How do I reopen my unemployment claim with NYS Department of Labor after it closed?

Thank you! I found the reopen option but it's asking about job search activities. Do I need to have been looking for work during the 6 weeks my claim was closed?

What if you can't get through the phone lines to talk to someone about reopening? I've been trying for days and keep getting hung up on after waiting an hour.

I had the same issue with getting through to NYS Department of Labor when I needed to reopen my claim. I ended up using Claimyr to get connected to an agent. It's a service that calls you back when they reach someone at the unemployment office. Check out claimyr.com - they have a video demo at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI that shows how it works. Saved me hours of calling and getting disconnected.

I get the frustration but they need to verify eligibility each time. The good news is reopening is usually faster than filing a new claim since your work history is already in the system.

This is really helpful information! I'm curious - when you say they may put you through a brief adjudication process, how long did that take in your experience? I'm hoping to get my benefits reinstated quickly since I've been without income for a couple weeks now. Also, did you have to provide any specific documentation about your temp job ending, or was it mostly just answering questions online?

In my case, the adjudication took about 10 days once I submitted all the required info. They mostly wanted me to confirm online that my temp job ended due to lack of work (not misconduct or voluntary quit) and verify I was actively seeking employment again. I didn't need to provide physical documentation initially, but I did keep my final paystub and any communication about the job ending just in case they requested it later. The good news is you can usually start filing weekly claims right after reopening even while the adjudication is pending - you just won't receive payments until it's approved. Hang in there, it should move faster than a brand new claim!

This is excellent advice about the job search activities question! I'm going through this process right now and was worried about that exact issue. During my 6-week gap, I wasn't actively searching because I thought my temp assignment might get extended, but it sounds like having a reasonable explanation is what matters. The tip about filing the weekly certification immediately after reopening is also super helpful - I'll make sure to do that right away. Has anyone else had issues with the my.ny.gov site being slow or timing out during the reopen process? I want to make sure I don't lose my progress halfway through.

I've definitely had issues with the my.ny.gov site timing out, especially during peak hours! My workaround was to use the site early in the morning (like 6-7 AM) or late at night when there's less traffic. Also, if you're filling out a long form, I'd recommend taking screenshots of each page as you go - that way if it times out, you have a record of what you already entered. Another tip: don't use the back button on the browser during the process, always use the navigation buttons within the site itself. The system seems to get confused when you use browser navigation. Good luck with your reopen process! @Sophie Duck

@Sophie Duck - I had the exact same timeout issues with my.ny.gov! The site seems to get overwhelmed during peak hours. I found the best times to access it were early morning before (8am or) late evening after (9pm .)Also, save your progress frequently if the system allows it, and keep screenshots of each page just in case. If you do get timed out, don t'panic - you can usually pick up where you left off by logging back in. The system typically saves your partial application. One more tip: if you keep having technical issues, you can also try calling the technical support line not (the claims line -) they re'separate departments and the tech support wait times are usually much shorter.

@Sophie Duck Yes, the my.ny.gov site can definitely be glitchy! I had timeout issues when I was reopening my claim too. A few things that helped me: try doing it early in the morning or late evening when there s'less traffic, use Chrome or Firefox instead of Safari, and make sure you save your progress frequently if the system allows it. If you get timed out, don t'panic - you can usually pick up where you left off by logging back in. Also, I d'recommend having all your information ready before you start employment (dates, reason for separation, etc. so) you can fill it out quickly without having to stop and look things up. The system seemed to work better for me when I completed the whole process in one sitting rather than leaving it partially done.

This is really reassuring to hear from someone who just went through this! I'm definitely still within my benefit year - it doesn't expire until next March. The phone interview possibility is something I hadn't considered, so I'll make sure to keep all my documentation from the temp agency handy. Did they contact you by phone or email to schedule the interview, or was it just a random call? I want to make sure I don't miss it if they try to reach me. Also, when you say it took 3-4 business days, was that from when you submitted the reopen application to when you could start filing weekly certifications again?

@Anthony Young In my experience, they sent me an email through the my.ny.gov message system to schedule the phone interview - it wasn t'a random call. The email came about 5 days after I submitted my reopen application, and they gave me a few time slots to choose from. The 3-4 business days I mentioned was specifically for the initial reopen processing - after that I could log in and see my claim was active again and start filing weekly certifications. But the phone interview if (they require one can) add another week or two to get everything fully resolved and payments flowing again. Make sure to check your messages in the my.ny.gov portal regularly and respond quickly to any requests - that seems to speed up the process.

@Anthony Young In my case, they sent me an email notification about the phone interview and gave me a specific date and time window when they d'call. It was about a week after I submitted my reopen application. The interview itself was pretty straightforward - they just wanted to confirm the details about why my temp job ended and verify I was actively looking for work. And yes, the 3-4 business days was from submission to when I could start filing weekly certifications again. Just make sure your phone number is current in your account so they can reach you if needed!

@Anthony Young In my case, they actually sent me a message through my my.ny.gov account about scheduling the phone interview - it wasn t'just a random call. They gave me a few time slots to choose from, which was nice. The 3-4 business days was from when I submitted the reopen application to when I got the notification that my claim was active again and I could file my weekly certification. The phone interview if (you need one might) add a few extra days to the process, but they usually schedule those pretty quickly. Just make sure to check your my.ny.gov messages regularly and also keep an eye on your email since they sometimes send notifications there too. Having your temp agency contact info and any paperwork about the job ending definitely helped speed things along for me.

@Anthony Young They contacted me by email first to schedule the phone interview, so make sure to check your inbox regularly including (spam folder .)The email came from a noreply NYS DOL address and gave me a few time slots to choose from. The 3-4 business days was from when I submitted the reopen application online to when I got the confirmation that my claim was active again and I could file my weekly certification. The phone interview happened during that time period - I think it was on day 2 or 3. The interview itself was pretty straightforward, just confirming the dates I worked at the temp job and why the assignment ended. Having my final paystub and the email from the temp agency about the assignment completion made it go smoothly. Good luck with your reopening process!

@Anthony Young In my case, they actually sent me an email notification through my my.ny.gov account about scheduling the phone interview, not a direct call. You ll'get a message in your inbox on the portal telling you to call them within a certain timeframe to complete the eligibility interview. And yes, the 3-4 business days was from submitting the reopen application to when I could see the weekly certification option appear in my account. Just make sure you check your messages on the site regularly during that period since that s'how they ll'communicate with you about any next steps!

@Anthony Young In my case, they actually sent me an email first with a phone interview appointment time about a week after I reopened my claim. The email came from a noreply address but had clear instructions about when they d'call and what number they d'use. They give you the option to reschedule if the time doesn t'work. And yes, the 3-4 business days was from submitting the reopen application to being able to file weekly certifications - though I should mention that my first payment was held up until after the phone interview was completed. The interview itself was pretty straightforward - just confirming the details about why my temp job ended and that I was ready to work again. Make sure your phone number is updated in your account so they can reach you!

@Anthony Young In my case, they actually sent me an email notification about the phone interview with a specific date and time to call in not (them calling me .)It came about 5 days after I submitted the reopen application. The 3-4 business days I mentioned was just for the initial processing of the reopen request - after that there was the additional interview step before I could actually start certifying again. So total time was probably closer to 2 weeks from start to finish. Make sure to check both your email and your my.ny.gov message center regularly during this period. Also keep your phone handy during business hours just in case they do try calling directly - I ve'heard some people say they got surprise calls instead of scheduled interviews.

@Anthony Young In my case, they actually emailed me first to schedule the phone interview - it came from a noreply email address but had clear instructions on how to respond with my availability. They gave me about 48 hours to respond and offered several time slots over the next week. The phone call itself was pretty straightforward - they just wanted to confirm the details I d'entered about my temp job ending and verify I was actively seeking work again. As for timing, yes, the 3-4 business days was from submitting the reopen application to when I could access the weekly certification system again. I got an email confirmation when it was approved, and then the weekly filing option showed up in my account the next day. Just make sure to check your email regularly including (spam folder during) this period so you don t'miss any communications from them!

@Anthony Young In my case, they actually sent me a message through my my.ny.gov inbox first asking me to call them within 5 business days to discuss my claim. They also sent a letter to my mailing address with the same information and a phone number. I didn t'get a random call - they wanted me to contact them. And yes, the 3-4 business days was from when I submitted the reopen application online to when I got the message that my claim was active again and I could file my weekly certification. Just make sure you check your inbox on the site regularly after you submit, not just your email. I almost missed their message because I was only checking my regular email!

@Anthony Young In my case, they actually sent me a message through the my.ny.gov portal first asking me to schedule a phone interview, rather than just calling out of the blue. I got an email notification that I had a message in my account, and when I logged in there was a form to select available time slots for the interview. The whole thing was pretty straightforward - they just wanted to confirm the details about why my temp job ended and verify I was actively seeking work. And yes, the 3-4 business days was from when I submitted the reopen application to when I could access the weekly certification system again. Just make sure to check your account daily after submitting because sometimes the notifications can be delayed!

@Anthony Young In my case, they actually sent me an email first asking me to schedule a phone interview through their online portal. It wasn t'a surprise call, which was nice because I could pick a time that worked for me. The 3-4 business days was from when I completed the online reopen application to when I got the confirmation that my claim was active again and I could file my first weekly certification. However, I should mention that I didn t'need the phone interview - they only do that if there are questions about your separation reason. Since my temp job clearly ended due to completion of the assignment I (had documentation from the agency ,)they processed it without the interview. Just make sure you re'completely honest and detailed when filling out the separation reason section of the reopen application - that seems to be what determines whether they need to follow up with you or not.

@Anthony Young In my case, they actually sent me a message through my my.ny.gov inbox first asking me to call them within 5 business days to complete a phone interview. It wasn t'a random call - they gave me a specific number to call and reference number to use. I d'recommend checking your online account daily after you submit the reopen application because that s'how they ll'contact you initially. And yes, the 3-4 business days was from submission to being able to file weekly certifications. The interview if (needed might) add a few more days to the process, but it was pretty straightforward - they just wanted to confirm the details about why my temp job ended and verify I was ready to look for new work.

@Anthony Young In my case, they actually sent me an email first with a scheduled phone interview time, so definitely keep an eye on your inbox including (spam folder .)The email came about 2 days after I submitted the reopen application. And yes, the 3-4 business days was from submission to being able to file weekly certifications again - though I could see my claim status changed to active "after" about 2 days, it took another day or two for the weekly filing option to show up on my dashboard. Make sure you have your temp agency contact info ready too, because they asked me for the agency name, supervisor contact, and exact dates of employment during the phone interview. The whole interview was maybe 10-15 minutes and pretty straightforward - just confirming the details I d'already provided online.

@Anthony Young In my case, they actually sent me an email notification first saying they needed to schedule a phone interview, and then I had to call a specific number to set up the appointment time. It wasn t'a random call - they gave me a 2-hour window and called within that timeframe. The whole process from submitting the reopen application to being able to file weekly certifications took exactly 4 business days for me, but I think I got lucky since it was during a less busy period. Make sure your contact info is up to date in your profile because they ll'use whatever phone number and email you have on file. Also, keep your ringer on during business hours just in case! The interview itself was pretty straightforward - just confirming the dates I worked, why the job ended, and that I was actively seeking new employment.

@Anthony Young In my case, they actually sent me a message through the my.ny.gov portal first asking me to call them, rather than calling me directly. I got an email notification that I had a message waiting, and when I logged in, it had instructions to call a specific number during certain hours. The whole thing was resolved in one phone call that lasted about 10 minutes - they just wanted to confirm the details about why my temp job ended and that I was actively looking for work again. And yes, the 3-4 business days was from when I submitted the reopen application online to when I could see the weekly certification option available in my account. Just make sure to check your messages regularly in the portal after you submit!