Can't reach New York Unemployment? Claimyr calls for you, so you don't have to wait on hold.
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- Connect you to a human agent at the NYDOL
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- Call the correct department
- Redial until on hold
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- Give you free callbacks if the NYDOL drops your call
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- DO post questions about your issues.
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Wait did you work at all during the time your claim was closed?? Because if you earned money they might need to verify that before reopening. Also make sure you didn't miss any job search requirements from your previous claim period or that could delay things too.
Yes I worked full time for about 3 months which is why I closed the claim. I have all my pay stubs if they need them.
That's good that you have documentation. NYS Department of Labor will likely want to verify your work history to make sure you're eligible to reopen rather than file a new claim.
Mine took forever to reopen last time - like 3 weeks! And then when it finally did reopen, they said I owed money back from my previous claim period because apparently I made some mistake with reporting wages. The whole system is such a mess, I swear they make it complicated on purpose.
Oh no that's exactly what I'm worried about! How did you resolve the overpayment issue?
I had to appeal the overpayment determination and provide documentation showing my wages were reported correctly. It took another 2 months to resolve but they eventually waived the overpayment. Make sure you keep detailed records of everything you submit - screenshots, confirmation numbers, etc. The key is being persistent and documenting every interaction you have with them.
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Anyone dealt with this knows how many HOURS of our lives we waste trying to fix it. I ended up having my state senator's office help me. Email them explaining the situation and they can often get things moving faster than you can on your own.
This exact thing happened to me 6 months ago! Turns out someone had filed a claim using my SSN from a completely different state. What really helped me was documenting EVERYTHING - screenshots of error messages, dates/times of calls, etc. I finally got through by calling the fraud hotline at 888-598-2077 (mentioned above) at exactly 8am on a Tuesday. The agent was actually super helpful once I explained I was a fraud victim. They immediately flagged the fake claim and helped me file my legitimate one. The whole process took about 5 weeks total, but I did get all my backpay once it was resolved. Don't give up! Also definitely check your credit reports like others suggested - mine was clean but better safe than sorry. One tip: when you do get through to someone, ask them to email you a reference number for your fraud case. Having that number made follow-up calls WAY easier.
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Wait, I thought if you get fired you can't get unemployment? That's what my cousin told me when he got let go last year.
That's a common misconception! You can get unemployment if you're fired, as long as it wasn't for misconduct. Your cousin might have been thinking of quitting - that's when it gets more complicated.
I went through almost the exact same thing! Got terminated for "attendance issues" even though I had legitimate reasons and my supervisor never gave me proper warnings. I filed immediately and got approved after about 2 weeks. The key is to be completely honest about why you were absent - family emergencies are considered legitimate reasons. NYS DOL will review everything and make their own determination. Don't let your employer's characterization discourage you from filing. You've paid into the system and deserve benefits if you qualify. File online today and start your weekly certifications right away!
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anyone else feel like the system is DESIGNED to be confusing so people just give up? like they're hoping we'll get frustrated and stop claiming? 🧐
Sad but true. My friend who works in govt (not unemployment) says they call it 'administrative burden' - basically creating so much red tape that people abandon valid claims
They save millions by frustrating ppl out of benefits they're legally entitled to
This exact same thing happened to me! I was approved for benefits through March 2023 but suddenly my account shows them ending in December. I've been trying to call for days but can't get through. Reading all these comments makes me feel less crazy - at least it's not just me dealing with this nightmare. The system clearly has major issues right now. I'm definitely going to try that early Monday morning call trick and maybe look into that claimyr service too. It's so frustrating when you're already stressed about money and then the system that's supposed to help you just... doesn't work properly. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences!
StarSurfer
Just as a follow-up: I noticed in your original post you mentioned sending 2023 earnings for a 2025 claim. As the claims rep pointed out, you'll likely need 2024 earnings documentation instead. The base period for unemployment calculations is usually the first four of the last five completed calendar quarters before you filed your claim. Double-check your notice to confirm exactly which year they're requesting.
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Yuki Nakamura
•Thank you for catching that! You're right - I just double-checked my notice and it is asking for 2024 documentation. I definitely would have sent the wrong year's forms if you hadn't pointed this out!
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Javier Mendoza
Just went through this process last month! I was also super nervous about what to send, but ended up just submitting my 2024 W2 through the online portal. Got approved within a week with no issues. The key thing I learned from reading all the forums beforehand is that NYSDOL really does prefer simple, straightforward submissions. One tip that helped me: I took a photo of my W2 with my phone first to make sure all the text was clear and readable before uploading the official scan. Also saved a screenshot of the confirmation page right after submitting - learned that from horror stories like Jamal's above! You've got this - sounds like you're being appropriately careful about getting the right year's documents together. The 2024 W2 should be all you need!
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