Been waiting for ny unemployment since 2021, always busy signals - any alternate phone numbers?

Have you tried going in person to one of the career centers? Sometimes face-to-face is the only way to get things done with these government agencies. I was stuck in pending for about 4 months before I finally went in person.

After struggling with the phone lines for weeks, I finally found a service called Claimyr that saved me so much time and stress. They call NYSDOL for you, wait on hold, and then connect you when a real person picks up. Talking to an agent got my benefits flowing again after months of nothing. Best decision I made during this whole ordeal, honestly. Check out their process here: https://youtu.be/Rdqa1gKtxuE

18 MONTHS PENDING?! That's absolutely insane even by NY unemployment standards. Something is definitely wrong with your claim. Have you tried contacting your state representative? That's what finally worked for me after 3 months of silence.

Check if your claim has been flagged for identity verification. This happened to me and I was stuck in pending hell for 7 months. You need to upload your ID documents again through their secure document upload system. The system is garbage and sometimes doesn't register that you've completed the identity verification.

I know this sounds crazy but try calling EXACTLY at 7:59am right before they open at 8am. Thats how I finally got through after weeks of trying. The hold was still like 2 hours but at least I got in the queue.

The unemployment system in this state is completely broken. 18 months is criminal neglect. I'd honestly consider getting a lawyer at this point - some will take cases on contingency if you're owed a lot of back pay.

Here's what worked for me after months of dealing with NY unemployment issues (I was pending for 5 months): 1. Email your state senator AND assembly member - do both! They can both help. 2. If you've been certifying regularly, make sure to mention the exact dates you've been waiting for payment in any communication. 3. Check if there are any outstanding questionnaires in your online account that need completing. Sometimes there's a hidden form they need. 4. If calling doesn't work, try the Claimyr service (claimyr.com) - it connects you with agents when they get through the phone queue. This was a game-changer for me. 5. You might need to re-verify your identity. Check if there's a DocuSign email you missed or a message in your online account. 6. As a last resort, file a complaint with the Department of Labor through their official channels. Don't give up! The system is frustrating but persistence eventually pays off. After I got through using Claimyr, an agent cleared all my back payments in about 20 minutes. I had to be a bit forceful but respectful about how long I'd been waiting.

You might have an identity verification problem. Check your spam folder for emails from ID.me or NYSDOL asking you to verify your identity. This holds up a lot of claims.

try calling this number: 888-209-8124. if that's the one ur already using, then try their alternate: 855-528-5618. sometimes the second one has a different queue. good luck!

have u tried twitter? sounds silly but sometimes tweeting @NYSLabor with your issue (don't share personal info) gets their attention. worked for my roommate after months of nothing.

Whatever you do, DO NOT STOP CERTIFYING WEEKLY even if you're not getting paid. If your claim eventually gets approved, they can only pay you for weeks you certified for.

i was stuck in pending for 5 months. wasted sooooo much time trying to call. finally used claimyr.com after my friend recommended it. got through to an agent who fixed my claim in one call. if ur desperate, its worth checking out.

18 months is WAYYY too long. The system buggs out sometimes and u fall through the cracks. After 90 days u should be asking for a supervisor or manager. call right when they open and press options for 'payment not received' not general questions.

Check your message inbox on the unemployment website. Sometimes they send messages there but don't email you that you have a message. I had an issue that needed to be resolved sitting in my inbox for 3 months and I had no idea 🤦‍♂️