update?? did u get thru??

Been lurking here for a while and finally decided to jump in since I'm dealing with the exact same nightmare. Week 2 of trying to reach someone about a payment issue and it's honestly affecting my mental health at this point. Reading through all these comments gives me some hope though - seems like there are actual solutions that work! Going to try that 8am call strategy with the specific number sequence first, and if that doesn't work I'll look into the Claimyr service. Thanks everyone for sharing what's worked for you, this community is a lifesaver when the system is failing us this badly.

The phone system is ridiculous. I've called probably 200 times over the past month trying to get my disqualification explained and I've gotten through TWICE. Both times they told me different things about my appeal process. The whole NYS Department of Labor phone system needs to be completely overhauled.

I feel your pain! I've been dealing with the same issue trying to reach them about my benefit calculation. What worked for me was calling exactly at 8:00 AM on Tuesday - seems like they have more staff available earlier in the week. Also, I noticed that if you select the option for "reporting fraud" (even though that's not what you need), you sometimes get through to a real person faster who can then transfer you to the right department. It's frustrating that we have to use these workarounds just to get basic help with our claims.

DETAILED SOLUTION: Ok so I work in IT and deal with this stuff all the time. Here's what you need to know: 1. The phone system is overwhelmed because everyone's trying to call at once 2. Email support won't help with security resets - they require voice verification 3. Best options: - Use claimyr.com to get through (costs money but works) - Call right at 8AM sharp - If you must go in person, the Albany office is your only real shot I've helped dozens of people with this. The fastest solution is definitely using claimyr.com to get through on the phone. They'll verify your identity and reset it while you're on the call. Save yourself the headache of trying to do this manually. Hope this helps!

Been dealing with this exact issue for months! Finally got mine resolved last week. Here's what worked for me: I tried the 8AM calling strategy for about a week straight with no luck, then broke down and used claimyr. Honestly wish I had done it sooner - saved me so much stress. The rep was super helpful and got everything sorted in one call. Also pro tip: make sure you have all your documents ready (SS card, ID, etc.) before you get connected so you don't waste time scrambling for stuff. Good luck everyone! 🙏

wait so you can still file weekly claims even when you're denied? i thought once they deny you that's it until the appeal is decided

I'm going through a similar appeal process right now - got denied 3 weeks ago for "voluntary quit" even though I was actually terminated. From what I've been reading here and on other forums, the 4-8 week timeline seems pretty accurate for getting a hearing scheduled. One thing that's been really helpful for me is keeping detailed records of every interaction with NYS DOL, including dates I filed weekly claims and any correspondence. Also make sure to check your online account regularly because sometimes they update hearing dates there before sending mail notifications. The waiting is definitely stressful but it sounds like you have good documentation which should work in your favor.

Just wanted to give an update - my PayPal deposit came through this morning around 8:30am! So it was about 14 hours later than my usual Chime timing, but not too bad for the first payment to a new account. Thanks everyone for the reassurance and info, this thread was super helpful when I was stressing yesterday. For anyone else switching to PayPal, seems like Tuesday morning is pretty common based on what people shared here.

I've been using PayPal for NY unemployment for about 6 months now and it's pretty consistent. Usually get mine between 6-8am on Tuesday mornings, but like others mentioned, the first deposit to a new account can be delayed. PayPal seems to do some extra verification on the first government deposit which can add 12-24 hours. After that it should settle into a regular pattern. One tip - make sure your PayPal account is fully verified (bank account linked, identity confirmed, etc.) before the deposit comes through, otherwise they might hold it longer for security reasons.