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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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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!
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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.
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This is incredibly helpful info, thank you! I've been stuck in pending for almost 2 months now with no progress through normal channels. Quick question - when you emailed your senator, did you send it to their general contact email or is there a specific email for unemployment/constituent services? Also, how long did it take them to respond to your initial email? I'm going to try this approach but want to make sure I'm doing it right!
I sent it to the general contact email on their website - most offices route those to the right department automatically. I got a response within 24 hours acknowledging my email and asking for my claim details. The key is to be really specific in your subject line like "URGENT: NY Unemployment Claim Stuck in Pending - Constituent Services Request" so it gets prioritized. Also include your full name, address (to prove you're a constituent), and all your claim info in the first email so they don't have to ask for it later!
This is exactly what I needed to see! I've been banging my head against the wall for 6 weeks trying to get through to someone at NYSDOL. My claim has been stuck on "pending" since I filed and I was starting to think it was hopeless. I had no idea contacting my state senator was even an option - I thought they only dealt with like, big policy stuff. Going to look up my rep right now and send them an email today. Did you have to provide any specific documentation when you contacted them, or just explain the situation? Really hoping this works because I'm running out of savings fast!
Hey! I totally get the frustration - I was in the exact same boat just a few weeks ago. When I contacted my senator, I just explained the situation in the initial email and included my basic info (claim ID, when I filed, how long I'd been pending). They asked for additional documentation later if they needed it, but the initial contact was pretty straightforward. The key is being clear about your timeline and how long you've been waiting. Don't worry about having everything perfect - their staff deals with these issues constantly and knows exactly what they need. Definitely try it - worst case scenario you're in the same position you're in now, but best case you get results in just a few days like I did!
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The ny unemployment system is LITERALLY the worst in the country. I eventually had to show up IN PERSON at my state senator's office and refuse to leave until they helped me. Took 3 visits but they finally assigned someone to my case.
Wait you can just show up at their office? I might try this tomorrow!
Yep! Bring all your documentation and be polite but FIRM. Say you're not leaving until someone helps you. Worked for me!
I feel your pain - I was stuck in unemployment hell for 4 months last year. Here's what finally worked for me: I contacted both my state assemblyperson AND senator on the same day, then used Claimyr.com to actually get through to a real person at NYSDOL. The combination of political pressure + talking to an actual agent got my claim moving within 72 hours. Don't waste time with the Governor's office - they just redirect you back to the same broken system. Focus on your local reps and getting to a human who can see your account. Also document everything with dates/times in case you need to escalate further. Hang in there!
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The NYS Department of Labor system is such a nightmare though. Even when you qualify it takes forever and half the time their website doesn't work. I swear they make it difficult on purpose to discourage people from filing. But yes, layoffs absolutely qualify you for benefits.
I hear you on the website issues but at least the process itself is pretty straightforward for layoffs. Just have to be patient with their system.
Sorry to hear about your layoff Ethan. Yes, you absolutely qualify for unemployment benefits since your position was eliminated due to downsizing - that's considered involuntary separation through no fault of your own. When you file your claim online at labor.ny.gov, you'll need your Social Security number, driver's license, employment history for the past 18 months, and details about your separation. The system will ask your employer to verify the reason for termination, but since they already told you it was downsizing and not for cause, you should be good to go. File as soon as possible since there's typically a one-week waiting period before benefits begin. Don't worry too much about proving it wasn't your fault - the burden is on the employer to show misconduct if they want to contest your claim.
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Hope you figure it out! These benefit programs are so hard to navigate when you're dealing with multiple agencies.
I went through something similar a few years ago. The tricky part is that SSDI allows for a Trial Work Period where you can earn up to a certain amount ($1,050/month in 2024) for up to 9 months while keeping your benefits. But unemployment benefits require you to certify that you're actively looking for work and available for immediate employment, which could potentially conflict with your disability determination. The timing matters a lot too - if you lose a job during your trial work period, you might have a case for unemployment, but you'd need to be very careful about how you present your availability for work. Definitely get clarification from both your disability attorney and maybe a consultation with someone who knows NYS unemployment law before proceeding.
Sean Murphy
This is such helpful information for anyone dealing with this frustrating situation! I'm glad you got your benefits sorted out. Your experience shows that it's worth trying multiple approaches - contacting the employer you left on good terms with, using services like Claimyr to reach NYSDOL agents more efficiently, and knowing that they can make determinations without employer responses after a certain timeframe. Thanks for coming back to update us on what worked. The combination approach seems like the smartest strategy for anyone stuck in this situation.
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Abigail Patel
•Absolutely agree! As someone new to navigating unemployment benefits, reading through this entire thread has been incredibly valuable. It's reassuring to see that there are multiple paths to resolve these employer response delays, and that the community here is so supportive in sharing real experiences. The key takeaway seems to be: don't just wait passively - you can take action while still working within the system. Thanks to everyone who contributed their insights, especially Zara for the detailed follow-up!
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Luca Bianchi
This thread has been so helpful! I'm currently in week 2 of waiting for my employer to respond to NYSDOL, and reading everyone's experiences gives me hope that there are solutions. I particularly appreciate the advice about contacting HR rather than direct managers, and knowing that NYSDOL can make determinations after 14 business days even without employer responses. It's frustrating that we have to be our own advocates in this process, but at least now I know I have options beyond just waiting indefinitely. Going to try the professional email approach to my former HR department tomorrow morning!
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Kaitlyn Jenkins
•Best of luck with your HR email tomorrow! From reading through everyone's experiences here, it seems like the professional approach really works well when you have a decent relationship with the company. I'm also dealing with a similar delay (just hit week 3) and this whole thread has given me so much more confidence about taking action rather than just sitting and waiting. It's amazing how much better it feels to have a plan of attack rather than feeling completely helpless in the system. Keep us posted on how it goes!
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