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 going through this exact same nightmare! Been stuck for 5 days trying to upload my separation paperwork and it's driving me crazy. Thank you everyone for sharing such detailed solutions - this is way more helpful than anything on the official NYS site. I'm going to try the full systematic approach tomorrow: Chrome incognito mode, compress files to 300-400KB range, super simple file names like "separation.pdf", upload at 6 AM sharp, and force myself to wait 2 full minutes between attempts even though it'll be torture. Also going to switch to ethernet instead of WiFi for stability. It's absolutely insane that uploading basic documents requires a PhD in troubleshooting, but at least now I have hope instead of just banging my head against the wall. Really appreciate this community for figuring out what actually works when the official system is so broken!
You've definitely got the right game plan! I just went through this exact same frustration a few weeks ago and that systematic approach is what finally broke through for me. One thing I'd add - when you're doing those 2-minute waits between attempts, resist the urge to refresh the page or click around on other parts of the site. Just leave the upload page open and wait patiently. I made the mistake of navigating away during the wait times and I think it reset something on the backend that made subsequent attempts fail. Also, have all your compressed files ready to go before you start the 6 AM upload session - don't try to compress and rename files in real time while you're uploading. The ethernet connection tip is brilliant too, WiFi hiccups during upload can definitely cause failures. It's absolutely ridiculous that we need a whole battle strategy just to submit basic paperwork, but you're going to get through this! The fact that you have a clear plan puts you way ahead of where I was when I started this process.
I'm having this exact same problem right now! Been trying to upload my unemployment documents for 4 days and getting nowhere. This thread is a goldmine of actual solutions - way better than the useless "try again later" advice from the official help pages. Going to implement the systematic approach everyone's talking about: Chrome browser in incognito mode, compress files down to 300-400KB, simple naming like "id.pdf" with no spaces or special characters, upload during the 6-7 AM window when traffic is low, and wait 2 minutes between each attempt. Also switching to wired ethernet for stability. It's crazy that we need a whole technical strategy just to upload basic paperwork to a government site, but I'm so grateful this community figured out what actually works when the system is this broken. Setting my alarm for 6 AM tomorrow to give this a shot - fingers crossed!
I'm so glad you found this thread helpful! I went through this exact same frustration just last month and felt completely helpless until I discovered all these community workarounds. Your systematic approach sounds perfect - the combination of Chrome incognito, ultra-compressed files (that 300-400KB range really is the sweet spot), simple file naming, early morning timing, and ethernet connection should definitely give you the best shot at success. One small tip I'd add: make sure to completely restart your computer before that 6 AM upload session, not just close the browser. Sometimes there are background processes that can interfere with the upload even in incognito mode. Also, have a backup plan ready - if the first attempt doesn't work, don't get discouraged and try again the next morning rather than repeatedly attempting the same day. The system seems to remember failed attempts and gets even more finicky. It's absolutely ridiculous that uploading basic government documents requires this level of technical expertise, but you've got a solid battle plan now. Looking forward to hearing your success story!
Join the conversation
unpopular opinion: the ny unemployment website crashes are intentional to reduce the number of people who can successfully claim benefits. they know exactly what they're doing 👀
I've been saying this for months! It's like they design the system to be as frustrating as possible so people just give up. Classic government BS.
facts. they make it way harder than it needs to be. notice how the tax payment website NEVER crashes? 🤔
I feel your pain! I went through this exact nightmare 2 months ago. After days of website crashes and busy signals, I finally got through using a combination of things: 1) Called the automated certification line at 1-888-581-5812 around 6am (way less busy), 2) Used Firefox browser in incognito mode for the website attempts, and 3) When I absolutely needed to speak to someone about a complex issue, I used Claimyr - skeptical at first but they actually connected me to a live DOL agent in under an hour. The whole system is broken but don't give up! Document everything in case they try to claim you missed deadlines due to their technical failures. You've got this! 💪
Join the conversation
I just went through the partial unemployment application process with NYS Department of Labor a few months ago when my retail hours got cut. Here's what I learned: You apply the same way as regular unemployment, but when you file your weekly claims you'll report your part-time earnings. The system automatically calculates your partial benefit. One thing that confused me at first - you report your gross earnings (before taxes) for the week you actually worked, not when you got paid. So if you worked Monday-Friday but didn't get your paycheck until the following week, you still report those earnings for the week you worked. Also keep all your pay stubs because they may ask for documentation later. The online system at my.ny.gov can be glitchy but it's usually better than trying to call. Good luck!
This is really helpful, thank you! The timing of when to report earnings was something I was wondering about. So just to clarify - if I work Monday through Friday of one week but don't get paid until the following Tuesday, I report those earnings on the weekly claim for the week I actually worked, not the week I received the paycheck? And do you remember roughly how long it took for your first partial payment to come through after you started filing?
I'm in a similar situation - my hours got reduced at my restaurant job and I'm trying to figure out the partial unemployment process. From what I've gathered reading through these comments, it sounds like the key things are: 1) Apply for regular unemployment first to establish your weekly benefit amount, 2) Report your part-time earnings accurately each week when you file claims, 3) You can earn up to your weekly benefit amount plus $50 before losing all benefits, and 4) The job search requirements are more relaxed since you're already working. @Omar Farouk thanks for the tip about reporting earnings for the week worked vs. when paid - that's exactly the kind of detail that would trip me up! Has anyone here had experience with how long the initial application process takes for partial benefits compared to regular unemployment?
Great summary @Fatima Al-Farsi! I'm also dealing with reduced hours at my job and found this thread super helpful. From what I've been reading on the NY.gov site, the initial application process for partial unemployment is the same timeline as regular unemployment - usually takes about 2-3 weeks to get your first payment if everything goes smoothly. The tricky part seems to be making sure you report your earnings correctly each week. I'm still confused about one thing though - if my hours vary week to week (like some weeks I get 20 hours, other weeks 30), do I need to report those different amounts each time I file my weekly claim?
Join the conversation
I went through this exact situation on my H1B about 6 months ago. Yes, you're absolutely eligible! The process was pretty straightforward - I just needed to upload my I-797 approval notice and EAD card like you mentioned. One thing to note is that you'll need to be actively searching for work and available to accept suitable employment, which shouldn't be an issue since you're authorized to work. Also, make sure to file your claim as soon as possible since there's usually a one-week waiting period before benefits start. The weekly benefit amount is based on your previous earnings, so with 2 years of tech salary you should get a decent amount. Don't let the stress get to you - you've been paying into the system and you deserve these benefits!
Thank you so much for sharing your experience! It's really reassuring to hear from someone who went through the same situation recently. I'm definitely going to file as soon as possible - didn't know about the one-week waiting period. Did you have any issues with the job search requirements while on H1B? I'm wondering if there are any restrictions on what types of jobs I can apply to or if I need to stick to positions that match my visa category.
@Fatima Al-Qasimi Great question about job search requirements! From my understanding, as an H1B holder you should be able to apply for any position that matches your skill level and experience, not just jobs that specifically match your visa category. The unemployment system looks at whether you re'genuinely seeking work that you re'qualified for. However, I d'recommend double-checking this with the DOL when you file your claim, since immigration and unemployment rules can interact in complex ways. Also, keep detailed records of your job search activities since you ll'need to report them weekly. Good luck with your claim!
I'm a former immigration paralegal and wanted to add some important details about H1B holders and unemployment benefits. While you are eligible as others have confirmed, there are a few critical things to keep in mind: 1) H1B holders typically have a 60-day grace period to find new employment or change status after job loss, so file your UI claim immediately to maximize your benefit period. 2) Make sure your employer properly notified USCIS of your termination - this affects your legal status timeline. 3) You can receive benefits while searching for work, but if you find a job with a different employer, they'll need to file a new H1B petition (unless it's a cap-exempt position). 4) Keep all your immigration documents updated and readily available since NYS DOL may request them for periodic eligibility reviews. The good news is that receiving unemployment benefits won't negatively impact future immigration applications. Best of luck with your claim!
This is incredibly helpful information, thank you! I had no idea about the 60-day grace period detail - that's definitely something I need to keep track of. Quick question: do you know if the grace period starts from the actual last day of work or from when the employer officially notifies USCIS? My last day was Friday but I'm not sure when HR will submit the termination notification. Also, when you mention "cap-exempt positions," are you referring to positions at universities, research institutions, and nonprofits? I want to make sure I understand all my options while collecting benefits.
Diego Fernández
Glad to hear you got it resolved! This is exactly why I always recommend calling KeyBank first when there are issues with new unemployment cards. They put security holds on probably 50% of new activations, especially for larger amounts like yours. For anyone else reading this thread with similar issues - the KeyBank number is usually much easier to get through to than NYSDOL, and they can resolve card-specific problems immediately. Thanks for updating us with the solution!
0 coins
Grace Patel
•This is really helpful advice! I'm new to this community and dealing with unemployment for the first time. It's good to know that KeyBank security holds are so common - I would have probably panicked and assumed something was wrong with my claim. The tip about calling KeyBank first instead of trying to reach NYSDOL makes a lot of sense too since they seem impossible to get through to. Thanks for sharing this insight for future people who might run into the same issue!
0 coins
AstroAce
As someone who just went through the NY unemployment process myself, I can't stress enough how important it is to save KeyBank's customer service number in your phone the moment you get your card. I had a similar scare when my first payment didn't show up - turned out to be a routine verification hold that took 5 minutes to resolve once I actually got through to them. The NYSDOL phone system is basically impossible, but KeyBank is usually pretty responsive. Also, pro tip: if you ever need to make a large withdrawal or purchase, call them first to let them know - they'll flag it as fraud otherwise and freeze your card at the worst possible moment!
0 coins