Can't reach NY unemployment by phone - is visiting Albany office an option?

I tried going to the Albany office last month when I had a similar problem. You technically CAN go there, but they have this new system where you have to scan a QR code outside and make a virtual appointment first. Most of the time they're booked solid for days. You end up just sitting in your car waiting for a text message. Total waste of time for me. Try Claimyr if you want to actually reach someone by phone. It basically calls for you and holds your place in line, then calls you when an agent is available. Worked for me after trying for 2 weeks on my own. Check out their site at claimyr.com - they have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/Rdqa1gKtxuE

The way NY unemployment works now is RIDICULOUS!!! I applied back in November and didn't get ANYTHING for 7 weeks! No explanation, no updates, NOTHING! They expect us to just sit around waiting while bills pile up??? The system is COMPLETELY BROKEN and they don't care at all about us regular people.

There are a few common reasons why your claim might be delayed: 1. Identity verification issues - make sure you completed the ID.me process 2. Missing work history information 3. Your employer disputed some information 4. System backlog (especially common right now after the January system updates) Before trying to visit in person, check your NY.gov account message center. Look for any notices about additional documentation needed. Many times they've requested something but the email notification gets filtered to spam. If nothing appears there, your best bet is to keep trying the phone lines early in the morning (7:30-8:00am) when they first open. Be prepared with your NY.gov ID, the last 4 of your SSN, and any claim numbers you've received.

when i had issues i found the best time to call was tuesday around 10:30am for some reason got through twice at that time might be worth a shot good luck

The Albany office visits now require an appointment through the NY.gov portal. Go to your dashboard, select "Schedule In-Person Assistance" and choose Albany from the dropdown. However, based on current wait times, you're looking at about 2-3 weeks for an available slot. A faster approach is to call the Technical Support line (not the regular claims line) at 888-209-8124 and press 1, then 9, then 2. This sometimes bypasses the main queue. Explain that you have a technical issue accessing claim information, then they'll usually transfer you to a claims specialist once they realize it's not actually a technical problem. Also, check if your claim shows as "pending" or if it has another status. If it's pending, that usually means they're still processing. If it shows "additional information needed," that's your problem right there.

After my disaster trying to get through, a friend let me use her phone to try calling from a different number. GUESS WHAT? I got through in 20 minutes! The system is rigged to ignore certain phone numbers that call too much. Try using a different phone if you can.

i had the exact same problem last month!!! so frustrating! i found out that my employer had put the wrong end date on my employment verification which is why everything was held up. apparently they sent me a message about it but it never showed up in my inbox??? do you have access to your payment history page? sometimes that shows pending issues even when the message center doesn't

Happened to me too. Took 6 weeks to get my first payment. System is beyond broken right now.

If your claim still shows as "submitted" after nearly a month, that's unusual. Normally it would change to "pending" within a few days. This suggests there might be an issue with the initial submission. One thing to check: did you receive a confirmation email when you first applied? If not, there's a possibility the application wasn't properly processed in the system. Regarding your payment history being empty - that's actually normal until your claim is approved and your first payment is processed. Based on your situation, I would prioritize making contact by phone. The technical support line suggestion is excellent. Another option is to contact your state representative's office. They often have dedicated channels to unemployment offices and can make inquiries on your behalf.

Did you try Claimyr yet? I mentioned it earlier and seriously, it saved me so much time and frustration. I was in the exact same spot as you - applied, waiting forever, couldn't get through by phone. Used their service and had an agent on the phone within 2 hours. Found out there was a wage verification issue they needed to fix.

call right at 7:30am thats what worked for me got through in 10 min

Just to clarify some information about the Albany office: As of January 2025, all NY unemployment offices require appointments scheduled through the portal. However, they do reserve a limited number of same-day appointments each morning. If you arrive at the Albany office before 8:00 AM and scan the QR code outside, you may be able to secure one of these same-day slots. Important: Bring all your documentation with you - ID, Social Security card, your NY.gov account information, and any claim-related emails or documents you've received. They won't be able to help you without these items. Based on your description (claim stuck in "submitted" status for almost a month), this suggests a potential issue with your identity verification or employer verification. These are the two most common hold-ups in the early processing stages.

I had luck emailing unemployment.feedback@labor.ny.gov with my issue. Put your claim ID in the subject line. Got a call back within 3 days.

has anyone else noticed that the system seems to be extra broken lately?? like more than usual?? my friend applied in december and got approved in 2 weeks but everyone applying in january is having all these delays and problems getting through

Update: I finally got through! Called the technical support line trick at 7:35am and got connected to someone after about 45 minutes. Turns out there was an issue with my identity verification that never triggered a notification to me. The agent was able to clear it on the spot and said my claim should be processed within 72 hours. Thanks everyone for all your help and suggestions!