Can't reach anyone after NY unemployment reapplication - 2 months with no response

The disconnection issue happens when their call queue is full, which is pretty much all the time these days. The NY unemployment system is completely overwhelmed in 2025 due to the economic situation. Have you tried using their message portal on the website? Go to your NY.gov account, navigate to the unemployment dashboard, and look for the message center link. Create a detailed message explaining your situation and include your claim ID. They usually respond within 10-14 business days through the portal, which isn't great but better than not getting through at all.

same thing hapened to me last month!!! try calling exactly at 7:58am (right b4 they open) and keep hitting 0 as soon as the automated system starts. sometimes it works but u gotta try like 20 times in a row lol

I was in the exact same situation in January - reapplied and then complete silence for almost 10 weeks. What finally worked for me was using Claimyr (claimyr.com). It's a service that helps you get through to an actual human at the unemployment office. They basically hold your place in line so you don't have to keep redialing. I was skeptical at first but after watching their demo (https://youtu.be/Rdqa1gKtxuE) I decided to try it, and they got me through to an agent in about 45 minutes. The agent was able to look up my reapplication and found that there was an identity verification issue that was never communicated to me. Fixed it on the spot and my benefits started flowing again two weeks later.

this happened to my brother too he just gave up and found a job at walmart

Let me provide a bit more complete information here since there seems to be confusion. When you reapply for unemployment benefits in New York, there are several common issues that can delay processing: 1. Identity verification issues (very common in 2025) 2. Employment history discrepancies 3. Employer response delays 4. System flagging for potential eligibility issues In my experience working with claimants, most reapplications taking over 4 weeks usually have a pending issue that requires agent intervention. The system should generate a notification in your online account or mail a letter, but the notification system has been unreliable since the January 2025 system update. If you can't reach someone by phone, here's what I recommend: 1. Contact your state assembly member or senator's office - they have dedicated channels to unemployment issues 2. Send a detailed message through the secure portal marking it "URGENT: 8+ WEEKS NO DETERMINATION" 3. Check if you can attend an in-person session at a NY Career Center 4. Look for the "Request for Claim Escalation" form in your online portal (it's somewhat hidden) Your benefits, if approved, will be backdated to when you first applied, so you won't lose money due to their delays.

THE WHOLE SYSTEM IS RIGGED!!!! They DELIBERATELY make it impossible to get through because they don't want to pay people. I was in the same boat for THREE MONTHS before I finally got my benefits. They had "lost" my reapplication even though I had a confirmation number and everything. Then they tried to claim I hadn't been looking for work when I had documented EVERYTHING. The state is BROKE and they're doing everything they can to avoid paying legitimate claims!!!

Something nobody has mentioned yet - check if your reapplication was flagged for quarterly wage review. This happens when the quarter changes (like it did in April 2025). When this occurs, they review any reported wages from employers for the previous quarter before processing your claim. This can add 3-4 weeks to the process without any notification. You can check if this is happening by looking at your payment history page - if there's a message about "wage review pending" or "quarterly certification required," that's your issue.

I'm so worried this is going to happen to me too...I'm about to reapply next week when my benefit year ends. Reading this is making me panic. What if I can't pay my rent? Did you try going to the actual unemployment office in person? I'm wondering if that might be better than calling?

Just wanted to share what finally worked for me last month. After trying everything, including that Claimyr service someone mentioned (which did get me through but the agent couldn't help with my specific issue), what ACTUALLY fixed my problem was emailing my state senator's office. They have staff dedicated to helping constituents with unemployment issues. I emailed on a Monday explaining my situation, got a response Tuesday asking for details, and by Friday I got a call from a supervisor at NYSDOL who fixed everything. My benefits were in my account the following Wednesday including all my back pay. Don't give up!