Been dealing with the exact same overseas access nightmare! After reading through all these comments, I'm convinced the regular system is completely broken for international users. The geo-blocking is ridiculous and those international call charges add up fast with zero results. Based on what everyone's saying here, claimyr.com seems like the most reliable solution - multiple people confirming it actually works is pretty convincing. Also definitely going to try contacting my assembly person since that seems to be another solid option people have had success with. It's insane that we have to jump through all these hoops just to submit required documents while traveling, but at least there are workarounds. Thanks to everyone sharing their experiences - really helpful to know I'm not alone in this mess! 🙏

I'm dealing with this exact situation right now! I'm in Europe for a month and they just requested income verification documents, but I can't access my account either due to their location blocking. I've tried multiple VPN services with no luck - it's like they specifically designed the system to block anyone traveling abroad. Reading through everyone's experiences here, it sounds like claimyr.com might be my best bet since so many people have had success with it. I'm also going to try reaching out to my state assembly person's office since several folks mentioned that worked well. It's absolutely ridiculous that we have to jump through all these hoops just to submit documents they're demanding, but I'm grateful for all the tips here! Has anyone tried the certified mail option while overseas? Wondering if that might be worth doing alongside trying to get someone on the phone. This whole system is such a nightmare for anyone who travels for work or family emergencies 😤

I'm dealing with this exact same nightmare and it's absolutely infuriating! Been trying to get through for 5 days now and that "high call volume" message followed by an instant disconnect feels like a cruel joke when you're already stressed about your claim. What really gets me is that I can see there's an issue with my account online, but the website just says "contact customer service" - which is impossible when their phone system is designed to hang up on you! It's like being trapped in some kind of bureaucratic hell. I'm definitely going to try that 8am sharp strategy @Zoe mentioned tomorrow morning. Also love @Mei's tip about having all your documents ready - I'll make sure to have my NY.gov ID, PIN, and SSN info all written down so I don't waste any precious seconds if I somehow manage to get through. It's completely insane that we need a whole battle plan just to reach our own state's unemployment office, but here we are! If the early morning calls don't work after a few attempts, I might have to try that Claimyr service @Liam used. The fact that your verification issue was literally a 2-minute fix after weeks of trying really highlights how broken this system is. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences and creating this support network. We shouldn't have to figure this out together, but I'm so grateful we can help each other navigate this mess!

I'm going through this exact same nightmare right now! Been trying to reach someone for the past 10 days and that "high call volume" message followed by an instant disconnect is absolutely soul-crushing. What makes it even worse is that I can see my claim is stuck with some kind of verification flag online, but there's literally no way to resolve it without speaking to an actual person. I'm definitely going to try that 8am sharp strategy @Zoe mentioned - seems like precise timing is everything with this broken system. Also going to have all my documents ready like @Mei suggested, including my NY.gov ID, PIN, and SSN. It's completely ridiculous that we need a whole military operation just to contact our own state agency! If the early morning calls don't work after a few days, I'm seriously considering that Claimyr service @Liam used. I'm usually hesitant about third-party services, but the fact that your issue was literally a 2-minute verification fix that took weeks to resolve through traditional methods really shows how backwards this system is. I might also try that TTY line @Ella mentioned as another workaround, and I'm bookmarking that assemblyperson contact info as a backup plan. It's honestly shameful that we need multiple backup strategies just to access basic unemployment services we're entitled to. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences and creating this incredible support community. We shouldn't have to band together just to figure out how to get help from our own state agency, but I'm so grateful we can help each other navigate this bureaucratic nightmare! Will definitely update if I break through using any of these strategies.

I went through this exact situation about 6 months ago when I lost both my bookkeeping job and my freelance tax prep work around the same time. NYS Department of Labor absolutely combines wages from all your covered employers - it's actually one of the better aspects of their system! Your weekly benefit amount will be calculated based on your total earnings during the base period, regardless of how many different jobs contributed to those wages. Just make sure you have all your final pay stubs and any separation notices ready, because they may request additional documentation to verify the wages from multiple employers. The processing took about 3 weeks for me, but it was worth the wait since my combined wages from both jobs resulted in a much higher weekly benefit than I would have gotten from just one job alone. Don't stress too much about entering both employers in the system - it's designed to handle multiple job situations and is actually pretty common in today's gig economy!

I just want to say thank you to everyone who's shared their experiences here! I was really stressed about this whole situation, but reading through all these responses has made me feel so much more confident about the process. It's clear that NYS Department of Labor does combine wages from multiple employers, which is exactly what I was hoping to hear. I'm going to gather all my documentation (pay stubs, separation notices, etc.) and be patient with the 2-3 week processing time that seems to be typical. It's also really helpful to know about things like the early morning call strategy and keeping records organized. This community is amazing - I never expected to get such detailed and helpful responses from people who've been through the exact same situation!

I'm going through this exact same situation right now! Just missed my career appointment this past Monday and scrambled to get it made up by Thursday. It's only been a few days since then but reading everyone's experiences here is giving me so much hope and a clear action plan. The consistency in the 2-3 week timeline is really reassuring, and the career center direct line strategy seems like pure gold from what everyone's sharing. I had no idea they had a separate system that could sync faster than the main unemployment line. Already started documenting everything and keeping screenshots like multiple people suggested. Planning to call the career center directly once I hit the 10-day mark based on the successful timelines people have shared here. This thread is honestly a lifesaver - way more helpful than any official government resources I've found. Thanks everyone for sharing your real experiences and timelines instead of just generic advice. Makes navigating this bureaucratic nightmare so much more manageable knowing we're all helping each other through it! 🙏 Will definitely keep everyone posted on my progress and pay it forward once I get through this mess!

Just went through this exact same situation about 3 weeks ago! Missed my career appointment and made it up 2 days later. The hold took exactly 20 days to lift, but I got full backpay for everything. Here's what I learned from my experience and reading this amazing thread: **The career center direct line is EVERYTHING** - Called them on day 12 and they could immediately see my makeup appointment was completed. They added an escalation note that same day. **Document absolutely everything** - Screenshots of makeup appointment confirmation, weekly claims, all emails. When I finally got through to benefits, having it all organized made the call take 5 minutes instead of 30. **The system disconnect is real** - The rep explained that career services and benefits run on different systems that don't talk to each other automatically. There's literally a human who has to manually connect the dots. **Timeline was:** - Days 1-10: Just kept filing weekly claims and gathering docs - Day 12: Called career center, got escalation note added - Day 18: Used claimyr to finally get through to benefits - Day 20: Hold lifted, backpay came through 2 days later You did everything right by going back so quickly. The wait sucks but you WILL get made whole. Keep filing those weekly claims and try the career center direct line around day 10-14. This community's advice is spot on! 💪

yeah they definitely take it out automatically. happened to my brother when he was on unemployment last year. just be glad you're still getting something after support is taken out!

Just wanted to add that you can also check with your local Child Support Enforcement office to confirm the exact timing and amount of deductions. Sometimes there can be delays or discrepancies, and they can give you a clearer timeline than DOL. Also, if your financial situation has changed significantly due to unemployment, you might be able to request a modification of your support order - though that's a separate legal process from the unemployment benefits. Keep all your payment records organized in case you need them later.