Can't certify for NY unemployment by phone - system always busy and online not working

Try calling exactly at 7:58am - that's when their system first opens and you have the best chance of getting in the queue before it fills up. Also make sure you're calling the right certification number (888-581-5812) not the general claims number. If you keep getting technical errors online, you'll need to speak with someone to fix your account access.

This happens EVERY SINGLE MONTH! The NYSDOL phone system is a JOKE. They expect us to certify but make it IMPOSSIBLE to get through. I've been on unemployment since November and it's ALWAYS like this around the 15th when everyone is trying to certify. You basically have to treat it like a full-time job just trying to get through.

I had the same problem last month, and ended up using Claimyr to get through to a rep. They basically call for you and hold your place in line, then call you back when they reach a real person. Saved me hours of frustration. Their site is claimyr.com and they have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/Rdqa1gKtxuE. I was skeptical but it actually worked when I couldn't get through for over a week on my own.

For the 'account verification required' error online, you're dealing with two separate issues: 1. The phone certification problem - which is unfortunately common during high-volume periods 2. An account security flag - this happens when there's unusual activity detected, when you use a new device, or after system maintenance For the online issue, try these steps first: - Clear your browser cache and cookies - Use a different browser entirely - Try from a computer instead of phone (or vice versa) - Make sure you're entering your NY.gov ID exactly as registered If those don't work, you'll need to speak with someone in the account services department (different from regular claims). The technical support line opens at 8:30am and sometimes has shorter wait times: 800-833-3000.

hi i hav the same problm right now!!! online says im locked out and phone just busy busy busy. did u get thru yet?? i need to pay my bills!!

You know what helps sometimes? If you have a friend or family member who can try calling for you at the same time, it increases your chances of getting through. Also, I think Thursdays are less busy than Mondays or Fridays. But also, do you have any kind of virtual private network (VPN) turned on? That might be causing your online verification problem since the system flags unusual IP addresses.

Just checking in - were you able to get through with any of these methods? If you've tried everything and still can't certify, you should document all your attempts (dates, times, screenshots of errors). This will help if you need to request retroactive certification later. Don't panic yet - NYSDOL will typically allow backdated certification if you can show you made reasonable attempts to certify on time but were prevented by system issues.

My cousin had this exact same problem last month and it took him 2 weeks to finally get someone on the phone. By then he'd already missed one payment cycle. The whole system needs an overhaul honestly. When I was on unemployment back in early 2025 it was nowhere near this bad.

I'm dealing with this exact same issue right now! Been trying to certify for 5 days straight and getting nowhere. The phone system hangs up on me every single time and my online account shows some weird error about "identity verification pending" that won't let me proceed. I've tried calling at different times throughout the day but it's always the same busy message. This is so stressful when you're depending on these benefits to survive. Going to try some of the suggestions mentioned here - especially that early morning calling tip and checking if there's a separate technical support line. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences, at least I know I'm not alone in this nightmare!

I'm having the exact same problem! Been trying to certify for 3 days now and the phone system just disconnects me every time. My online account is completely locked with some verification error that makes no sense. Reading through all these comments is both helpful and depressing - it's crazy that so many of us are dealing with this broken system. I'm going to try calling at 7:58am tomorrow like someone suggested, and if that doesn't work I might have to look into that Claimyr service. It's ridiculous that we have to jump through so many hoops just to access our own benefits. The stress of potentially missing payments is keeping me up at night. Thanks to everyone sharing their experiences and solutions - at least we're all in this together!

I'm going through this EXACT same situation right now! Been trying for 4 days straight to certify and it's absolutely maddening. The phone system just plays that "all representatives are busy" message and hangs up immediately - doesn't even put you on hold! And my online account keeps showing "system maintenance in progress" even though their website says maintenance was completed days ago. Reading through everyone's experiences here is both comforting and infuriating - comforting to know I'm not alone, but infuriating that this many people are dealing with a broken system when we're all just trying to follow the rules and certify on time. I'm definitely going to try that 7:58am calling strategy tomorrow morning, and I'll also test the technical support line at 800-833-3000 that was mentioned. If those don't work, I might have to bite the bullet and try Claimyr since @Zainab Ibrahim had success with it. It's ridiculous that we might have to pay a third party service just to access our own benefits, but if it works it might be worth it to avoid missing payments. Thanks everyone for sharing your tips and experiences - it really helps to have a community going through this together!

I'm dealing with this same nightmare right now! Been trying to certify for the past 6 days and it's absolutely infuriating. The phone system just gives me that "all representatives are busy" recording and immediately hangs up - no option to hold, no queue, nothing. My online account is completely locked with some "security verification needed" error that provides zero instructions on how to actually verify anything. What's really getting to me is that I followed all the rules, filed on time, and now I can't even access the system to certify through no fault of my own. My rent is due in 5 days and I'm starting to panic about missing this payment cycle completely. After reading through all these responses, I'm going to try calling at exactly 7:58am tomorrow morning and also test that technical support line at 800-833-3000 for the verification issue. If those don't work, I might have to try Claimyr even though it's frustrating to pay for something that should just work in the first place. Thanks to everyone sharing their experiences - it's both comforting and maddening to know so many of us are stuck in this broken system together. At least we're helping each other find solutions!

I'm going through the EXACT same nightmare right now! Been trying to certify for 5 days straight and it's like the system is designed to keep us out. The phone just gives me that infuriating "all representatives are busy" message and hangs up immediately - no hold option, no queue number, nothing. My online account keeps showing "session expired" errors even when I just logged in seconds ago. What's really stressing me out is that my certification window closes in 2 days and I haven't been able to get through once! I've tried calling at different times throughout the day but it's always the same result. Reading through everyone's experiences here is both a relief and incredibly frustrating - relief that it's not just me, but frustrating that so many of us are stuck in this broken system. I'm definitely going to try that 7:58am calling strategy tomorrow morning that several people have mentioned. Also going to clear my browser cache and try a different device for the online portal. If those don't work, I might have to look into Claimyr too - it's ridiculous that we should have to pay a third party just to access our own benefits, but missing payments would be even worse. Thanks everyone for sharing your tips and experiences. At least we know we're not alone in this mess!