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 :)
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Paolo Ricci
Just wanted to add my experience from last week's appointment! The counselor was super professional and actually helped me realize I was underselling myself in my applications. They showed me how to better highlight my skills and even helped me identify some job categories I hadn't considered before. One thing that really stood out - they have access to job openings that aren't posted publicly yet, which was amazing! Make sure to ask about those hidden opportunities. Also, they can connect you with training programs if you want to learn new skills while job searching. The whole thing felt like having a personal career coach for 90 minutes. Definitely bring questions about your specific situation - they love when you're actively engaged and want to make the most of the time together! 💪
That's such valuable insight about the hidden job opportunities! I had no idea they had access to unadvertised positions - that alone makes the appointment worth it. The training program connections sound really useful too, especially if you're looking to pivot into a different field. It's so encouraging to hear how they helped you see your skills differently and explore new job categories. Thanks for sharing that perspective - it really reinforces how this is more of a career development opportunity than something to stress about! 🌟
I just had my appointment yesterday and wanted to share something that really helped me - I actually practiced explaining my job search strategy out loud beforehand! The counselor asked me to walk through my approach and having rehearsed it made me sound way more confident and organized. They were really impressed that I had a clear plan and could articulate it well. Also, don't forget to mention any networking you're doing (LinkedIn connections, professional groups, etc.) - they count that as part of your job search activities too! The whole experience was honestly refreshing - felt like someone was finally in my corner helping me strategize instead of just collecting job search logs. If you're reading this and have an upcoming appointment, seriously don't stress about it. Come prepared and engaged, and you'll actually walk away with valuable insights! 🎯
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Demi Lagos
The whole system is so confusing! Why can't they just have clear guidelines about separation agreements on their website? Every situation seems different and you never know what's going to trip you up.
Ethan Wilson
I went through this exact situation about 8 months ago with my company in NYC. The key thing that helped me was getting a letter from HR confirming that my position was being eliminated due to restructuring, even though I signed a separation agreement. When I filed my unemployment claim, I uploaded that letter along with the separation agreement. NYS Department of Labor approved my benefits without any issues. The severance didn't delay my benefits either since it was a lump sum payment, not ongoing wages. Just make sure you're honest about everything when you file - they can see if you received severance pay anyway, so transparency is your best bet.
That's really helpful to know! I'm also in NYC so this gives me hope. Did you have to wait long for approval or was it pretty straightforward once you submitted everything? I'm worried about any delays since I need to start receiving benefits as soon as possible after my last day.
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I've been lurking in this thread while dealing with my own NY unemployment nightmare and wanted to share what finally worked for me this week! Like everyone here, I was stuck calling that useless 888-209-8124 number for weeks with no success. What finally got me through was a combination of strategies from this thread: 1. Used the Spanish line trick (press 2 for Spanish, then immediately ask for English transfer when someone picks up) 2. Called at exactly 7:59:50 AM so I'd hit the system right when it opens at 8:00 3. When I got busy signals, I hung up instantly and called back - did this 18 times in a row until I got hold music 4. Waited on hold for 2 hours and 10 minutes but FINALLY got through to Agent Patricia The crazy part? My "pending review" was because of a simple address verification issue that took literally 3 minutes to fix. Three weeks of stress and hundreds of failed calls for a 3-minute problem! For anyone still struggling - the Spanish line transfer really does seem to have shorter wait times. Also, I noticed calling on Wednesday worked better than Monday/Tuesday for me. Don't give up! This thread saved my sanity knowing I wasn't alone in this broken system.
Olivia Evans
•This is so encouraging to hear! Congratulations on finally getting through and getting it resolved. I've been reading through this entire thread feeling more and more frustrated, but your success story gives me hope. The Spanish line trick seems to be the real game-changer based on multiple people's experiences here. I'm definitely going to try that exact approach tomorrow - calling at 7:59:50 to hit 8:00 precisely, using the Spanish transfer, and doing the rapid callback method if I get busy signals. It's absolutely ridiculous that a simple address verification issue caused 3 weeks of delays, but at least it confirms what others have said about these usually being quick fixes once you reach someone. Thanks for taking the time to share the detailed breakdown of what worked - this gives me a solid action plan to try!
I'm in a very similar situation and this entire thread has been incredibly helpful! I've been trying to reach NY unemployment for about 2 weeks now regarding my pending claim, and like everyone else here, the 888-209-8124 number has been completely useless. I've probably made 200+ attempts with nothing but busy signals, disconnections, and that dreaded "call volume too high" message. Reading through all these real-world strategies is giving me hope though. I'm planning to try the Spanish line transfer trick tomorrow morning at exactly 8:00 AM with all my documents ready. The success stories here are really encouraging - it seems like most of these issues are simple system glitches that can be resolved in just a few minutes once you actually reach an agent. I'm also considering reaching out to my assembly representative's office since several people mentioned that route working. It's absolutely maddening that we need to become experts in phone system workarounds just to access our own benefits, but I'm grateful this community exists to share what actually works instead of the useless official advice. For anyone who's successfully used the Claimyr service - roughly what does it cost? I'm trying to weigh whether it's worth the expense vs continuing to try the free methods, especially since my financial situation is already tight while waiting for benefits. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences - knowing I'm not alone in this broken system nightmare is honestly keeping me sane right now!
I totally understand your frustration! I've been following this thread closely because I'm dealing with the exact same nightmare - my claim has been pending for almost 3 weeks and that 888-209-8124 number is absolutely useless. Reading everyone's success stories here is really encouraging though, especially knowing that most of these issues are simple fixes once you finally reach someone. I haven't personally used Claimyr yet, but from what others have mentioned in this thread, it seems like people are having good success with it when the free methods don't work. I'm in the same boat as you trying to decide if it's worth the cost given that finances are already tight while waiting for benefits. I'm definitely going to try the Spanish line transfer trick tomorrow morning at exactly 8:00 AM based on all the positive reports here. The assembly representative route sounds promising too - I looked up my local rep and they actually have a specific form for unemployment issues on their website. It's absolutely insane that we need a whole strategy guide just to access our own benefits, but this community has been a lifesaver for sharing what actually works. Hang in there - based on what I've read here, persistence does eventually pay off! Will definitely update if I have any success with the methods discussed.
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Just want to add that restaurant workers sometimes have issues with tip reporting affecting their wage records. Make sure all your tips were properly reported to the NYS Department of Labor through your employer's payroll system, otherwise your base period wages might be lower than expected.
@Mei Zhang definitely file as soon as possible! I went through this same situation a few months ago and was also worried about qualifying. The earnings-based system actually works in your favor - $18,000 over 8 months is way above the $2,700 minimum. One thing to keep in mind is that you'll need to certify for benefits weekly and actively look for work. The NYS Department of Labor website has a step-by-step guide for filing your initial claim. Don't let the delay stress you too much - I know people who filed months later and still got approved. The important thing is getting started now!
Miguel Ramos
•@Benjamin Carter That s'really reassuring to hear from someone who went through the same thing! I ve'been so anxious about this whole process. Do you remember roughly how long it took to get approved after you filed? And was the weekly certification process pretty straightforward? I m'worried I ll'mess something up since I ve'never done this before.
Carmella Fromis
The system is SO confusing! I thought I was going to get way more than I actually got. They calculate it weird with all these quarters and base periods. Why can't they just use your last few paystubs like normal people would expect??
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Sara Hellquiem
•The base period system is designed to use a more stable earnings period rather than just recent weeks, which could be higher or lower than typical. It's supposed to be more fair over time, even though it's definitely confusing at first.
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Genevieve Cavalier
Just went through this process myself recently. One thing to keep in mind is that the weekly benefit amount also depends on whether you have any part-time earnings while collecting unemployment. If you work part-time while on unemployment, they deduct a portion of those earnings from your weekly benefit, but you can still earn up to a certain amount without losing your full benefit. Also, don't forget that unemployment benefits are taxable income - you can have taxes withheld or you'll owe when you file your tax return. The NYS Department of Labor website has a benefit calculator tool that can give you a rough estimate based on your earnings history if you want to get a better idea before you actually need to file.
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James Maki
•That's really helpful info about the part-time work rules! I didn't know you could still earn some money while collecting benefits. Do you remember what the threshold was for how much you can earn before they start reducing your weekly benefit amount? I might need to pick up some shifts here and there to make ends meet.
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