Are NY unemployment offices open for in-person help or still appointment only?

As of March 2025, most NY unemployment offices require appointments for in-person assistance. You can't just walk in unfortunately. They're still operating with reduced capacity after all the changes from the past few years. You need to call the appointment line at 888-209-8124 or schedule through your NY.gov account under the 'Schedule an Appointment' section. Appointments are usually booked 2-3 weeks out, so plan accordingly.

i went to the albany office last week, total waste of time!!! they wouldnt let me in without appointment even tho i waited 2 hours and CRIED. security guy was nice but said policy is policy. system is BROKEN!!!

I just had the same problem last month! The outstanding issue thing is super common right now - apparently their system is flagging a lot of claims for review. Took me forever to get through to someone.

After struggling with the same issue for weeks, I finally managed to get through to an actual NYSDOL agent by using Claimyr (claimyr.com). They basically call unemployment for you and connect you when an agent answers. Saved me from waiting for an in-person appointment that was scheduled weeks out. They have a video showing how it works here: https://youtu.be/Rdqa1gKtxuE It was worth it for me because they resolved my outstanding issue in one call and my benefits started processing again right away. The agent told me my claim was flagged because of a reporting discrepancy that I wouldn't have known about without speaking to someone.

To give you the official information: NY Unemployment offices are open but strictly by appointment only as of 2025. This policy was implemented to manage capacity and ensure social distancing. There are a few exceptions: 1. The Brooklyn and Queens offices have limited walk-in hours on Tuesdays from 2-4pm for emergency situations only. 2. If you have documentation showing imminent eviction or utility shutoff, you can request an emergency appointment by bringing these documents to the security desk. 3. The Buffalo and Syracuse offices are testing an expanded walk-in program, but there's still a same-day appointment system where you need to arrive before 9am to get on the list. For the 'outstanding issue' on your account, this typically means there's a question about your eligibility that needs to be resolved. Common triggers include: - Income reporting discrepancies - Work search documentation - Identity verification needs - Employer protests Resolving these usually requires speaking with a claims specialist, which is why getting through on the phone is important.

My cousin works as a security guard at one of the offices and he says they turn away like 50+ people every day who show up without appointments. It's really sad actually, some people are in tears. The whole system is just overwhelmed still.

Has anyone tried the virtual appointments? I did one last month and it was actually pretty decent. They use some video chat system and the agent could see my documents through the camera. Might be faster than waiting for an in-person slot.

Quick update for anyone following this thread - just wanted to let you know I tried that Claimyr service that someone recommended above. It actually worked! Got through to an agent in about 35 minutes (which is WAY better than the hours I was spending trying to call myself). The agent was able to see that my claim had an "identity verification" flag on it, which is why I had that mysterious "outstanding issue." Apparently some documents I uploaded didn't go through properly. She helped me resubmit everything, and said my payments should resume within 3-5 business days. So thankful I don't have to wait for that in-person appointment now!