Been trying to get through to NY unemployment since August - constant busy signals and hang ups

Welcome to the NY unemployment hellscape. I had the exact same issue back in June. Called probably 200+ times over 3 weeks and either got busy signals or the automated system would just hang up after putting me on hold for 20+ minutes. It's like they designed the system to make us give up.

After two months of failing to reach ny unemployment on my own, I found this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that basically calls for you and then connects you when a real person answers. It was the best money I've ever spent to finally get my benefits paid quickly. They also have this helpful video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/Rdqa1gKtxuE

I went through this EXACT same thing from April til July. It's absolutely ridiculous how they make it impossible to reach them. My advice: try calling right when they open at 8am, not 8:01, but exactly at 8. That's the only time I ever got through. It's stupid but it worked.

Have you tried emailing your state representative? That actually worked for me. I was in your shoes - couldn't get through for months after filing in september. I emailed my assemblyperson and suddenly my claim started moving within a week.

Not to be that person, but have you tried using the online message center in your account? I know its not ideal but I actually got a response after a week when I sent a detailed message there. The phone system is completely broken but sometimes the message center works.

As someone who managed to finally get through the ny unemployment system after FIVE MONTHS of trying, here's my comprehensive guide to actually reaching a human: 1. Call patterns matter. Try calling Tuesday-Thursday (avoid Mondays and Fridays which are their busiest days) 2. Call exactly at 8:00am or try between 11:30am-12:30pm when lunch shifts change 3. When you get the automated system, try pressing 2 then 1 then 3 (this route sometimes connects to different queues that might be less busy) 4. Use multiple phones if possible - I had my cell and landline going simultaneously 5. If you're desperate and can afford it, try claimyr.com - they'll stay on hold and call you when they reach an agent 6. Email your state representative AND state senator (both, not just one) 7. Document everything - dates, times, who you spoke with Don't give up! The system is designed to be frustrating but persistence eventually pays off. Hope this helps someone.

UGH the NY unemployment phone system is a JOKE. I literally had to call 437 times over 2 weeks before I got through. I'm not exaggerating - I kept a tally. When I finally got through, the lady who helped me was actually super nice, but the system is designed to weed people out.

Sadly this is normal for NY unemployment lately. My claim was stuck in limbo for 11 weeks. The only thing that worked was having my union rep escalate it. Do you belong to any organization that might be able to advocate for you?

The system hasnt improved one bit since the pandemic. You would think after all that time they'd have fixed these issues but NOPE still the same garbage. I feel your pain. Keep trying and document EVERYTHING.

i spent 2 ENTIRE DAYS last month just hitting redial. no joke, 9 hours each day just calling over and over. finally got thru and they fixed my issue in 5 minutes. its absolutely ridiculous how they run things.

srsly if someone from ny unemployment is reading this: FIX YOUR FREAKING PHONE SYSTEM!!! its 2023 for crying out loud! how is this acceptable?!?!?!

Have you checked if your claim has any unresolved issues on the website? Sometimes there's a questionnaire or document they need but they never actually notify you. Worth checking your online account thoroughly.

idk if this helps but I noticed I got through when I used a different phone number than my cell. Used my mom's landline and got through after only 12 tries vs the 100+ on my cell. Might be they block numbers that call too many times? Just a theory.

I had similar issue but when I finally got thru agent said they couldn't find my claim in the system at all!!! Had to reapply from scratch and then wait another 6 weeks. Check that your claim is actually in their system.

after 2 months of the same busy signal BS i broke down and used claimyr. got through to an agent who fixed my claim that day. my benefits hit my account 2 days later. was in the EXACT same position as you.