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 can add another data point to help ease your worries! I was on NYS unemployment for about 7 months after getting laid off from a tech company, and I just completed the hiring process at a new job that required a pretty extensive background check (they even looked into my social media presence). Unemployment benefits never came up at all. The background check company only had access to verify the employment history I provided on my application - they confirmed my previous job titles, dates, and whether I was eligible for rehire, but there was absolutely no record of me receiving unemployment benefits during the gap. The key thing to remember is that unemployment insurance is exactly that - insurance that you and your employer paid into. There's nothing shameful about using it when you need it, and it's completely separate from employment verification systems. Best of luck with your interviews - you should feel confident that this won't be an issue!
This is incredibly helpful and really drives the point home! The fact that even an extensive background check that included social media didn't pick up unemployment records really shows how separate these systems are. I love how you framed it as insurance that we paid into - that's exactly what it is and there's definitely nothing to be ashamed about. All these responses have completely shifted my mindset from anxiety to confidence. I'm going to stop worrying about this non-issue and put all my energy into preparing for these interviews. Thank you everyone for being so supportive and sharing your real experiences!
Adding to what everyone else has said - I just went through this exact situation about 2 months ago! Was on NYS unemployment for 4 months after a layoff and was super stressed about background checks too. Went through the hiring process at 3 different companies and not one background check showed any unemployment benefit history. The most thorough one even included a credit check and financial review, but unemployment never appeared anywhere. What really helped me was realizing that unemployment benefits are handled by a completely different government agency (NYS Department of Labor) than what background check companies have access to. They're literally looking at different databases. The only employment info they can verify is what you give them permission to check. Don't let this worry derail your interview prep - you're going to do great!
Wow, three different companies and none of them found anything - that's really reassuring! I hadn't thought about it that way before, that the NYS Department of Labor and background check companies are literally using completely different systems. That makes so much sense. It's really helpful to hear from someone who just went through this recently. I'm feeling so much more confident now and you're right - I should be putting all this energy into preparing for my interviews instead of stressing about something that clearly isn't going to be a problem. Thanks for sharing your experience!
Join the conversation
I'm going through the exact same thing right now! Applied for 599 approval back in January for a cybersecurity bootcamp and still haven't heard anything. Called last week and they said they're processing December 2021 applications - that's literally 14+ months behind! I've been living off credit cards while waiting and it's getting really scary financially. Reading all these comments makes me feel less crazy though. Definitely going to try calling every day and asking for a supervisor like some of you suggested. This system is absolutely broken but sounds like persistence might be the only way through. Has anyone tried contacting their state representative? Wondering if political pressure might help move things along faster.
I actually did contact my state rep about my 599 delay and it seemed to help! I was waiting 4+ months with no movement, then within 2 weeks of filing a complaint through my assemblyman's office I got a call from DOL saying my application was being expedited. Could be coincidence but worth a shot! Also totally agree about trying the supervisor route - regular phone reps can't do much but supervisors have more power to flag applications for priority review. The whole system is insane but don't give up, the backpay when it finally comes through is worth the fight.
This thread is giving me so much anxiety but also relief that I'm not the only one dealing with this insanity. I applied for 599 approval in March 2022 for a web development program and just called yesterday - they told me they're STILL processing applications from January 2022! At this rate I'll graduate before they even look at my paperwork. I've been surviving on part-time gig work but it's barely covering my expenses. The most frustrating part is how they act like this massive delay is totally normal. "Just keep waiting" they say while people are going into debt trying to better themselves. I'm seriously considering dropping out of my program even though I'm halfway through because I can't keep floating this financially. Has anyone had any luck getting their local representatives involved? I'm in Queens and wondering if my assembly member might be able to push this along. This whole situation is making me lose faith in the system completely.
I feel your pain so much! I'm also in Queens and dealing with this nightmare. Contact Assembly Member Catalina Cruz's office - they actually helped me get movement on my case after months of nothing. Her staff knows the DOL system really well and can put pressure on them to review your application. Also, I know everyone keeps mentioning it but that claimyr service really did work for me when I was desperate to talk to someone. The key is getting a real person to actually look at your file and flag it. Don't give up on your program if you're already halfway through - the skills will be worth it once this bureaucratic mess gets sorted out. Just document everything and keep pushing!
Join the conversation
The system is so confusing though! I've been trying to get through to someone at NYS Department of Labor for weeks to ask about my specific situation but the phones are always busy. Does anyone know a better way to reach them? I'm worried I'm going to mess something up and get disqualified.
Really? That sounds too good to be true. How does it work exactly?
It's basically a service that handles the calling for you and gets you connected to an actual person at NYS Department of Labor. Way better than sitting on hold forever or getting disconnected.
One thing that often trips people up is the base period earnings requirement. In NY, you need to have earned at least $2,600 in your base period (which is usually the first 4 of the last 5 completed calendar quarters before you file). If you haven't worked enough or earned enough during that time, you won't qualify regardless of why you lost your job. Also, be careful about any side gigs or freelance work - if you're classified as an independent contractor rather than an employee, those earnings might not count toward your eligibility.
Join the conversation
Just wanted to add that NYS Department of Labor also considers domestic violence situations, workplace discrimination, and significant changes to your job duties/pay as potential "no fault" reasons for leaving. The key thing is being able to show that a reasonable person in your situation would have felt compelled to quit. Document everything you can - emails, witness statements, dates of incidents, any company policies that were violated. Even if they initially deny your claim, you have appeal rights and many people win on appeal with proper documentation.
This is exactly what I needed to hear! I was so worried about the appeal process but knowing that people actually win with proper documentation gives me hope. I have emails showing my safety complaints and my supervisor's increasingly hostile responses afterward. The workplace became so toxic that I couldn't function there anymore. I'll make sure to emphasize that any reasonable person would have quit under those conditions when I file my claim.
I went through something similar with a toxic manager situation. One thing that really helped my case was keeping a detailed log with dates and times of every incident - not just the emails but also verbal interactions, witnesses present, and how it affected my ability to do my job. NYS Department of Labor looks for patterns of behavior that show the employer made continuing work impossible. Also, if you filed any internal complaints through HR or used your company's grievance process before quitting, make sure to include that documentation too. It shows you tried to resolve things through proper channels before being forced to leave. The fact that you complained about legitimate safety issues first and then faced retaliation is actually pretty strong for a constructive discharge claim.
Emma Johnson
Don't worry Santiago, you definitely haven't missed any hard deadline! I was in a similar situation last year - got laid off from my construction job and waited almost 8 weeks because I kept thinking I'd find something soon. The good news is you can still file now, you'll just miss out on those 6 weeks of potential benefits. New York doesn't have a strict cutoff date for filing, but like others said, benefits only start from when you actually submit your claim. I'd recommend filing this week if possible - even if you find a job next month, at least you'll have some financial cushion while you're still searching. The application process isn't as bad as it seems once you get started. Just make sure you have your employer's information ready, including their unemployment insurance account number if you can find it on old pay stubs.
0 coins
Samantha Hall
•Thanks Emma! That's reassuring to hear from someone who went through the same thing. I actually do have some old pay stubs saved, so I'll look for that unemployment insurance account number you mentioned. Did you have any trouble with the weekly certification process once your claim got approved? I keep hearing mixed things about how strict they are about the job search requirements.
0 coins
Malik Thomas
•@Emma Johnson The job search requirements aren t'too bad if you stay organized. You need to make 3 job contacts per week and keep records of where you applied, when, and what type of contact it was online (application, phone call, etc. .)They can ask for proof during your weekly certification, so I kept a simple spreadsheet with company names, dates, and confirmation emails from applications. The key is to apply for jobs that match your skills and experience - they don t'want to see you applying for CEO positions if you re'a warehouse worker, you know? As long as you re'genuinely looking and can document your efforts, you should be fine. I never had any issues during my 12 weeks on unemployment.
0 coins
Amara Adebayo
I just went through this exact same situation a few months ago! Got laid off from my restaurant job and waited almost 7 weeks because I was embarrassed about filing for unemployment and thought I'd find something fast. Don't make my mistake - there's no shame in getting benefits you've earned through your payroll taxes. The longer you wait, the more money you're leaving on the table. NY doesn't have a hard cutoff date, but you literally cannot get benefits for weeks before you file your initial claim. I lost out on about $1,800 by waiting so long. File online at my.ny.gov this week - it took me about 30 minutes once I had my employment info together. You'll need your Social Security number, driver's license, and details about your last job (dates, wages, reason for separation). Don't overthink it, just get the process started!
0 coins