Just want to add another success story to give everyone hope! 🙌 Had the exact same issue when my phone got stolen last month - couldn't get verification codes and was totally locked out of my account for almost 3 weeks. What finally worked for me was a combination of strategies from this thread: 1. Called (888) 209-8124 at exactly 8:01 AM on a Wednesday 2. Got busy signal 3 times, immediately hung up and redialed each time 3. Got through on the 4th try around 8:08 AM 4. Agent updated my phone number in literally 3 minutes 5. She had me test login while still on the call to make sure everything worked The key is being ready with ALL your info - SSN, confirmation number, new phone written down beforehand. The agents work fast once you're connected! For anyone still struggling after trying the morning calls, that claimyr service really does work. My brother used it last week when the calling didn't work for him and got through within an hour for the $20. Don't give up y'all! The system is broken but these strategies actually work if you stay persistent. This community has been a lifesaver sharing all these tips! 💪

Just adding my experience to this incredibly helpful thread! Went through this exact same nightmare last month when I upgraded phones and forgot to update my info with unemployment first 🤦‍♂️ Tried the 8AM strategy after reading everyone's tips here and it actually worked! Called (888) 209-8124 at exactly 8:00 AM on a Thursday, got busy signal twice, then connected on the third try around 8:04 AM. The agent was super quick and professional - updated my phone number and had me test the login right there on the call to make sure the verification codes were working. Total time once connected was maybe 4 minutes. Having my SSN, confirmation number, and new phone number written down beforehand definitely made the difference. For anyone still trying - Wednesday and Thursday mornings really do seem to be the sweet spot based on what everyone's sharing here. And if all else fails, multiple people vouching for that claimyr service makes it seem like a solid backup plan. Thanks to everyone who shared their strategies in this thread - you literally saved me weeks of frustration! This is what community support should look like 🙌

Update: I was able to get my transaction history! I ended up following the advice to visit a KeyBank branch in person. The representative was really helpful and printed my complete history for free. For anyone else needing this, definitely try the in-person option if you can - it was much easier than dealing with phone systems. Thanks everyone for all your suggestions!

Glad you were able to get it sorted out! For future reference, I've found that KeyBank branches are usually way more helpful than their phone support. The in-person staff actually seem to understand the unemployment card system better too. Hopefully when NY switches to the new provider next year, we won't have to jump through all these hoops just to access our own transaction records!

From what I understand, they also have access to unemployment insurance wage records from other states if you've worked elsewhere recently. The databases are pretty interconnected now. I learned this when I had to report some part-time work I did in New Jersey while claiming benefits in NY - they caught the discrepancy during a routine audit even though I thought I was reporting correctly. The lesson is definitely to over-communicate rather than under-report anything, even if you're unsure about the requirements.

Just to add to what others have said - they also use something called the National Directory of New Hires, which is a federal database that tracks when people start new jobs across the country. So even if you get hired at a small company that might be slow with their state reporting, you could still get caught through the federal system. I learned this the hard way when I started a temp job and thought I could wait until my first paycheck to report it. Got a letter from DOL asking about unreported work before I even got paid! Now I report everything the moment I accept any work, even if it's just a one-day gig.

Yeah definitely file right away. I think there's like a 1 week waiting period too so you want to get that clock started as soon as possible after your last day of work.

I went through this same situation last year and can confirm what everyone is saying - file immediately! The NYS Department of Labor website at labor.ny.gov has a pretty straightforward online application. You'll need your SSN, last employer's info, and your last day worked. Don't overthink it - the application asks for basic info and you can always provide additional documents if they request them later. The worst thing you can do is delay and miss out on benefits you're entitled to. Your supervisor was right about timing being crucial!

sorry about ur job, that sucks. yeah file asap, dont wait around

Hey Carmen, really sorry to hear about your job loss - that's always stressful. Everyone's given you good advice about filing immediately, but I wanted to add a couple practical tips: When you apply online, try to do it early in the morning or late at night when the system is less busy. Also, keep copies of everything you submit and screenshot confirmation pages. The NY system can be glitchy sometimes. And don't forget you'll need to certify for benefits every week even during that waiting period. Hang in there - you've got this!