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'm dealing with almost the exact same situation - been trying to reach NYSDOL since June and getting the same immediate hangups. What's helped me recently is calling right at 8:00am sharp on weekdays using my work's landline instead of my cell phone. I managed to get through twice this way in the past two weeks, though one time I still got disconnected after waiting 45 minutes. One thing I learned from my first successful call: have EVERYTHING ready before you dial. They ask for your SSN, employment dates, employer information, and sometimes your driver's license number right away. If you fumble around looking for documents, they might disconnect you to move to the next caller. Also check your mail! I almost missed a physical letter they sent requesting additional wage verification documents - apparently some notifications only come by mail, not through the online portal. Make sure your address is updated in the system. The agent I spoke with mentioned they're prioritizing cases where people are facing eviction or utility shutoffs, so definitely mention your housing situation when you get through. They have a hardship escalation process that can speed things up significantly. Don't give up! I know it's incredibly stressful but multiple people in this thread have gotten through, so it IS possible. Keep trying different approaches and times.

I'm going through something very similar right now - been trying to reach them since late June with the same immediate hangup issue. Reading through all these responses is actually giving me hope that there are multiple paths to getting through! I wanted to add one more strategy that worked for my neighbor: she had success calling the Spanish language line (even though she speaks English) because it tends to have lower call volume. When she got through, the bilingual agent was able to help her in English without any issues. The Spanish line number is 1-888-209-8124 if anyone wants to try that approach. Also, for anyone dealing with the hardship situation like Diego mentioned - I work at a local food bank and we've seen a huge increase in people waiting for unemployment benefits. Don't be afraid to reach out to local resources while you're waiting. Many food banks, churches, and community organizations have emergency assistance programs that can help with rent or utilities while you're fighting to get your claim processed. The system is definitely broken right now, but seeing all these success stories in the comments proves it's not impossible. Keep trying different approaches and don't give up!

I've been following this thread closely since I'm dealing with a similar situation - pending claim since early July with the same frustrating hangup issue. After reading everyone's advice, I wanted to share a few additional things that might help: First, I discovered that the NYSDOL has a "Contact Us" form on their website that's separate from the secure messaging in your account portal. It's buried under "Help" > "Contact Information" and sometimes gets faster responses than the portal messages. Worth trying if you haven't already. Second, regarding the career center visits that Emma mentioned - I called ahead to my local center and they told me that Tuesdays and Wednesdays tend to be less crowded for walk-in unemployment issues. They also mentioned bringing a printed copy of your online claim summary along with your ID and any correspondence you've received. The Spanish line tip from Anna is genius - I'm definitely trying that tomorrow! And Isabella's advice about waiting through the entire "high call volume" message instead of hanging up immediately is something I wish I'd known weeks ago. For anyone else reading this who's in a similar boat - it sounds like the key is using multiple strategies simultaneously rather than just relying on the main phone number. The combination of early morning calls, different phone types, alternative phone lines, in-person visits, and proper documentation seems to be what finally breaks through. Diego, I hope some of these strategies work for you soon. The housing pressure is so stressful on top of everything else, but it sounds like you have a solid action plan now with all the advice in this thread.

I've been lurking on this thread and had to jump in because I went through this exact nightmare earlier this year. The combination of strategies everyone's sharing here is spot on - that's exactly what it takes to break through their broken system. One thing I haven't seen mentioned yet: if you have any documentation from your previous employer about your termination (layoff notice, severance paperwork, etc.), scan and upload that to your portal even if it doesn't specifically ask for it. My claim was stuck for weeks because they needed employer verification, and uploading those documents proactively helped speed things up once I finally got through to an agent. Also, if you're using the early morning calling strategy, have a backup plan ready. I found that if the first call at 8:00am doesn't work, immediately try the Spanish line Anna mentioned, then try again on a landline if you have access. Don't wait hours between attempts - the window seems to be pretty narrow. The career center visit is definitely worth trying too. I went to mine in Albany and while I had to wait about 90 minutes, the counselor there was able to see additional notes in my file that weren't visible in the online portal. She made some kind of notation that helped prioritize my case. Diego, hang in there. I know it feels impossible right now but with all these strategies you're going to get through. The system is absolutely broken but it's not unbeatable. Keep us posted on what works!

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 very similar situation since April and want to share what finally worked for me after reading through all these amazing strategies. The Spanish line tip from Anna was a game-changer - I got through on my second try at 8:01am and the bilingual agent was incredibly helpful, even though my Spanish is pretty basic. One additional tip that worked for me: when you do get through to an agent, immediately ask them to add notes to your file about the financial hardship and how long you've been trying to reach them. The agent told me this helps prioritize your case if there are any future issues or if you need to call back. Also, I discovered that if you're calling from a cell phone and keep getting the immediate hangup, try turning off WiFi calling if you have it enabled. Something about how their system handles VoIP calls seems to cause more disconnections. Diego, based on your timeline since May, you're definitely eligible for expedited processing due to hardship. When you get through, mention the potential eviction right away - they have special protocols for housing emergencies. The back payments should cover everything once it's resolved. Keep us posted on what works! This thread has become such a valuable resource for anyone fighting this broken system.

I've been following this thread closely and wanted to add a few more strategies that worked for me after dealing with a similar nightmare from March to June this year. One thing I discovered that hasn't been mentioned yet: if you're getting the immediate hangup, try calling from different area codes if you have access. I borrowed phones from friends in different parts of NY state and noticed the 585 (Rochester) and 315 (Syracuse) area codes seemed to have better success rates than NYC area codes. There might be some kind of regional call routing that affects connection rates. Also, I found that keeping a detailed spreadsheet helped tremendously when I finally got through. I tracked: date/time called, phone number used, how long before disconnect, any messages received, etc. The agent was impressed by my documentation and said it helped her understand the scope of the problem with my case. For the career center visits, call ahead and ask if they have any "unemployment specialists" available on specific days. Some centers have dedicated staff who are more experienced with complex cases and can access different systems than the general counselors. One last thing - if you're really desperate, some people have had luck reaching out to local news stations that cover consumer issues. The threat of media attention sometimes gets agencies to respond faster, though obviously that's a last resort. Diego, with your May timeline you absolutely qualify for emergency processing. Don't let them brush you off - be persistent about the hardship escalation!

I just wanted to say thank you to everyone who has shared their experiences and strategies in this thread. As someone who's been dealing with a similar situation since early July, reading through all of these success stories and concrete tactics has been incredibly helpful and given me hope when I was starting to feel completely defeated by this system. The variety of approaches people have discovered is amazing - from the Spanish line workaround to the specific timing strategies, landline vs cell phone differences, career center visits, and even the area code theory. It really shows that persistence with multiple methods is key rather than just repeatedly trying the same approach. I'm planning to start with the Spanish line (1-888-209-8124) tomorrow morning at 8:01am, then work through the other strategies people have shared if that doesn't pan out. I've already uploaded additional documentation to my portal proactively based on Khalil's advice and found that "Contact Us" form Ruby mentioned. Diego, I really hope one of these methods breaks through for you soon. The housing pressure on top of the bureaucratic nightmare must be incredibly stressful. But seeing how many people in this thread have actually succeeded in getting through gives me confidence that it's possible - just requires finding the right combination of timing, phone line, and approach. This community support has been invaluable. It's so much better than feeling like you're fighting this broken system completely alone!

I've been dealing with this exact same nightmare since late June and this thread has been a lifesaver! After reading through everyone's strategies, I tried the Spanish line (1-888-209-8124) this morning at exactly 8:01am and got through on my first try - couldn't believe it! The bilingual agent was incredibly patient and helpful, even though my Spanish is terrible. What really made the difference was being completely prepared with all my documents ready (thanks to Jason's advice about having everything organized beforehand) and immediately mentioning the financial hardship situation. The agent was able to see that my claim had been stuck due to a missing identity verification document that never showed up in my online portal properly. She escalated my case for expedited review and said I should see movement within 5-7 business days. She also confirmed that all my weekly certifications will be honored for back payments once it's approved. Diego, definitely try the Spanish line first thing tomorrow morning - it seems like the call volume is much lower and the agents are just as capable of helping with English-speaking cases. This thread has been amazing and I'm so grateful for everyone sharing their experiences and strategies. Sometimes it really does take a village to beat these broken government systems!