Best time to call NY unemployment and is there a secret number to bypass the queue?

I heard 8:30 am is supposedly the best time to call, but honestly it's like playing the lottery. I've tried calling at opening, middle of the day, right before closing - nothing seems to work consistently. Some days I get through in 15 mins, other days I'm on hold for 3 hours then get disconnected right as someone picks up 🤮

After months of trying to get through to someone about my claim, I finally found a service that actually works. Used this website called claimyr.com and they somehow managed to get me through to an actual person. Best money I ever spent considering I was about to lose my apartment. They called and stayed on hold, then when an agent picked up, they connected me directly. Saved me HOURS of frustration and got my benefits released within 48 hours after talking to the agent. Here's a video that shows how it works: https://youtu.be/Rdqa1gKtxuE

I worked for NY unemployment briefly during the pandemic. Here's what I can tell you: The "press X to get through faster" tricks DID work at one point but they've updated the phone system since then. Most of those shortcuts have been removed. Best times to call are Tuesday-Thursday between 8:15-9:00am or 3:30-4:00pm. Avoid Mondays at all costs. Fridays are hit or miss.

The trick I used to get through (last month) was to pick the Spanish option then press 9 for English when the next menu comes up. Somehow the Spanish queue was shorter and I only waited about 30 mins instead of the usual infinity 💯

Honestly the phone system is completely useless. The only way I got my issue fixed was by contacting my state assemblyman's office. Send them an email explaining your situation and they have direct channels to DOL that actually work. Took about 5 days but they got someone to call ME. Worth a shot if nothing else works.

Been dealing with NY unemployment issues for what feels like eternity, and I've realized its all about persistence. When you call, dont give up after 1-2 tries. I literally had to call 27 times in one day before getting through. Start calling at 7:55am and keep hitting redial. Also, having all your info ready (SSN, claim ID, exact dates) makes the call go WAY faster when you finally get someone.

I've had the best luck calling at exactly 8:05am on Wednesdays. Seems to be their least busy day. Still waited 45 mins on hold but at least got through. Don't waste time with the automated system - it's useless. Just keep pressing 0 or whatever gets you to a human fastest.

One thing that has helped me through this whole ny unemployment nightmare is using claimyr.com. Instead of spending DAYS trying to get through on the phone, they handle the calling and hold time for you. When they get an agent, they connect you immediately. Saved me so much frustration and actually got my benefits moving again after being stuck for weeks. The unemployment system is beyond broken, but this service helped me navigate it.

If your calling from a cell phone make sure u have good reception!!!! I finally got through after a 2hr wait and then my call dropped because I went into my basement where I get bad service. I literally cried 😭

If you press 2, 4, 3, 3 right after the main menu, it shortens the automated part of the call. Doesnt guarantee you'll get a human, but it bypasses about 2min of pointless recordings. Also! Make sure your calling from the number thats on your account or some reps will refuse to help you.

NEVER call on Monday unless you enjoy pain. Tuesdays are slightly better but still awful. Wednesday and Thursday are your best bet. At this point I'm convinced Friday doesn't exist in the NY unemployment calendar because no one ever answers.

After dealing with the absolute NIGHTMARE that is NY unemployment, I've compiled a comprehensive guide based on my experience and what actually worked for me: 1) Timing matters - Call between 8:00-8:30am midweek (Tues-Thurs) for best results 2) Persistence is key - Expect to call multiple times, sometimes 20+ attempts before getting through 3) Have all your documents ready - They'll ask for verification and having everything prepared saves valuable time 4) Be concise but complete when explaining your issue - The clearer you are, the faster they can help 5) If your case is urgent (eviction notice, utilities shut off, etc), state that immediately 6) Consider using claimyr.com - This service saved me countless hours by handling the hold time for me and connecting me directly to an agent when one was available 7) As a backup plan, contact your local state representative's office - They have special channels to DOL 8) Document everything - Write down who you spoke with, call reference numbers, and promised timelines The system is fundamentally broken, but there are ways through it if you're strategic. Hang in there!

Hot take: the phone system is deliberately terrible to discourage people from claiming benefits. Change my mind. 🤔

The secret code thing is mostly outdated. Back in 2021 pressing 9 right after the first menu would sometimes bypass the queue, but they patched that pretty quick. These days what works is just calling repeatedly during off-peak hours.

I've been in the exact same boat as you @Evelyn - pending for weeks, couldn't get through no matter what I tried. What finally worked for me was a combination of things: calling at 8:15am on Wednesdays (seems to be the sweet spot), and when that didn't work consistently, I ended up using claimyr.com like some others mentioned here. I was skeptical at first but honestly it saved my sanity. They handle all the calling and waiting, then patch you through when they get an agent. Got my issue resolved within 2 hours of being connected vs the weeks I spent trying on my own. The system is absolutely broken but there are ways around it. Hang in there, you'll get through eventually!

Just wanted to share what finally worked for me after reading through all these suggestions. I tried calling at 8:15am on Wednesday like @Ezra mentioned, and after about 12 attempts I actually got through! The key was having all my documents ready - SSN, claim number, bank info, employment dates, etc. The actual conversation with the rep took maybe 10 minutes once I had everything organized. My claim went from "pending" to "released" within 24 hours. For anyone still struggling - don't give up! The timing advice here is solid. Avoid Mondays completely, and those mid-week morning calls really do seem to work better. Also make sure you're calling from the phone number on your account or some reps won't help you (learned that the hard way). Good luck everyone! 🤞

I feel your pain @Evelyn! I've been stuck in the same nightmare for about 2 weeks now. What's been driving me crazy is that automated message that keeps saying "we're experiencing higher than normal call volumes" - like, when ISN'T it higher than normal at this point? 😤 I've tried most of the tricks mentioned here but the Spanish line bypass stopped working for me too. The Wednesday 8:15am timing seems promising though - gonna set my alarm and try that tomorrow. Also bookmarking that claimyr.com thing as a backup plan because honestly I'm running out of options and patience. One thing I learned the hard way - make sure your phone is fully charged before calling! Nothing worse than your battery dying while you're finally on hold. Been there, done that, wanted to throw my phone out the window lol. Thanks for starting this thread, at least now I know I'm not alone in this madness! 🤞

This thread is exactly what I needed! I've been stuck in unemployment hell for 2 months now and was starting to lose hope. Reading all these success stories gives me some light at the end of the tunnel. Going to try the Wednesday 8:15am strategy first thing tomorrow - seems like multiple people have had luck with that timing. Also really appreciate the tip about having all documents ready beforehand, I've been scrambling to find paperwork mid-call which probably makes me sound unprepared. If the direct calling doesn't work out after a few more attempts, I'll definitely check out that claimyr service everyone's mentioning. At this point I'm willing to try anything to get my benefits moving again. Thanks everyone for sharing what actually worked - this is way more helpful than the useless DOL website! 🙏

I've been lurking on this thread for a while and finally decided to share my experience. After 4 weeks of pending status and literally hundreds of failed call attempts, I was about to give up completely. Then I found this thread and tried the Wednesday 8:15am strategy that everyone's been talking about. It took me 3 Wednesdays in a row, but on the third try I got through on my 6th call around 8:18am! The rep was actually really helpful and got my claim moving within 48 hours. What really made the difference for me was being super organized - I had a whole checklist printed out with my claim ID, SSN, last employer details, dates of employment, reason for separation, and even my direct deposit info all written down clearly. When the rep asked questions I could answer immediately instead of fumbling around. The actual call only took about 12 minutes once I got connected. For anyone still stuck - don't lose hope! The system is absolutely terrible but persistence really does pay off. The timing advice here is spot on, and having your paperwork organized beforehand is crucial. You've got this! 💪

After reading through all these suggestions, I'm feeling way more hopeful than when I first posted! It sounds like the Wednesday 8:15am strategy is definitely the way to go - so many people have had success with that timing. I'm going to try that first thing tomorrow and follow @Keisha's advice about making a printed checklist with all my info organized beforehand. I always get flustered when I finally reach someone and end up forgetting half the details they need. If the direct calling doesn't work out after a few more strategic attempts, I'll definitely look into that claimyr service that @Isaac, @Lauren and others mentioned. Honestly at this point spending some money to avoid the endless hold nightmare sounds worth it, especially with rent due next week like I mentioned. Thanks everyone for all the real advice - this thread has been more helpful than anything I've found on the official DOL website. It's also weirdly comforting to know I'm not alone in this madness! Will report back on how the Wednesday morning calls go. Fingers crossed! 🤞

Just wanted to jump in here as someone who literally JUST got off the phone with NY unemployment after weeks of trying! Reading through all these comments while I was stuck in the same boat, and I can confirm the Wednesday 8:15am strategy is REAL. Got through on my second call this morning around 8:17am and my claim that's been pending for 3 weeks is finally moving. The rep told me something interesting - apparently they do have more staff available mid-week mornings because that's when they process the most claims from the weekend backlog. So there's actually a reason the timing works, it's not just coincidence! For anyone still struggling: definitely make that checklist like @Keisha suggested, have your phone fully charged, call from the number on your account, and don't give up after a few tries. I called 9 times before getting through but it was SO worth it. My first payment should hit by Friday according to the rep. There IS hope! 🙌

I've been dealing with this exact same situation for the past month and it's been absolutely maddening! After trying literally everything - different times of day, various button combinations, even that Spanish line trick that used to work - I finally had some success using a combination of strategies from this thread. What worked for me: Wednesday mornings between 8:10-8:20am (tried it 3 weeks in a row before getting through), having ALL my paperwork organized beforehand (claim ID, SSN, employment dates, bank info, etc.), and most importantly - persistence. I called 15 times in one morning before finally getting connected around 8:16am. The rep I spoke with was actually really helpful once I got through and explained that mid-week mornings are genuinely better because they have more staff processing weekend backlogs. My claim went from pending to approved within 2 days after that call. For anyone still stuck in this nightmare - the system is absolutely broken but these timing strategies are legit. Don't waste time with the old "secret codes" anymore, they've patched most of those. Focus on Wednesday/Thursday mornings, have your info ready, and just keep hitting redial. I know it's exhausting but it really does work eventually! Also keeping that claimyr.com option as a backup plan if anyone runs out of patience with the direct calling approach. Sometimes you just need to try every angle until something works. Hang in there everyone! 💪

I'm in the exact same boat right now - claim has been pending for over 2 weeks and I'm getting nowhere with the phone system. After reading through all these comments, I'm definitely going to try the Wednesday 8:15am strategy that so many people have had success with. The fact that multiple reps have confirmed there's actually more staff during mid-week mornings makes this feel like a real approach rather than just random luck. Going to follow @Keisha's advice and make a printed checklist with all my info (claim ID, SSN, employment dates, bank details) so I'm not scrambling when I finally get someone on the line. It's really reassuring to see that persistence actually pays off even when it takes multiple weeks of trying. If the direct calling doesn't work out after giving it a solid effort, I'll definitely look into that claimyr.com service that @Isaac, @Lauren and others mentioned. At this point I'm willing to try anything to get my benefits moving again. Thanks everyone for sharing what actually worked - this thread has been more helpful than anything on the official DOL website! 🤞

I've been struggling with the same issue for about 10 days now - my claim has been stuck in pending status and I literally cannot get through to anyone! Reading through all these comments is giving me so much hope though. The Wednesday 8:15am strategy seems to be the real deal based on all the success stories here. I'm definitely going to try that tomorrow morning and follow everyone's advice about having all my documents organized beforehand (claim ID, SSN, employment history, etc.). It's honestly ridiculous that we have to become phone system hackers just to access our own benefits, but I'm grateful for communities like this where people share what actually works. The official DOL website and automated system are completely useless. Going to set multiple alarms for tomorrow morning and give the mid-week timing approach a real shot. If that doesn't work after a few attempts, I'll definitely check out that claimyr.com service that so many people mentioned. Thanks everyone for the real advice - this thread is more valuable than anything I've found elsewhere! 🙏

I've been following this thread closely since I'm dealing with the exact same nightmare - claim pending for 2.5 weeks now and I can't get through no matter what I try! The Wednesday 8:15am strategy everyone keeps mentioning sounds legit, especially since multiple people have confirmed that reps actually told them there's more staffing during mid-week mornings. I'm definitely going to give this a proper shot tomorrow - already set my alarm and organized all my paperwork (claim ID, SSN, employment dates, bank info) into a neat list so I don't sound like a mess when I hopefully get someone on the line. It's honestly insane that we need to become phone system experts just to access our own benefits, but I'm grateful for threads like this where people share what actually works vs the useless official channels. If the strategic calling doesn't pan out after giving it a real effort, I'm absolutely checking out that claimyr.com service that several people mentioned. At this point I'm willing to try anything to get my claim moving again. Thanks everyone for the genuine advice - this community has been more helpful than months of dealing with the DOL directly! 🙏

I've been stuck in this exact same situation for almost 3 weeks now and it's been absolutely exhausting! My claim has been pending forever and I was starting to lose hope until I found this thread. The Wednesday 8:15am strategy that everyone keeps mentioning sounds like it's actually based on real staffing patterns rather than just luck, which gives me so much more confidence to try it. I'm definitely going to follow @Keisha's advice about making a printed checklist with all my info organized - claim ID, SSN, employment dates, direct deposit details, etc. I always get so nervous when I finally reach someone that I end up forgetting the most basic information they need! It's honestly ridiculous that we have to become phone system strategists just to access our own benefits, but I'm grateful for communities like this where people share what actually works vs the completely useless official DOL resources. If the strategic Wednesday morning calling doesn't work out after giving it a real shot, I'll definitely check out that claimyr.com service that multiple people have had success with. Thanks everyone for sharing genuine experiences and advice - this thread has given me more hope and practical guidance than months of trying to navigate this broken system on my own! 🙏

I've been dealing with this exact same nightmare for about 6 weeks now - my claim has been stuck in pending status and I was literally about to give up until I found this thread! Reading through everyone's experiences has given me so much hope, especially seeing the Wednesday 8:15am strategy work for so many people. What really stands out to me is that multiple reps have actually confirmed there's more staffing during mid-week mornings because they're processing weekend backlogs - finally an explanation that makes sense! I'm definitely going to try this approach tomorrow and follow all the great advice here about having everything organized beforehand (claim ID, SSN, employment history, etc.). The fact that people are getting through after weeks of strategic attempts rather than random calling gives me confidence this is a real solution. If the direct calling doesn't work after giving it a proper shot, I'll absolutely look into that claimyr.com service that @Isaac, @Lauren and others mentioned - at this point I'm willing to try anything to get my benefits moving. Thanks everyone for sharing what actually worked instead of just generic advice. This community has been more valuable than everything on the official DOL website combined! 🙏