last week and it resolved exactly as others described. My payment showed up Wednesday morning instead of the usual Tuesday. The key thing I learned is to check the desktop version of the NY.gov unemployment portal rather than just the mobile app, since system notifications are more visible there. Also, if this happens again in the future, don't panic immediately - give it 48 hours during system maintenance periods before calling. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences here, it really helped calm my nerves!
Thanks for sharing this follow-up! I'm actually going through this exact situation right now - claimed Sunday and still nothing showing up. Your advice about checking the desktop version is really helpful, I've only been using the mobile app. It's reassuring to know this is a recurring issue during maintenance periods rather than something wrong with my specific claim. I'll wait until Wednesday morning before calling and check the desktop portal for any system notices I might have missed.
I'm dealing with this exact same issue right now! Claimed on Sunday as usual and it's now Tuesday afternoon with absolutely nothing in my payment history. Reading through all these comments is such a relief - I was starting to think there was something wrong with my account specifically. I'll definitely check the desktop version of the portal like @Julia Hall suggested since I've only been using the mobile app. It's frustrating that they don't make these system maintenance announcements more visible, but at least now I know to wait until Wednesday morning before panicking. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences!
Join the conversation
make sure you understand the difference between unemployment insurance and workers comp too - totally separate systems. UI goes to NYS Department of Labor, workers comp is different. I mixed them up my first year and got behind on payments.
Good point! I was wondering about that. So unemployment tax is just for when people get laid off or fired, not injured on the job?
exactly. unemployment is for job loss, workers comp is for injuries. completely different agencies and payment systems.
As someone who just went through setting up unemployment insurance for my small consulting firm, I can add a few practical tips. The NYS Department of Labor online portal is actually pretty helpful once you get registered - you can see your quarterly statements, payment history, and current rate there. One thing that caught me off guard was that you need to report new hires within a certain timeframe, and if you miss deadlines on payments there are penalties. Also, if you're seasonal or have irregular staffing, consider how that might affect your experience rating down the line. The initial paperwork is a bit overwhelming but it gets more routine once you're in the system.
Thanks for sharing your experience @Natasha Ivanova! The new hire reporting requirement is something I hadn't thought about. How quickly do you need to report new hires to NYS Department of Labor? And are there specific forms or is it all done through the online portal? I want to make sure I don't mess up the compliance side when I start hiring employees.
Isabella Ferreira
As a freelance video editor who's been on unemployment for about 2 months, this discussion has been incredibly enlightening! I've been sitting on the sidelines turning down potential editing projects because I was terrified of making a mistake with my benefits. The detailed breakdown everyone has provided about the 25% earnings threshold, hour limits, and quarterly tracking has given me the confidence to finally start taking on some work. I'm particularly grateful for the practical tips about record-keeping - I'm going to create that comprehensive tracking spreadsheet immediately with columns for all the details people mentioned. One thing I'm curious about that I haven't seen addressed yet: how do you handle projects that span multiple weeks? For example, if I take on a documentary editing project that will involve 15 hours of work spread over 3 weeks, do I report the hours for the specific weeks when I actually do the work, or do I need to somehow average it out? Also, for those who've been doing this successfully, have you found that having freelance income affects your job search requirements at all? I want to make sure I'm still meeting all the job search activities while also managing client work. Thanks again to everyone for sharing such valuable insights!
0 coins
Miles Hammonds
•@Isabella Ferreira Great question about multi-week projects! You should report the hours for the specific weeks when you actually perform the work, not averaged out. So if you work 5 hours in week 1, 7 hours in week 2, and 3 hours in week 3 on that documentary project, you d'report exactly those hours for each respective week. This is important because NYS Department of Labor evaluates your eligibility week by week based on actual work performed during that specific certification period. As for job search requirements, having freelance work doesn t'change the minimum requirement of 3 job search activities per week, but you do need to remain available for potential interviews and work opportunities. I d'suggest blocking out specific days/times for freelance work while keeping other times available for interviews. Also, make sure your freelance schedule doesn t'prevent you from accepting a full-time job offer if one comes up - that could affect your available "for work status." The key is treating job searching as your primary activity and freelance work as supplemental income while you find permanent employment.
0 coins
Michael Adams
I'm a freelance marketing consultant who just started unemployment last week, and I cannot thank everyone enough for this incredibly detailed discussion! Reading through all these experiences has completely changed my understanding of how freelance work and unemployment benefits can work together. I was literally about to turn down a potential client because I thought ANY work would disqualify me from benefits. Now I understand it's all about proper reporting and staying within the thresholds. I'm going to implement every suggestion here: create that tracking spreadsheet with all the columns mentioned, keep both digital and physical records, be conservative with time estimates, and most importantly think quarterly not just weekly. The point about quarterly reviews potentially flagging consistent high earnings even if you're compliant week-to-week is something I never would have considered but seems crucial. One question I have - for those doing consulting work, how do you handle retainer agreements where clients pay you a monthly fee for ongoing availability/advice but the actual work hours vary week to week? Do you report the retainer payment in the week you receive it, or spread it across the weeks when you actually provide services? I want to make sure I structure any retainer deals properly from the start. Thanks again everyone - this community is an absolute goldmine of practical advice!
0 coins
Aisha Hussain
•@Michael Adams Great question about retainer agreements! From my experience as a freelance graphic designer, you should report retainer payments based on when you actually perform the work, not when you receive payment. So if a client pays you $1000 monthly retainer but you only do 5 hours of actual work in week 1 and 10 hours in week 2, you d'estimate the earnings for those specific weeks based on your hourly rate and actual time worked. For example, if your effective hourly rate is $50, you d'report $250 for week 1 and $500 for week 2. The key is tracking your actual work hours each week and calculating a proportional earnings amount. I d'recommend being very detailed in your tracking spreadsheet about what specific work you did each week to justify the earnings allocation. Also, make sure your retainer agreements specify that you re'an independent contractor providing services on an as-needed basis, not an employee with set hours - this helps maintain the freelance classification for unemployment purposes. You might want to call NYS Department of Labor directly to confirm how they prefer retainer situations to be reported, since every arrangement can be a bit different.
0 coins