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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!
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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!
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- DO post questions about your issues.
- DO answer questions and support each other.
- DO post tips & tricks to help folks.
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I'm in a similar boat - filed my claim about 10 days ago and the waiting is killing me! One thing that's helped me stay somewhat sane is checking the NY Department of Labor website regularly for any updates on processing times or system issues. Sometimes they post notices about delays or maintenance that can explain why things are taking longer. Also, make sure you save copies of everything - your confirmation numbers, weekly certification receipts, any correspondence. I learned this tip from a friend who had to resubmit some stuff later because the system glitched. The uncertainty is the worst part but from what I'm reading here it sounds like 2-3 weeks is pretty normal for straightforward cases. We just have to hang in there!
That's great advice about saving copies of everything! I didn't think about the system potentially glitching and needing to resubmit documents. I've been screenshotting my weekly certifications just in case, but I should probably be more thorough about keeping records. The tip about checking the DOL website for processing updates is really smart too - I've just been obsessively checking my account status but haven't looked at their general announcements. It's definitely reassuring to know there are others going through the exact same timeline. This waiting period is so stressful but hearing everyone's experiences makes me feel like I'm on the right track at least!
I'm in week 2 of waiting after filing my claim and this thread is so helpful! I had no idea about the waiting week or that you should keep certifying even before getting approved. One thing I wanted to add - if you're really struggling with bills while waiting, check if your local social services office has emergency assistance programs. Some counties in NY have short-term help for rent/utilities while you're waiting for unemployment to kick in. Also, I've been keeping a little notebook tracking when I file my weekly claims and any confirmation numbers, which has helped me feel more organized during this stressful time. The uncertainty is brutal but it sounds like most people do eventually get through the process!
That's such a good point about emergency assistance programs - I hadn't even thought to look into that! I'm also in week 2 of waiting and the stress about bills is real. The notebook idea is brilliant too, I've been trying to keep track of everything in my head which is probably not the best system. Do you happen to know how to find out which counties have those emergency programs? I'm in Nassau County and could really use some help with my electric bill while I wait for unemployment to process. Thanks for sharing your experience - it's so reassuring to know others are in the same timeline!
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Wait can someone clarify - do you still have to do the weekly claims online even if you apply by phone? Or can you do those by phone too? I'm so confused about this whole process.
Good question! You can file your weekly claims by phone too. Same number - 1-888-209-8124. But most people find the online weekly claims much faster once they get the hang of it.
Hey Andre! I just went through this exact situation a few months ago when my computer died right after I got laid off. The phone application definitely works, but here's what I wish someone had told me: call RIGHT when they open at 8 AM for the best chance of getting through. I also recommend having a notepad ready because they'll ask for specific dates and wage information that you might not remember off the top of your head. The agent I spoke with was really patient and helpful, so don't worry about not being tech-savvy - they're used to walking people through everything step by step. Good luck!
Thanks for the detailed advice! That's super helpful about calling right at 8 AM - I was planning to call in the afternoon but sounds like mornings are way better. Quick question - when you say specific dates and wage information, do you mean like exact start/end dates for each job? I have my W-2s but not sure if I have all the exact dates memorized.
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Just joining this thread as someone who's been battling the same issue all morning! Been trying to certify since 5am and kept getting that frustrating "systems currently not available" error. I'm relatively new to NY unemployment after moving here from Pennsylvania, and honestly had no idea Monday mornings were this much of a disaster zone! Finally got through about 30 minutes ago using the cellular data + incognito mode trick that so many of you have mentioned. Had to turn off WiFi completely, clear my browser cache, use Chrome's incognito window, and wait about 45 seconds between each attempt. Took me 7 tries but persistence paid off! It's honestly mind-boggling that in 2025 we need these elaborate workarounds just to access basic government services. Coming from PA where their system had occasional hiccups but nothing like this weekly Monday meltdown, this has been quite the learning curve. Really grateful for this community sharing all these solutions though - you all literally helped me avoid a financial crisis this week. Definitely saving this entire thread as my "Monday Morning NY Unemployment Survival Guide" because it's clear this is going to be a regular battle! Thanks everyone for the solidarity and practical help 🙏
Welcome to NY from PA! I'm also pretty new to this system and it's been such a shock coming from a state where things actually worked most of the time 😅 So glad the cellular + incognito trick worked for you after 7 tries - that persistence really paid off! I just got through myself using the same method after reading all these helpful tips. It's absolutely crazy that we need to become IT troubleshooters just to file for basic benefits, but this community sharing solutions has been amazing. I'm definitely bookmarking this whole thread too as my "Monday Morning Survival Kit" because it's clear we're all going to need these workarounds again next week. Thanks for sharing your detailed experience - it helps knowing we're all in this together figuring out how to navigate this broken system! 🤞
Just wanted to jump in and share my experience as someone who's been dealing with this exact same nightmare all morning! I started trying to certify at 6am and kept hitting that dreaded "systems currently not available" error message over and over. I'm pretty new to NY unemployment after relocating here from Colorado, and I had absolutely no idea that Monday morning crashes were basically a weekly tradition here - what a rude awakening! After reading through all the incredibly helpful tips in this thread, I finally managed to get through about an hour ago using the cellular data + incognito mode combo that so many people have mentioned. The key was completely turning off my WiFi (not just disconnecting), clearing my browser cache, opening Chrome in incognito mode, and then waiting about 30-45 seconds between each attempt when I got the error message. It took me 5 tries but I finally got my certification submitted! It's absolutely mind-blowing that in 2025 we need to become amateur IT specialists just to access basic government services that we're legally entitled to. Coming from Colorado where their system had occasional glitches but nothing like this systematic Monday meltdown, this has been quite the learning experience. But honestly, this community sharing real solutions has been incredible - you all literally helped me avoid missing rent this week. I'm definitely bookmarking this entire thread as my "NY Unemployment Monday Morning Survival Guide" because it's crystal clear this is going to be a recurring battle. Thanks to everyone who took the time to share what worked for them - the solidarity here is amazing and we're all just trying to keep our heads above water! 🙏
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This thread has been incredibly helpful! I work at a local library and we get so many people coming in asking for help with unemployment issues just like this. I'm definitely going to save this information to share with patrons who are struggling with the same problems. The ID.me verification step seems to trip up a lot of people - we've had several folks come in frustrated because they couldn't figure out why their documents wouldn't upload. It's great to see the community coming together to share these solutions. I might even print out a simple guide based on this thread to keep at our reference desk since this seems to be such a common issue. Thank you all for sharing your experiences and helping each other navigate this complicated system!
That's such a wonderful service you're providing at the library! Public libraries are often the unsung heroes for people dealing with digital bureaucracy like this. Having a printed guide would be amazing - so many people don't have reliable internet at home or aren't comfortable navigating these complex online systems. You could maybe include the step-by-step ID.me process, the best calling times people have mentioned, and even some of the error messages to watch out for. Libraries filling this gap between government services and the people who need them most is exactly what community support should look like!
This is such a valuable thread! I've been helping my elderly neighbor with her unemployment claim and we ran into the exact same ID.me verification roadblock. What's really frustrating is that the NY unemployment website doesn't clearly explain that this is a mandatory first step - we spent days trying to upload documents before realizing the ID.me verification was blocking everything. The error messages are so vague too. After reading through everyone's experiences here, I'm going to help her complete the ID.me process this weekend and hopefully that resolves it. If not, we'll definitely try that Claimyr service that several people have had success with. It's really sad that we need these workarounds, but I'm grateful this community exists to share these solutions. Thank you everyone for taking the time to help strangers navigate this broken system!
You're so kind to help your neighbor with this! The ID.me verification really is the hidden step that trips everyone up. I think NY unemployment implemented it to reduce fraud but they did a terrible job explaining it to claimants. When I was helping my aunt last year, we also wasted so much time because the error messages just say "verification required" without explaining what kind of verification or where to do it. Definitely try the ID.me process first - that alone might solve everything. And if you do end up needing to call, I've found that having all the ID.me confirmation details ready (like the verification timestamp) can speed things up when you finally get through to an agent. Your neighbor is lucky to have someone patient enough to help navigate this maze!
Drew Hathaway
I'm in a similar situation and have been trying to call the NYS Department of Labor for weeks to ask about benefit amounts but can never get through! The phone lines are always busy and when I do get in the queue I get disconnected. Has anyone found a better way to reach them? This is so frustrating when you're trying to plan your finances.
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Laila Prince
•I had the same problem trying to reach NYS Department of Labor agents until someone told me about Claimyr (claimyr.com). They actually get you connected to the unemployment office without having to wait on hold forever. I used it last month and got through to an agent in like 10 minutes. There's a video demo at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI that shows how it works. Definitely worth checking out if you're stuck trying to get answers about your claim.
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Isabel Vega
just a heads up the weekly amounts change every year so make sure youre looking at 2025 rates not old info. also in nyc the cost of living is crazy so even the max barely covers rent but its better than nothing i guess
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Marcus Marsh
•@Isabel Vega so true about NYC rent! I m'paying $2800 for a 1BR in Brooklyn so even max benefits would only cover like half. Did you find any other assistance programs that helped bridge the gap? I m'wondering if there are emergency rental assistance programs still available or food assistance I should look into while I m'between jobs.
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