How to actually speak with a NY unemployment representative? Been trying for weeks!

Unfortunately there's no 'secret' number, but there are some strategies that might help. Try calling at 8:05am exactly (not 8:00 when everyone calls) or around 3:30pm when call volume sometimes dips. Also, when you call, choose the option for "filing a new claim" even if you're not - those reps can usually transfer you to the right department and that queue moves faster. Make sure you have your NY.gov ID, social security number, and claim ID ready. Finally, be persistent and call multiple days in a row.

omg same thing happened 2 me last month!! took me 9 days of calling nonstop to finally get someone. eventually i just kept hitting 2-1-3 for all the prompts even tho they didn't match my issue and somehow got thru to a person. its seriously the WORST system ever!!

I worked at NYSDOL until last year, and here's some insider advice: The system automatically flags accounts for review if you report any part-time income that's inconsistent with previous reports. That's likely why your benefits stopped - the system flagged your account for manual review. To actually reach someone, call exactly at 8:07am (not 8:00 when the system gets flooded), select option 1, then 4, then 2. That route has the fewest automated redirects. Wednesdays and Thursdays have 22% lower call volume than Mondays and Fridays based on internal metrics. Also, check your message center carefully - if they sent you a questionnaire about your employment change and you missed the deadline to respond, that would explain the payment stop.

After spending WEEKS trying to get through the normal call system with no luck, I finally tried Claimyr (claimyr.com) last month and got connected to an agent in about 20 minutes. It basically holds your place in line so you don't have to keep redialing. They have a video showing how it works at https://youtu.be/Rdqa1gKtxuE Since you mentioned your benefits stopped after starting part-time work, you definitely need to talk to someone. In my case, I had reported my part-time income incorrectly and they had to manually fix some calculation on my account. Much less stressful than spending weeks trying to get through!

The phone system is a JOKE. I spent 2 MONTHS trying to reach someone earlier this year. The whole system is DESIGNED to keep you from getting help!!!!! They don't want to pay out benefits so they make it IMPOSSIBLE to talk to anyone who can help. I ended up having to contact my state assembly member's office and they got NYSDOL to call me back within 48 hours. Try that if nothing else works!!!!!

Have you tried the online messaging system through your NY.gov account? Go to your dashboard, click on "Messages" and then "Compose New". Choose the category "Payment Question" and explain your situation. I've found they sometimes respond within 3-5 business days this way, which is better than nothing. Also, check if there are any outstanding action items or questionnaires in your account that might be holding up your payments. When I started part-time work, they required me to complete an additional employment verification form that wasn't obvious - it was buried in the "Documents" section.

i heard if u press 0 repeatedly sometimes it bypasses the whole menu thing

UPDATE: I tried the 8:07am call with the exact sequence the former employee suggested (1-4-2) and I ACTUALLY GOT THROUGH! Was on hold for about 25 minutes but finally spoke to someone. Turns out there was a discrepancy between what my employer reported and what I had been reporting for part-time work. The rep was able to fix it and said my payments should resume next week. THANK YOU everyone for your help!!!

Congratulations on getting through! This is such a helpful thread - I've been having the same issue with my benefits being suspended after I started part-time work last month. The 8:07am tip with the 1-4-2 sequence is gold. I'm definitely going to try this tomorrow morning. It's so frustrating that the system can't handle part-time work reporting smoothly, but at least now I know what to ask for when I finally get through. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences and tips!

This whole thread has been incredibly helpful! I'm in a similar situation - my benefits were suspended last week after I started reporting income from a freelance gig. I've been dreading the phone call marathon, but seeing that the 8:07am / 1-4-2 method actually worked gives me hope. One question for those who've gotten through - did you have to provide specific documentation about your work during the call, or were they able to look everything up in the system? I want to make sure I have everything ready so I don't waste the opportunity if I actually reach someone. Thanks again to everyone who shared their experiences - it's so reassuring to know others have dealt with this and gotten it resolved!

This thread is a lifesaver! I've been in the exact same boat - benefits stopped in late February after I started a part-time retail job. I've probably called 40+ times over the past three weeks and always get that dreaded "high call volume" disconnect. Reading through everyone's experiences here gives me so much hope that this is actually solvable. I'm definitely going to try the 8:07am call tomorrow with the 1-4-2 sequence that worked for StarSailor. I've been keeping detailed records of my hours and pay like Connor suggested, so I should be prepared when I finally get through. It's ridiculous that the system can't handle part-time work reporting automatically, but at least now I know I'm not alone in this struggle. Thank you all for sharing your tips and experiences!

Wow, this entire thread has been incredibly educational! I'm dealing with a similar situation - my benefits were suspended three weeks ago after I started working a small consulting contract. I've been calling non-stop with zero success, just like everyone else here. The 8:07am timing with the 1-4-2 sequence sounds promising, and I love that we have insider knowledge from Connor who actually worked there. One thing I'm curious about - for those who successfully got through and resolved their issues, how long did it take for the payments to actually restart? I'm trying to plan my budget and wondering if I should expect the resolution to be immediate or if there's additional processing time. Also, did anyone have to submit additional paperwork after the phone call, or was everything handled during that conversation? Thanks again to everyone sharing their experiences - it's so helpful to know there's actually light at the end of this tunnel!

This thread has been absolutely incredible! I've been struggling with the exact same issue for over a month now - my benefits were suspended in early February after I started a small tutoring business and began reporting self-employment income. Like everyone else, I've been trapped in the endless call loop with nothing but automated messages and disconnections. Reading through all these success stories, especially StarSailor's update about actually getting through with the 8:07am / 1-4-2 method, gives me real hope for the first time in weeks. Connor's insider knowledge about the system flagging accounts for income discrepancies makes so much sense - I bet that's exactly what happened to me too. I'm definitely going to try the 8:07am call tomorrow morning, and I've already gathered all my tutoring income records and weekly schedules like everyone suggested. It's such a relief to know that this is a solvable problem and that I'm not the only one dealing with this bureaucratic nightmare. The fact that people are getting 2-3 day turnarounds once they reach someone is encouraging too. Thank you all for sharing your experiences and creating such a helpful resource thread. I'll report back once I hopefully get through! Fingers crossed the 1-4-2 sequence works its magic for me too.

This thread has been a goldmine of information! I'm dealing with a similar issue - my benefits were cut off about 2 weeks ago after I started working part-time at a local bookstore. I've been calling constantly with zero luck, just getting that same "high call volume" message every single time. The system is absolutely maddening! I'm really encouraged by all the success stories here, especially the detailed tips from Connor who worked at NYSDOL. The 8:07am timing with the 1-4-2 sequence seems to be the golden ticket based on multiple people's experiences. I love that we have such specific, actionable advice rather than just the usual "keep calling" suggestions you see everywhere else. One thing I want to add for anyone else reading this - I've been keeping a detailed log of every call attempt (time, date, which menu options I tried) and it's been really helpful for my own sanity to see the patterns. Plus I figure it might be useful information if I need to escalate to my assembly member like GalaxyGuardian suggested. Going to set my alarm for 8:05am tomorrow and give the proven method a shot. Will definitely report back with results. Thank you everyone for sharing your experiences - this community support means everything when dealing with such a frustrating system!