NYS Department of Labor offices operate Monday-Friday, typically 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM. However, the online system is accessible 24/7 for weekly claims, checking claim status, and uploading required documents. If you specifically need to speak with an agent and can't call during business hours, there's a service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that can help you get through to NYS Department of Labor representatives. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI showing how it works.

The whole system is so outdated anyway. Why can't they just have extended hours like other government services? Some of us have jobs and can't call during their precious 9-5 window.

The 26 week thing is true but honestly the whole system is designed to discourage you from using it. They make the job search requirements more and more ridiculous, the website crashes constantly, and don't even get me started on trying to reach anyone by phone. I burned through my 26 weeks mostly fighting with their system instead of actually job hunting.

same boat here! just started collecting last month too. good luck with the job search, hopefully we both find something soon before the 26 weeks runs out

Just wanted to add that even if your employer does contest your claim, don't panic! I went through this last year when my former employer tried to claim I was fired for poor performance (which wasn't true - I was actually laid off). The adjudication process took about 3 weeks, but NYS Department of Labor was thorough and fair. They asked for my side of the story, looked at my employment records, and ultimately approved my benefits. The key is to respond promptly to any requests for information and be honest about what happened. Document everything you can about your layoff - emails, notices, anything that shows it was due to budget cuts rather than your performance.

Based on what everyone's shared here, it sounds like you should be fine since you were laid off due to budget cuts. That's exactly the type of separation unemployment benefits are designed for. The "under review" status is totally normal - they're probably just waiting for the standard response period from your employer to pass. Most employers don't waste time contesting legitimate layoffs since they'd need actual documentation to support their case. Keep checking your account regularly and make sure your contact info is up to date in case they need any additional information from you. The whole process can feel stressful when you're waiting, but layoffs for budget reasons are pretty straightforward cases.

Guys I just had a similar issue last week and i wnated to add that if your waiting for a call back make sure your phone isn't blocking unknown numbers. NYSDOL calls show up as unknown and I missed their call twice because of that lol. And they don't leave voicemails either which is super annoying

I've been in a similar situation and what finally worked for me was using multiple strategies at once. First, try the Claimyr service that @Klaus Schmidt mentioned - it really does work and saved me from getting disconnected constantly. Second, while you're waiting for that, definitely reach out to your assembly member's office like @Yuki Tanaka suggested. I called mine and they had someone from DOL call me back within 48 hours. Also, make sure you have all your documentation ready - claim number, correspondence reference numbers, and a clear summary of your issue written down. The agents can fix things quickly if you have everything organized. Don't give up - the system is frustrating but there are ways to get through!

UPDATE: Got it fixed! Ended up using that Claimyr service someone mentioned to get through to an agent. Turns out there was a mismatch between how my name was entered in the NYSDOL system and my Chime account (I had my middle initial on one but not the other). The agent manually approved my direct deposit and said it should be working for my next payment. Thanks everyone for your help!

Congrats on getting it sorted out! I had a similar name mismatch issue with my Capital One account last year. It's crazy how picky these government systems are about exact formatting. For anyone else reading this thread - definitely check that your name, address, and account details match EXACTLY between your bank and unemployment accounts. Even something as small as "Jr." vs "Junior" can cause problems. The verification systems have no flexibility at all.