Can't certify for NY unemployment because of waiting week - phone lines always busy
I've been trying to get someone on the phone for two weeks because I'm unable to certify online due to needing to request credit for my waiting week. What other options do I have? I've spent all day calling every 30 mins from exactly 8am and I keep getting that all reps are busy. Getting very frustrated 🙄 The website says I HAVE to speak with a representative to resolve this waiting week issue, but it feels impossible to get through. Has anyone successfully reached NYSDOL lately? Any tricks or better times to call?
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Ethan Taylor
The waiting week credit request is a common bottleneck right now. I got through after trying these specific times: 8:30am exactly (right after the initial rush), 11:45am (before lunch), and 3:30pm (when afternoon shift changes happen). Also, Wednesdays and Thursdays seem to have slightly shorter wait times than Mondays or Fridays in my experience.
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Aisha Khan
•Thank you! I've been trying mostly mornings, so I'll try those mid-day and afternoon times. Did you have to do anything special when the automated system answered?
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Yuki Ito
I know it's frustrating! I needed to request credit for my waiting week last month too. What worked for me was using Claimyr (claimyr.com) - they have a system that holds your place in line and calls you back when an agent is available. Saved me hours of redial hell. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/Rdqa1gKtxuE
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Aisha Khan
•Never heard of this before. Does it actually work? I'm desperate enough to try anything at this point.
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Carmen Lopez
•my cousin used that service last wk and got thru in like an hour!! she had been trying for days b4 that
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AstroAdventurer
THEY DO THIS ON PURPOSE!!!! Make it IMPOSSIBLE to get through so people give up on their claims. I tried for THREE WEEKS straight last year when I had a similar issue. The system is BROKEN BY DESIGN. Even if you call at 7:59am, one minute before they open, you still get the "all representatives are busy" message. It's a SCAM to reduce their payout numbers.
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Ethan Taylor
•While the system is definitely overloaded, I don't think it's intentionally designed to block claims. The waiting week credit requests require manual review by a claims specialist, which creates a bottleneck. They're understaffed for the volume of requests they receive, especially at the beginning of each month.
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Andre Dupont
have u tried the callback feature on the website? i think its somewhere in ur account settings. u put ur number and they call u back. worked 4 me last time but took like 2 days
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Aisha Khan
•I looked everywhere on the site and couldn't find a callback option specifically for the waiting week issue. Where exactly did you find it?
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Andre Dupont
•oh maybe they got rid of it. it was under contact us last yr when i used it. sorry bout that
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Zoe Papanikolaou
I'm in the same exact boat right now! Can't certify because of this waiting week thing. Been calling for 9 days straight with no luck. I'm so worried about losing my benefits. Did anyone here actually manage to get this resolved? What did the rep actually do once you got through?
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Ethan Taylor
•Once you get through, the process itself is quick. The rep will verify your identity, confirm your claim details, and manually process the waiting week credit. Takes about 10-15 minutes once you actually reach someone. They'll update your account so you can resume weekly certification online immediately after the call.
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Jamal Wilson
I went through this last month and finally got through after using a weird trick - I selected the Spanish language option even though I don't speak Spanish. When I got a rep, I just explained I hit the wrong option, and they still helped me. The Spanish queue seems to have fewer callers but same agents can handle both languages.
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Aisha Khan
•That's a clever idea! I might try that if the other suggestions don't work. Did the rep seem annoyed that you used that workaround?
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Jamal Wilson
•Not at all! They were just happy to help. I think they understand how frustrating the phone system is.
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Carmen Lopez
my brother works for the state (not unemployment but another dept) and he says always call on weds morning cuz thats when they have most staff and least calls
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Zoe Papanikolaou
•I'll definitely try Wednesday morning! Any specific time your brother recommends?
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Carmen Lopez
•he said like 10:30 after the morning rush is best
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Yuki Ito
Just wanted to follow up - were you able to get through using any of these methods? The waiting week credit issue is specifically mentioned in DOL guidance as requiring specialist assistance, which is why it forces you into the phone queue. For those still struggling, document each call attempt (date/time) in case you need to show you were actively trying to resolve the issue.
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Aisha Khan
•I actually managed to get through! I tried the Claimyr service that someone mentioned above, and I got a callback with a rep about 50 minutes later. The rep processed my waiting week credit in about 10 minutes, and I was able to certify for all my back weeks right after. Worth every penny to avoid the endless redial nightmare. Thanks everyone for all the suggestions!
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Isabella Oliveira
•That's awesome that you got through! I'm still stuck in the same situation - been trying for over a week now. Just signed up for Claimyr based on your success story. Quick question - did they charge you upfront or only after they successfully connected you to a rep? And did you have to stay by your phone the whole time or could you go about your day?
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Steven Adams
•@Isabella Oliveira They only charge after you successfully connect with a rep - no upfront payment! You can definitely go about your day. They send you text updates on your position in queue, and when it s'your turn they call you first to make sure you re'available before connecting you to the DOL rep. I was able to run errands and just kept my phone with me. Super convenient compared to sitting by the phone hitting redial all day!
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Anastasia Kozlov
I'm dealing with the exact same waiting week issue right now! It's so frustrating that they force you to call for something that should be automated. Reading through all these suggestions gives me hope though. I'm going to try the Wednesday 10:30am strategy first since that seems like solid insider info, and if that doesn't work I'll definitely look into Claimyr. The fact that multiple people here got through using different methods makes me feel like there's actually a light at the end of the tunnel. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences - this community is a lifesaver when dealing with these government systems!
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GalacticGladiator
•@Anastasia Kozlov Welcome to the struggle! I went through this exact same nightmare about 6 months ago. One thing I d'add to the great advice already here - if you do try calling on Wednesday at 10:30am like Carmen s'brother suggested, have your claim information ready to go social (security number, PIN, employer details because) once you get through, they ll'want to verify everything quickly. Also keep a notepad handy to write down any reference numbers they give you. The whole process moves fast once you actually reach someone. Good luck - you ve'got this! 💪
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Lydia Santiago
•@Anastasia Kozlov I just went through this exact same situation last week! Pro tip - when you do get through and (you will! ,)ask the rep to also check if there are any other pending issues on your account while you have them on the line. I found out I had a minor address verification flag that would have caused problems later. Also, once they process your waiting week credit, you might see a brief delay before you can certify online - don t'panic! It usually updates within 2-4 hours. The rep told me this is normal as their systems sync up. Hang in there, the relief when you finally get it resolved is amazing!
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