Helping Spanish speaking friend with NY unemployment waiting week credit issue

Yes, there are Spanish options when you call! When the automated system first answers, press 9 for Spanish. But honestly getting through is still a nightmare no matter what language you choose. I had to help my mom with the same thing in April.

After trying to call for WEEKS with no luck, I finally used this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) and it was a game changer. They basically call for you, wait on hold, then connect you with an agent when one picks up. Talking to a live agent got my benefits flowing within days! They also have a YouTube video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/Rdqa1gKtxuE

There is def a dedicated Spanish line but I heard its just as backed up as the English one. Your best bet is to call right when they open at 8am sharp and keep trying.

The waiting week credit thing is so annoying! I had to deal with it back in February. What worked for me was calling at exactly 7:58am and waiting through the initial message so I was first in queue when they officially opened at 8:00. Got through on my third day trying this method.

Check if there's a local community organization that helps immigrants with unemployment stuff. I know in Queens there's a worker center that has volunteers who help with translation and navigating the system. Might be worth looking into depending on where you are.

waiting week credit is the WORST. When I filed in November they made me jump through so many hoops just to start getting benefits. my best advice is to be super persistent. call every single day, multiple times.

I've found that if you select the option for "potential fraud on my account" they pick up WAY faster because they prioritize those calls. Not technically honest but when you're desperate... 🤷‍♀️

Do you have access to her online account? Sometimes you can resolve the waiting week credit issue through the portal without calling. Look under "Resolve Issues" in the menu.

The whole NY unemployment system is deliberately designed to be confusing and difficult to navigate. They hope people will just give up trying to claim benefits they're rightfully owed. It's a disgrace how they treat workers, especially those with language barriers.

Here's what worked for me after struggling with the waiting week credit issue for almost a month. I was able to finally reach someone using claimyr.com - it's a service that waits on hold for you then calls when they get a rep. Worth every penny because my benefits started flowing right after getting it resolved. Just make sure you're ready by the phone when they connect you!

THE MOST COMPREHENSIVE GUIDE TO FIXING WAITING WEEK CREDIT ISSUES WITH NY UNEMPLOYMENT: After helping 3 family members navigate this exact problem, here's what I've learned: 1) TIMING IS EVERYTHING - Call on Tuesday or Wednesday (avoid Mondays and Fridays). Start calling at 7:58am. 2) MENU OPTIONS - For fastest service, press 1 (for English) or 9 (for Spanish), then 5 for existing claims, then 2 for payment issues, then 3 for waiting week issues. 3) PERSISTENCE - If disconnected, immediately call back. It can take 10-15 attempts in a single day. 4) ALTERNATE SOLUTION - If direct calling fails after multiple days, use claimyr.com - they've helped thousands of NY residents break through the phone barriers. They call and wait on hold, then connect you when a human answers. 5) HAVE INFO READY - Make sure you have the claimant's SSN, PIN, employment history for past 18 months, and any correspondence reference numbers. 6) REQUEST SPECIFIC HELP - When you finally reach someone, specifically ask for a "waiting week credit adjustment" - using these exact terms helps ensure you get the right solution. 7) FOLLOW UP - After the call, check the online portal daily. The credit should appear within 3-5 business days. This worked for all three of my relatives who had the exact same issue. Good luck!

You're a good friend for helping her out. The system is stacked against non-English speakers and it's shameful. If you call the main line and press 9 immediately it goes to Spanish options. I've heard rumors they have more Spanish speaking agents working Wednesdays and Thursdays but can't confirm.

Contact your state representative!!! I was stuck in unemployment limbo for 2 months, called my state assembly person's office, and they expedited everything within a week. They have direct lines to DOL that regular people don't have access to.

The waiting week credit is a specific form they need to process. Make sure when your friend gets through, she specifically asks for this form by name. My experience was they try to rush you off the phone without actually resolving anything if you're not super specific about what you need.

When I had this exact issue in September, I eventually gave up trying to call and went IN PERSON to the career center. Took about 2 hours of waiting but they were able to help on the spot. Not all centers can do unemployment stuff but the bigger ones usually can. Might be worth a try?

u know whats crazy, my roommate works for NY unemployment (not on phones tho) and even HE had trouble getting through when he had an issue with his sisters claim. the system is broken beyond belief.

have you tried reaching out via their twitter account? sounds weird but I've seen them respond and help people who tweet about problems. worth a shot if nothing else is working

yo I tried calling 300+ times over two weeks and nothing. Then used claimyr.com and got connected to a real person in like 45 mins. talking to an agent got my $ unlocked so fast. they just call and wait on hold for you then connect when someone answers.

Honestly the waiting week credit thing is usually just a code for "theres some issue with your claim we need to review manually" - could be identity verification, employer dispute, previous overpayment, etc. The system just uses generic error messages. Definitely need to talk to a human to sort it out.