How to call unemployment weekly claim - NYS Department of Labor phone system issues

The main NYS Department of Labor phone number is 1-888-209-8124 for weekly claims. Try calling right when they open at 8am - that's when you have the best chance of getting through. Make sure you have your SSN and PIN ready. If the PIN isn't working, you might need to reset it through the my.ny.gov website.

ugh same problem here!! been trying for 2 days straight and either get busy signal or hang up after 30 min hold. this system is so broken

If you're having trouble getting through to NYS Department of Labor by phone, I recently discovered a service called Claimyr that actually helps you reach unemployment agents. They handle the calling and waiting for you - check out claimyr.com and there's a demo video at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI that shows how it works. I was skeptical at first but it saved me hours of trying to get through myself.

You can also try filing through the my.ny.gov mobile app if the main website is down. Sometimes the app works even when the desktop site doesn't. Also make sure you're calling the weekly claim line specifically, not the general customer service number - they're different systems.

Just a heads up - if you miss your weekly claim filing deadline, you'll need to call anyway to explain the late filing. NYS Department of Labor usually accepts technical issues as valid reasons but you have to document it. Keep screenshots of any error messages you're getting.

I've been having the exact same issue with the phone system! What worked for me was calling the weekly claim line (1-888-209-8124) at exactly 8:00 AM on Monday mornings - seems like there's less volume then. Also, if you keep getting PIN errors, try entering it slower with pauses between digits. The system is really sensitive. When the website comes back up, you might want to set up text alerts for your claim reminders so you don't have to rely on calling in the future.

Another tip that helped me when I was dealing with similar issues - if you're still having trouble with the PIN, try clearing your browser cache and cookies if you're using the website, or restart your phone if you're calling. Sometimes there's cached data that interferes with the authentication. Also, double-check that you're using your most recent PIN - if you've had to reset it recently, the old one might still be saved in your browser or phone's memory. I had this exact problem last month and it turned out I was using an old PIN without realizing it.

I've been dealing with this same nightmare! What finally worked for me was calling the regular customer service line (1-888-209-8124) and asking them to transfer me directly to weekly claims when I explained I couldn't get through the automated system. The wait was still long but at least I didn't get disconnected. Also, if you're still stuck by tomorrow, you can actually file a late claim and explain the technical difficulties - they're usually pretty understanding about system outages. I'd also recommend taking screenshots of any error messages you get as backup documentation. Hang in there, the system issues have been really bad lately but they do eventually get resolved!

I had this exact same issue last week! What ended up working for me was calling right at 8:00 AM sharp - I literally had my phone ready to dial at 7:59 AM. Also, when entering your PIN through the phone system, try adding a brief pause between each digit - the system seems to have trouble processing rapid entries. If you're still having PIN issues, there's actually a "forgot PIN" option in the phone menu that lets you reset it immediately without having to go through the website. One more thing - if you do miss the deadline because of these technical issues, don't panic. I missed mine by a day due to similar problems and when I finally got through, they backdated my claim without any penalties once I explained the system was down. Keep trying, and maybe have a backup plan to call that customer service transfer option that Ella mentioned if the direct weekly claims line keeps failing.

I've been through this exact same frustrating experience! One thing that worked for me was calling the weekly claims line using a landline instead of a cell phone - sometimes the connection is more stable and the automated system picks up the PIN entry better. Also, if you're still having trouble, try calling on Tuesday or Wednesday mornings around 9 AM - I found slightly less volume than the Monday 8 AM rush that everyone mentions. As a last resort, you can also try the TTY line at 1-888-783-1370 even if you don't need accessibility services - it sometimes routes through a different system that might be working when the main line is overwhelmed. Don't give up - the system is definitely broken but there are ways to get through!

I've been dealing with this same issue for weeks! One thing that finally worked for me was using the NY.gov mobile app during off-peak hours (around 2-3 PM on weekdays). Even when the main website is down, the mobile app sometimes still functions. Also, if you're still getting PIN errors, try calling the customer service line and asking them to verify your PIN over the phone - they can tell you if there's an issue with your account that's causing the automated system to reject it. I learned this the hard way after spending days thinking I was entering the wrong number. Another tip: keep a log of your call attempts with timestamps - if you do miss the filing deadline, this documentation will help when you explain the technical difficulties to an agent. The system is definitely broken right now but don't lose hope!

I've been struggling with this exact same issue! What finally worked for me was a combination of strategies I picked up from dealing with similar phone system nightmares. First, try calling at 7:58 AM and hitting redial repeatedly until you get through - sometimes you'll catch a brief window before the lines get completely jammed. If you're getting PIN errors, try entering it super slowly with 2-second pauses between each digit, and make sure you're not accidentally adding any extra numbers (I was accidentally hitting a button after my PIN without realizing it). Also, if the regular weekly claims line isn't working, try calling the general unemployment line and explaining your situation - sometimes they can process your weekly claim right over the phone even though it's not their usual department. Keep screenshots of any error messages and write down the exact times you tried calling - this documentation really helps if you need to file a late claim. The whole system is a mess right now but persistence usually pays off!

I'm going through this exact same frustrating situation right now! After reading all these helpful suggestions, I wanted to add one more tip that worked for me yesterday. If you're still having issues with the automated PIN system, try using the keypad on your phone's dial screen instead of the number pad that sometimes pops up during the call - I found the dial screen registers the numbers more reliably. Also, when you do get through to the PIN prompt, wait for the entire message to finish before entering your number - I was jumping in too early and the system wasn't ready to receive input. One last thing - if you have an older phone or landline available, definitely try that. I switched from my smartphone to my mom's old landline and got through on the second try. The sound quality was much clearer and the system seemed to process my PIN without any issues. Hang in there everyone - this system is absolutely broken but these workarounds really do help!

I've been dealing with this same nightmare for the past week! After trying everything mentioned here, what finally worked for me was a combination approach: I called at exactly 8:00 AM on a Tuesday using an old landline from my neighbor's house, entered my PIN super slowly with 2-second pauses, and made sure to wait for the complete prompt before entering anything. It took three attempts but I finally got through! For anyone still struggling, I also discovered that if you get the "system error" message, sometimes hanging up immediately and calling back within 30 seconds puts you in a different queue - not sure why but it worked twice for me. Also want to echo what others said about documentation - I kept a detailed log of every call attempt with timestamps and error messages, which gave me peace of mind knowing I had proof of the technical issues if I needed to file late. This whole situation is absolutely ridiculous but don't give up - between all the strategies shared in this thread, something will eventually work!