For future reference, the NYSDOL actually posts system outages and maintenance schedules on their Twitter account @NYSLabor. They don't always update it immediately when there's an unexpected issue, but it's worth checking there first to see if there's a known problem before you spend hours trying to get through.

This is such a common issue - I've been dealing with NY unemployment for about 8 months now and the website crashes almost every Sunday evening. What's helped me is setting a reminder to certify on Monday mornings instead of waiting until the last minute. The system is usually much more stable earlier in the week. Also, if you're on mobile, try switching to incognito/private browsing mode - sometimes that helps with the login issues. Hope everyone was able to get through eventually!

Has anyone else noticed that the system seems to work better late at night? I've had the most success filing claims around 11 PM or midnight. Might be worth a shot if you're having trouble during the day.

I've been dealing with this same issue! Just wanted to share that I found the best time to file multiple weeks is actually on Sunday mornings around 6-7 AM. The system seems less congested then. Also, make sure you have all your job search documentation ready for each week before you start - the system will time out if you take too long between screens. One thing that caught me off guard was that they ask for different information depending on how many weeks back you're filing, so don't assume it'll be the same questions every time. Good luck everyone! 🤞

One more suggestion based on my experience - after I used Claimyr to get through to a rep, I learned my claim was held up because I had accidentally answered YES to the question about being out of my authorized work area during one week's certification. I didn't even remember doing this! The agent was able to correct it on the spot. Double-check all your past certifications if possible to see if you might have made a similar mistake along the way.

I finally got through to someone!!! After 3+ hours on hold today. Turns out my claim was flagged for "additional wage verification" because I had worked in both NY and NJ last year. They never notified me about needing additional documents! The agent released the hold and said I should receive all my backpay within 3-5 business days. I'm cautiously optimistic but won't believe it until I see the money. Thank you all for your help and suggestions during this nightmare!

whatever you do dont just stop filing your weekly claims with NYS Department of Labor until you figure this out!! I made that mistake when I was considering a move and it messed up my whole claim status

I went through this exact situation when I moved from NY to Texas last year. The key thing to know is that you need to contact both states as soon as you know you're moving. NYS Department of Labor will close your claim when you move, but if you've worked in NY recently enough (usually within the last 18 months), you can file what's called an "interstate claim" in your new state. The new state processes your claim but uses your NY wage history to determine your benefit amount. Don't wait until after you move to start this process - begin the paperwork before you relocate to avoid any gaps in payments. Each state has different processing times so starting early is crucial.

Just went through this whole process and honestly the phone system is completely broken. Took me weeks to get through to an actual person. If you run into issues and need to speak with someone at NYS Department of Labor, I discovered this service called Claimyr that actually got me connected to an agent. Check out claimyr.com - they have a video demo at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI that shows how it works. Saved me hours of calling and getting disconnected.

processing times depend a lot on if u filed everything correctly the first time, i made a mistake on my employer info and had to wait extra 3 weeks for them to fix it