Got a missed call from 888-581-5812 - is this really NY unemployment or a scam?

That is actually a legitimate NYSDOL number! It's one of their outbound numbers they use when they need to contact claimants about issues with their claims. If your claim has been pending for 3 weeks, they're probably trying to verify some information or ask additional questions. I'd recommend calling them back at their main claims number (not necessarily that exact number) as soon as possible. You don't want to delay your claim any further.

had the same thing happen 2 me last week!!! they called 2 more times and i finally picked up. they needed 2 verify my employment history cuz something didnt match up. took like 5 mins and then my payment went thru 2 days later!!

Be careful! While 888-581-5812 is a legitimate NYSDOL number, scammers can spoof phone numbers to make it look like they're calling from official sources. If they call again, make sure they don't ask for your full social security number, banking details, or passwords. A legitimate NYSDOL representative will only ask for partial information to verify your identity, like the last 4 digits of your SSN or your date of birth, not complete sensitive information. If you want to be extra cautious, you can hang up and call the official unemployment number yourself to verify if they're trying to reach you.

THIS IS DEF THE REAL NUMBER!!! I got a call from them last month when my claim was pending. MAKE SURE YOU ANSWER! They only try 3 times before they stop calling and then your claim can get delayed for WEEKS more. This happened to my cousin and he had to start the whole process over again. DON'T MISS THE NEXT CALL!!!!!

I've been dealing with NY unemployment for months now and getting through to them is absolutely miserable. After my claim was pending for weeks, I started using Claimyr (claimyr.com) to get through to an agent without waiting on hold forever. They have this clever system that calls NYSDOL and then calls you when an agent is on the line. Saved me hours of frustration. You can see how it works in their demo: https://youtu.be/Rdqa1gKtxuE When NYSDOL called me from that 888 number, it was because there was an issue with my employment dates that needed verification. Got it sorted in one call once I actually talked to someone.

I got a call from that exact number two days ago. I answered and it was indeed NYSDOL. They needed additional information about my last employer before they could approve my claim. I was suspicious at first too, but the agent was able to reference specific details from my application that a scammer wouldn't know. One tip: When I called back the main number (because I had another question later), I mentioned I had received a call from them, and they were able to put a note in my file that I had responded. This seemed to help move things along.

anyone else notice they ALWAYS call at the worst times?? like when ur in the bathroom or just stepped out to grab lunch lol

To clarify for everyone: 888-581-5812 is indeed a legitimate NYSDOL number used for outbound calls. Here's what you need to know: 1. If they call, they're likely trying to resolve an issue with your claim that's causing the pending status 2. They typically make 2-3 attempts to reach you by phone 3. If they can't reach you by phone, they'll send a secure message to your online account and/or a letter 4. You do have a limited time to respond (usually 7-10 days from their final attempt) 5. Missing their calls won't automatically deny your claim, but it will extend the processing time If you missed their call, I recommend: - Calling the main claims number (888-209-8124) during regular business hours - When connected, explain you missed a call from their office and want to address any issues with your claim - Be prepared with your claim information and employment history details - Check your online account for any secure messages they may have sent This should help you get your claim moving again.

I can add my experience here - I got multiple calls from 888-581-5812 over the past few months while my claim was being processed. It's definitely legitimate NYSDOL! In my case, they were calling because they needed to verify some employment dates that didn't match up with what my previous employer reported to them. The calls usually came between 1-4 PM on weekdays. When I finally answered, the representative was very professional and had access to all my claim details. They asked me to provide some documentation via their secure upload portal, and my claim was approved within a week after I submitted everything. One thing I learned: if you keep missing their calls, you can also try calling the main number and asking to speak with the "adjudication department" - that's the team that handles these verification calls. They can sometimes address the issue right then instead of having to wait for another outbound call. Don't stress too much about missing one call - they really do try multiple times and will send you written notice if they can't reach you by phone. But definitely be proactive about calling them back since you've been pending for 3 weeks already.