How to apply for unemployment by phone with NYS Department of Labor - need help with process

You can apply for unemployment by phone by calling the NYS Department of Labor at 1-888-209-8124. That's the main number for new claims. Make sure you have your Social Security number, driver's license, and employment information from the last 18 months ready when you call. The phone lines are usually busiest Monday mornings and right after holidays, so try calling Tuesday through Thursday if possible.

I applied by phone last year and it took about 45 minutes to complete the whole application. The rep walked me through everything step by step. Just be patient because there's usually a wait time to get through. Have your last employer's information handy including their address and phone number, your last day of work, and reason for separation.

ugh good luck getting through!! I tried calling for WEEKS and either got busy signals or was on hold for 3+ hours before getting disconnected. The NYS Department of Labor phone system is absolutely terrible

The phone hours are Monday through Friday 8 AM to 5 PM. But honestly the best times to call are usually around 2-3 PM on weekdays, that's when I had the most luck getting through quickly.

Wait I thought you HAD to apply online now? My friend told me they stopped taking phone applications during covid and never brought it back?? This is confusing

Just wanted to add - when you call that number (1-888-209-8124), make sure you call right at 8 AM when they open or try again around 2-3 PM like Sara mentioned. I've found that calling right at opening time gives you the best chance of getting through without a super long wait. Also, don't hang up if you get put on hold - I made that mistake the first few times and had to start over. The hold music is terrible but just stick with it! And definitely have all your paperwork ready because once you get an agent on the line, they'll want to go through everything pretty quickly.

One more tip that helped me - if you get through to an agent but they say they're having system issues or need to transfer you, ask them to keep your spot in line rather than hanging up and calling back. Sometimes they can put you on a brief hold while they fix whatever's going on, which is way better than starting over. Also, if you're calling about a layoff specifically, have your employer's federal tax ID number ready if you can get it - it speeds up the verification process. The whole thing can feel overwhelming but the agents are usually pretty helpful once you get through to someone!