Accidentally marked "Yes" for COVID-19 claim on NY unemployment application - unable to reach anyone to fix error for 6 months
I submitted my unemployment application about 6 months ago in February. I realized I made a serious error on the question about "Did you file an Unemployment Insurance Claim during the COVID-19 Pandemic?" where I incorrectly checked "Yes" when I should have selected "No". I've been trying to reach someone at the unemployment office every single day for the past 6 months but no one ever picks up. I ordered the debit card but haven't received any payments because of this mistake. I'm getting desperate because my savings are almost gone now. I even signed the E-Signature Disclaimer where "I certify that the information I have given on this form is correct" and "I understand that I may be asked to provide proof to verify the correctness of this information." I checked the box confirming "I have read and understand the e-signature disclaimer." The form clearly stated "I know that Federal funds are provided and that penalties are prescribed by law for willful misrepresentation or concealment of material facts in order to obtain assistance payments which I am not entitled to receive under the act." But my mistake wasn't willful - it was just an accident! I think my application might be stuck because the system shows I applied during COVID-19 when I didn't. The form mentioned "You cannot apply for PUA until you apply for regular unemployment insurance first and we inform you that you are ineligible for regular benefits. Once you are informed that you are ineligible for regular unemployment insurance you may apply for PUA benefits." The website says I should "Claim PUA benefits online by using the Department of Labor's website: www.labor.ny.gov/signin" and then "enter your NY.gov username and password, click 'Unemployment Services,' and then choose 'Claim weekly benefits.'" But I can't even get to that point because of my original error. Has anyone dealt with this same issue? How did you fix it? The form mentions "If you are denied Pandemic Unemployment Assistance benefits you have a right for a hearing before an administrative law judge at no cost or obligation to you" - should I request a hearing? Any advice would be appreciated because I can't keep going like this.
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Anna Xian
Same thing happened to me but with a different question. I checked the wrong box about being available for work and my claim got stuck for 3 months. The phone lines are a complete joke - I called like 50 times a day for weeks and never got through.
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TillyCombatwarrior
•Did you ever manage to fix it? I'm starting to lose hope here...
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Anna Xian
•Yeah finally got it fixed but it took FOREVER. Had to basically dedicate my entire life to calling them non-stop. Not fun.
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Jungleboo Soletrain
•the whole system is designed to wear people down so they give up. That's how they save money 🤬
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Rajan Walker
I finally got someone on the phone using this service called Claimyr - saved my sanity! They stayed on hold for me and called me when an agent picked up. Talking to a human solved my problem in 10 minutes after months of frustration. Best money I've ever spent to get my benefits flowing again. They have a video explaining how it works: https://youtu.be/Rdqa1gKtxuE
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Nadia Zaldivar
•sounds too good to be true... does this actually work?
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Rajan Walker
•100% worked for me! After 4 months of trying to call myself and getting nowhere, I had my issue fixed in one day. The agent I spoke with even backdated my payments.
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Lukas Fitzgerald
•wait hold up - how is this even possible? the unemployment phone system is literally hell
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Rajan Walker
•They basically have a system that dials repeatedly and stays on hold so you don't have to. When a human finally answers, you get a call. Check it out: claimyr.com
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Ev Luca
•not falling for another unemployment 'hack'... these things never work 🙄
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Rajan Walker
•I felt the same way until I tried it. Was skeptical but desperate after months of nothing. Got my backpay within a week after talking to someone.
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Jungleboo Soletrain
You have to email them too, not just call. Send emails to every address you can find. I emailed them 37 times before someone responded. Also try contacting your local state representative - that's what finally worked for me.
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Nadia Zaldivar
The ny unemployment system is totally broken. I had the exact same problem but with a different question - I put the wrong start date for my last job. Took me 4 months to get it fixed and I only succeeded because I got my state senator involved.
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TillyCombatwarrior
•How did you contact your state senator? Did you just call their office?
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Nadia Zaldivar
•Yep! Just google your address + state senator, call their office and explain the situation. They have special contacts at unemployment who can help. It's ridiculous that this is what it takes, but it works.
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Lukas Fitzgerald
KEEP CALLING!! I know it seems hopeless but eventually you will get through. The best time to call is right when they open at 8am. Also try calling on Thursdays for some reason I noticed the wait times are shorter.
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Avery Davis
•I've been trying this for weeks with no luck. Are there any specific menu options that work better?
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Lukas Fitzgerald
•I found that if you select the option for "filing a new claim" instead of "existing claim issues" you sometimes get through faster even though it's not technically the right option. The agents can still help with any issue once you get someone.
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Avery Davis
Have you tried applying again completely? Sometimes it's faster to just start over with a new application than to fix an existing one with errors.
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TillyCombatwarrior
•Wouldn't that cause problems with my existing application? I'm worried about being flagged for fraud or something.
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Avery Davis
•Good point, don't do that unless you call and they tell you to. Bad advice on my part, sorry!
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Ev Luca
That COVID question causes so many problems! The system is super confusing because technically the COVID pandemic is over according to the government but the question is still there. I checked the wrong box too and it delayed my claim by 5 months.
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Collins Angel
I know this sounds crazy, but try calling right at 7:59am, then again at 8:00am, then 8:01am, etc. Keep doing it back to back. I did this for 3 days straight and finally got through on the third day. The system is overwhelmed but if you're persistent you'll eventually get lucky.
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Marcelle Drum
•This is what I did too! Got through after 4 days of trying this method. It's exhausting but it can work.
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Marcelle Drum
Here's what worked for me after being stuck for months with a similar issue. This is gonna be long but hopefully helps: First, document EVERYTHING. Write down every time you call, every error message, etc. This creates a paper trail. Second, try multiple contact methods simultaneously: - Call repeatedly (obviously) - Email every address you can find - Use their message portal on the website - Contact your state representative AND state senator - Reach out on their social media accounts - File a complaint with the NY Department of Labor Third, if all else fails, try using Claimyr.com - they'll wait on hold for you and connect you with an agent. I was skeptical but it worked when nothing else did. Lastly, when you DO get someone on the phone, be super nice but firm. Explain that you've been trying for months and need help. Ask for a supervisor if the first person can't help. Hang in there - the system is designed to be frustrating but persistence eventually pays off!
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TillyCombatwarrior
•Thank you so much for this detailed response! I'll definitely try all of these methods.
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Tate Jensen
•This should be the top comment. Solid advice 💯
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Tate Jensen
The unemployment office has a secret direct number that sometimes works better: 1-888-209-8124. Try that one instead of the main number. It still has long wait times but at least you might actually get in the queue.
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Adaline Wong
•That's actually the same main number that everyone uses... not a secret line unfortunately
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Tate Jensen
•oh shoot my bad. someone told me it was different. this whole system is so confusing
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Adaline Wong
Whatever you do, DO NOT submit a new application! This will just flag your account and make everything worse. I made this mistake and it took an extra 2 months to sort out.
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Gabriel Ruiz
try calling exactly at 7:30 am. The system says theyre closed but sometimes they pick up early. Thats how i got through after 3 months of nothing. Good luck!!!
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Misterclamation Skyblue
I had a similar issue and finally got it fixed. Tweet at NYSDOL with your issue (don't include personal info). They surprisingly respond to tweets faster than calls or emails sometimes.
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TillyCombatwarrior
•Really? That's surprising. Did you just @ them in a tweet explaining your issue?
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Misterclamation Skyblue
•Yep! Just tweeted @NYSLabor with something like "Been trying to reach someone about my unemployment claim for months with no success. Please help!" They DMed me within a day asking for my info.
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Peyton Clarke
Claimyr saved me too! After 5 months of trying to reach NY unemployment on my own, I used their service and got connected to a real person in a couple hours. They fixed my claim issue on the spot and I got all my backpay the next week. claimyr.com was literally the only thing that worked after trying everything else.
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Vince Eh
•another day, another company promising to fix the unfixable unemployment system lol
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Peyton Clarke
•Seriously, I was skeptical too. But when you've been hitting a wall for months, it's worth trying. They don't even handle your claim - they just get you connected to a real DOL agent who can.
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Sophia Gabriel
•Sounds interesting. How does it work exactly?
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Peyton Clarke
•They basically have tech that calls and navigates the phone system for you, stays on hold, and then calls YOU when a human finally answers. Saved me literally hundreds of hours of hold time.
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Vince Eh
Question abt that COVID box - I made the same mistake. When you finally got through to someone, were they able to just change it for you or did you have to go through some appeal process?
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Marcelle Drum
•When I got through, the agent was able to change it immediately. It's a common mistake so they have a process for it. Just make sure you get a confirmation number when they make the change!
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Vince Eh
•thx thats a relief! hopefully I can actually reach someone this century lol
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Sophia Gabriel
am i the only one who thinks its insane that the government expects us to know the exact technical definition of when the COVID pandemic officially ended for unemployment purposes? The form is so confusing!
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Tobias Lancaster
•SERIOUSLY!!! 👏👏👏 The pandemic is "over" for unemployment but still "happening" for student loans and "never existed" depending who you ask. Make it make sense!
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Ezra Beard
•This is why I lost 3 months of benefits. The question is deliberately confusing. They're hoping people mess up so they don't have to pay.
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Tobias Lancaster
btw - if you're really desperate, go to your local department of labor office IN PERSON. Sometimes they can help you there or at least give you better info on when to call.
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Ezra Beard
Have you tried faxing them? I know it sounds ridiculous in 2023 but sometimes the old school methods work when everything else fails.
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Statiia Aarssizan
•I actually did this! Sent a fax explaining my situation and included my phone number. Got a call back 3 days later. Totally worth finding a fax service online.
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Statiia Aarssizan
If ur having trouble with the covid question specifically, mention that when u do get someone on the phone. They have a special team that handles those issues and they can transfer u directly.
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