Can't reach NY unemployment since May - phone system hangs up immediately

Same exact thing happened to me in April. After a month of getting hung up on, I finally got through using Claimyr. It's a service that basically calls for you and gets you in line with an agent. I was super skeptical at first, but was desperate enough to try it. Got connected to an actual human in about 20 minutes after weeks of failed calls. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/Rdqa1gKtxuE and their website is claimyr.com if you want to check it out. The agent fixed my pending claim issue in one call.

Call exactly at 7:58am - that's when their phone system turns on but before the queue fills up. Also, try using a different phone number if possible. Sometimes certain carriers get blocked when they have too many calls coming from the same prefix. Press 3, then 1, then wait until it asks for your SSN, enter it, then press 2 when it asks about an existing claim. That's been the most reliable path to a human agent in my experience.

If your claim has been pending for 3 months, that usually means there's an identity verification or eligibility issue they need to resolve. Phone isn't always the best approach - have you tried these alternatives? 1. Send a secure message through your NY.gov account messaging center 2. Visit your local NY Career Center in person (bring ID and all claim documents) 3. Contact your state representative's office - they often have direct channels to unemployment offices The phone system is unfortunately designed to manage call volume by disconnecting when queues are full rather than offering wait times, but these other channels can sometimes be more effective.

the system is RIGGED to make people give up!!!!! i went through the same thing for FIVE MONTHS last year. they DELIBERATELY hang up on people hoping you'll just stop trying. call your state assembly person, seriously. thats the ONLY way i finally got my claim fixed. the whole system is broken on PURPOSE.

have you tried calling from a different phone? my cell kept getting the busy signal but when i used my moms phone it worked first try

To answer your question about Claimyr - they just need your phone number since they're connecting the call. I was nervous too but it worked fine. Their whole thing is they have technology that can keep dialing and get through the busy signals. When I got connected to DOL, I just gave my info directly to the unemployment agent like normal.

One important thing to know - if your claim has been pending for more than 3 weeks, you're supposed to keep certifying for benefits each week even though you haven't been approved yet. Many people don't realize this and miss out on back payments they're entitled to. Make sure you're doing your weekly certifications even while waiting for the initial claim decision.

I work as an employment counselor (not for NYSDOL directly). Right now they're dealing with a big backlog due to the new claim system implementation from March 2025. Many claims from April-June are stuck in processing. When you do reach an agent, make sure to ask them to escalate your claim to a supervisor for expedited review due to financial hardship. Be prepared with your work history details, employer contact information, and any relevant documents showing your eligibility. The more prepared you are, the faster they can resolve your claim once you reach someone.

If you've been trying since May and it's now August, you definitely qualify for a hardship escalation. When you do get through (either via Claimyr, career center visit, or early morning calling), immediately mention that you're facing eviction due to the delay. They have special procedures for expediting claims where the claimant is at risk of losing housing. Document everything - dates you've called, messages you've sent, and any reference numbers they give you.

I've been in a similar situation and here's what finally worked for me after 2 months of getting hung up on: I found that calling on Tuesday mornings around 8:02am had better success rates than other days. Also, if you have access to a landline phone, try that instead of cell - I noticed fewer disconnections. One thing that really helped was keeping a detailed log of every call attempt with timestamps. When I finally got through, the agent appreciated that I had documented everything and it helped expedite my case. Have you checked if there are any identity verification documents they might be waiting for? Sometimes the "pending" status is because they need additional paperwork but the system doesn't clearly communicate that. You can usually see this in your online account under "Correspondence" or "Documents Required" section. Hang in there - I know how frustrating and stressful this is, especially with rent due. The system is definitely overwhelmed but most people do eventually get through and receive their back payments.

I went through this exact same nightmare last year and I feel your frustration completely. The key thing that finally worked for me was persistence with multiple strategies at once. Don't put all your eggs in one basket - try the career center visit that Emma suggested, use a landline if you can get access to one, AND consider the Claimyr service that Henrietta mentioned if you're really desperate. One trick I discovered: if you get the "high call volume" message, don't hang up immediately. Sometimes if you wait through the entire message and stay on the line for 30-60 seconds, it will actually transfer you to hold music instead of disconnecting. It doesn't work every time, but it worked for me twice out of about 15 attempts. Also, make absolutely sure you're checking that "Documents Required" section in your online portal - I missed important identity verification requests that were buried in there. Your 3-month delay might be because they're waiting for paperwork you didn't know they needed. Keep certifying every week no matter what, and document everything. You WILL get through this, even though it feels hopeless right now. The back payments will come once it's resolved.

I just wanted to jump in and say how incredibly helpful this entire thread has been - reading through everyone's experiences and strategies has given me so much hope after months of feeling completely stuck with my own unemployment claim issues. For anyone else who might be reading this and feeling overwhelmed by all the different approaches, here's what I'm taking away as the most promising strategies to try in order: 1. Call the Spanish line (1-888-209-8124) early morning around 8:00-8:02am 2. If that doesn't work, immediately try the main line from a landline phone 3. Use the separate "Contact Us" form on the website (not just portal messaging) 4. Visit local career center on Tuesday/Wednesday with all documents 5. Consider Claimyr service if desperate 6. Contact state representative if all else fails The key seems to be persistence with multiple approaches rather than relying on just one method. Also making sure to check for any missed document requests in the portal and keeping detailed logs of all attempts. Diego, I really hope one of these strategies breaks through for you soon. The housing pressure must be incredibly stressful on top of everything else. This community has shown that people ARE getting through the system - it's just a matter of finding the right combination of timing, phone line, and approach. Thank you to everyone who shared their experiences and strategies - this kind of mutual support makes such a difference when dealing with broken government systems!

I've been dealing with a nearly identical situation since June - stuck claim, immediate hangups, the whole nightmare. This thread has been absolutely incredible to discover! The collective wisdom here is better than anything I've found through official channels. I wanted to add one more strategy that worked for my sister last month: she had success calling during her lunch break around 12:15pm on Wednesdays. Apparently there's sometimes a brief window when call volume drops while people are at lunch. She got through after trying this timing for about a week. Also, for anyone considering the Claimyr service that Henrietta mentioned - I was skeptical too but ended up trying it after six weeks of failed calls. It worked exactly as described and I felt comfortable with their process. They just need your phone number to connect the call, then you speak directly with the NYSDOL agent yourself. Diego, with your timeline since May and housing pressure, you absolutely need to mention "financial hardship" and "potential eviction" in the first 30 seconds of any call. They have special protocols for housing emergencies that can fast-track your case significantly. The Spanish line strategy (1-888-209-8124) seems to be the breakthrough method based on multiple success stories here. Definitely try that at 7:59-8:01am with all your documents ready. This community has given you an incredible toolkit - you're going to get through this!