Can't get through to NY unemployment - are there ANY working phone numbers?

Unfortunately those are the right numbers, it's just impossible to get through. I spent TWO MONTHS trying to reach them everyday and kept getting hung up on. Have you tried reaching out to your local assemblyperson? Mine actually helped push my claim through when I was stuck in the same situation.

After weeks of trying to get through the regular phone lines, I found this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that basically waits on hold for you then calls you when a real person picks up. Talking to an agent got my $ unlocked so fast it was worth every penny. They have this video explaining how it works: https://youtu.be/Rdqa1gKtxuE - honestly it was the only way I could talk to a live agent.

Call your state Senator too! They can sometimes help push claims through faster than Assembly members. I had success with both offices helping me when my claim got mysteriously flagged for "identity verification" even though I'd been collecting for months.

Bro the NY unemployment system is literally designed to make you give up. They don't want to pay you. I swear they hang up on purpose so less people get benefits. It's criminal what they're doing to people who PAID into this system through their taxes.

Here's what you need to do to actually get through to NY unemployment (I work with them regularly): First, understand that the system is overwhelmed, but there ARE ways to get through. The main line (888-209-8124) does work, but timing is everything. Your best window is Tuesday-Thursday between 8:05-8:20am or 3:45-4:15pm. These times have lower call volumes. If that doesn't work, try the Telephone Claims Center at 888-783-1370, press options in this order: 1, then wait, then 5, then 1 again. Sometimes this route has shorter wait times. As others have mentioned, contacting your local assemblyperson or state senator is extremely effective. They have dedicated liaisons at DOL. Another option that saved me hours of frustration was using Claimyr.com - it's a service that waits on hold for you then calls when an agent picks up. Talking to a real person solved my issue in minutes after weeks of frustration. Lastly, document everything! Note the dates you called, emails sent, and any confirmation numbers. This documentation can help when you finally get through. Hope this helps! The system is tough but not impossible.

You can also try contacting them through Twitter @NYSLabor - sometimes their social media team can escalate issues. It worked for my roommate when her benefits suddenly stopped in January.

Have you checked if there were any action items in your online account? Sometimes they need additional docs but don't tell you except through the online portal. I missed that for 3 weeks and my payments were on hold the whole time.

bro I feel ur pain. I've been dealin with these clowns for like 2 months now. My account got flagged for "possible fraud" because I moved apartments and changed my address. Like wtf?? Now I can't get anyone on the phone to verify my identity and my rent is due in 3 days 😭

Don't waste time with phone calls. Here's what worked for me: 1) Email your state senator AND assembly member on the same day 2) Fill out the DOL contact form online every 3 days (be persistent) 3) Ask your previous employer to contact them on your behalf I tried calling for 4 weeks straight with no luck. Did these 3 things and my issue was fixed in 8 days.

Try finding the direct extension for the department handling your specific issue. When I had an identity verification problem, I found out extension 62389 goes directly to that dept. Might be worth asking around if anyone knows the extension for payment holds.

Did you certify for benefits every week even though you weren't getting paid? If you miss even one week of certification, they can suspend your benefits. Happened to me last summer and it was a nightmare to fix.

i finally got through using claimyr.com after trying to call for weeks. u pay them and they wait on hold 4 u, then call ur phone when they get a real person. it worked and i got my problem fixed in like 10 min. the lady said my account was flagged for review but she cleared it and my money came two days later

The ny unemployment system is total garbage but its not personal. Everybody goes thru this crap. I literally had to reach out to my LOCAL STATE OFFICE to get them to intervene and contact someone at the DOL. Try that route, those offices have direct contacts.

Do u have access to a fax machine? I know it sounds crazy but faxing your issue to them at 518-457-9378 sometimes works. My sister did this after weeks of calling and got a callback the next day.

What time do you usually call? I found that if you call at EXACTLY 7:58am (2 mins before they officially open) you sometimes get through because you get in the queue right as the system turns on. Worked for me twice.

Those are the only real numbers. But it's not impossible! Here's how I finally got through after trying for almost 3 weeks. I used this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that someone here recommended. They basically call unemployment for you and wait on hold, then when a real person answers, they connect you. It was worth every penny because the agent I spoke to fixed my payment issue immediately. Before that I tried calling over 50 times and either got disconnected or was on hold for hours only to get hung up on. This unemployment system is broken but at least there are ways around the phone nightmare!