Can't reach New York Unemployment? Claimyr calls for you, so you don't have to wait on hold.
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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
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 :)
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Has anyone else noticed that the unemployment website is always "under maintenance" when you need it most? 🙄 It's like they're trying to make this as difficult as possible!
Omg yes! I swear it's a conspiracy to reduce claims 😂
Nah, its probly just old tech that cant handle the volume. Still annoying af tho
I went through this exact same situation a few months ago! For the backdating reason, I explained that I was dealing with the stress of job loss and didn't realize I needed to file immediately. They accepted it without any issues. As for the "ready, willing, and able" question - just be honest about any days you genuinely couldn't work (like if you were sick or had interviews). If you've been available the whole time, put 0. The process took about 2-3 weeks for me, but I did get all my backdated payments. Don't overthink it too much - they deal with late filings all the time!
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Email your state senator AND your assembly person. I'm serious. I tried EVERYTHING to get through for 2 months. Called hundreds of times. Finally emailed my senator's office with my claim info and they had someone from DOL call me within 4 days.
This is lowkey the best advice. My assemblyperson's office got my issue fixed in a week when I couldn't get through for months.
CyberSamurai
I feel your pain - been in the exact same situation. After weeks of failed attempts, I finally got through using a combination of strategies. First, try calling at 7:58am sharp (not 8am) - the queue opens early. Second, if you have access to multiple phones, use them all to call simultaneously and take whichever one gets through first. Third, don't give up after the first "high call volume" message - immediately hang up and redial. I had to do this 50+ times one morning but finally got in the queue. Also try the Spanish line trick someone mentioned - press 2 for Spanish, then explain in English when you get through. The wait times are much shorter. Last resort: contact your local assembly member's office. They have direct lines to DOL and can often get your case escalated within days instead of months. Hang in there!
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Yara Assad
The whole system is ridiculous honestly. They make it so complicated to figure out if you qualify for anything. I had reduced hours for 3 months and never even knew partial unemployment was a thing until my coworker told me about it. Lost out on benefits I probably could have gotten. The NYS Department of Labor needs to do a better job explaining these programs!!
Ava Williams
•I agree the information could be clearer. That's why forums like this are helpful - people share real experiences about what actually works vs what the official websites say.
Just wanted to add that when you file for partial unemployment, make sure you understand how the earnings deduction works. In NY, they use a formula where they subtract 25% of your weekly earnings from your benefit amount. So if your weekly benefit is $200 and you earn $100 that week, you'd get $175 in unemployment ($200 - 25% of $100). This is different from some other states that have a straight dollar-for-dollar reduction. Also, keep detailed records of all your hours and pay stubs - you'll need them for your weekly certifications and potentially for any audits later.
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Good luck with your move! Buffalo is a nice city. At least unemployment stuff is one less thing to worry about during a relocation.
Yara Abboud
I went through something similar when I had to move from Syracuse to Long Island for family reasons while collecting unemployment. The process was actually pretty straightforward - you just need to update your address in the online system and make sure you're still actively job searching in your new area. One thing to keep in mind is that Buffalo might have different job opportunities than Rochester, so you'll want to familiarize yourself with the local job market before you move. Also, make sure all your contact information is current because sometimes they send important notices by mail. The move itself won't disrupt your benefits as long as you stay in New York and keep meeting all the requirements!
Atticus Domingo
I'm having the EXACT same issue but with a twist - I got through ID.me verification but now my NYSDOL account says they can't confirm my identity!? So I'm verified but also not verified? Has anyone else had this happen? I'm so confused and scared I'll never get my benefits...
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Elin Robinson
•That happened to me too! There's actually a second verification process that happens on NYSDOL's end after ID.me. This is where calling them directly helps - they need to manually confirm the ID.me verification went through. The Claimyr service I mentioned earlier can get you through to them quickly instead of spending days redialing.
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Atticus Domingo
•Omg thank you for explaining! Nobody tells you these things! I'll check out that service because I'm losing my mind trying to get through on the phone.
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Rami Samuels
This thread has been super helpful! I'm dealing with the same ID.me nightmare right now. Just wanted to add that if you're still having issues after trying all these suggestions, you can also file a complaint with the NY State Attorney General's office. I did this after being stuck for 3 weeks and they actually reached out to NYSDOL on my behalf. It took about 10 days but they got my verification sorted out. The complaint form is online and pretty quick to fill out. Sometimes you need to escalate beyond the normal channels when the system is this broken!
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Liam Mendez
•Wow, I had no idea you could file a complaint with the Attorney General's office about this! That's actually brilliant - I never would have thought to escalate it that way. How did you know to do that? And did they give you any updates during those 10 days or did you just have to wait and hope? This whole ID.me situation really does feel like a broken system that's designed to make people give up. Thanks for sharing this option - I'm definitely keeping this in my back pocket in case the video verification doesn't work out!
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