How to email unemployment - NYS Department of Labor messaging not working

Unfortunately the NYS Department of Labor doesn't provide direct email addresses for individual claims. All communication has to go through the secure messaging system in your my.ny.gov account or by phone. If your messaging system isn't working, try logging out completely and clearing your browser cache, then log back in. Also make sure you're using a supported browser like Chrome or Firefox.

Same issue here with the messaging system being broken. What I found that works is calling the main unemployment line at 888-209-8124 first thing in the morning around 8:05 AM. You'll still wait on hold but better chance of getting through than later in the day.

Had the same problem reaching anyone at NYS Department of Labor about my pending adjudication. Someone told me about this service called Claimyr that actually gets you through to unemployment agents by phone. I watched their demo video at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI and decided to try it. They called me back within an hour and got me connected to someone who could actually see my claim details. Check out claimyr.com if you're stuck like I was.

The whole NYS Department of Labor system is a joke. No email, broken messaging, phone lines that hang up on you. How are we supposed to get help with our claims??

Try using the contact form on the main NYS Department of Labor website under 'Contact Us' - it's not exactly email but it might get your message through to someone who can help with your pending claim.

I had the exact same problem with the secure messaging system showing that error! What finally worked for me was using a different device entirely - I switched from my phone to my laptop and used an incognito/private browser window. Also make sure you're not using any browser extensions that might interfere. If that doesn't work, you can also try reaching out to your local career center - they sometimes have direct lines to help with technical issues like this. You can find your local office on the DOL website under 'Find a Career Center'. Good luck getting through!

I've been dealing with the same messaging system errors for weeks now! @Zainab Omar your suggestion about using a different device sounds promising - I'll definitely try that with an incognito window. I also wanted to add that if you're still having trouble, you can try contacting your local assemblymember's office. They often have constituent services staff who can help escalate unemployment issues directly to the Department of Labor. It's not a guarantee but I've heard of people getting faster responses that way when the normal channels aren't working. The whole system is definitely frustrating when you're waiting on benefits!

I'm dealing with the same frustrating messaging system issues! In addition to all the great suggestions here, I wanted to mention that you can also try filing a complaint with the New York State Comptroller's Office if the technical issues persist - they have an online form specifically for state agency service problems. Also, if you're on social media, the NYS Department of Labor does respond to direct messages on Twitter (@NYSDOL) sometimes faster than their other channels. It's not ideal for detailed claim discussions due to privacy, but they might be able to help troubleshoot the messaging system error or escalate your case. I've also heard that sending a certified letter to their main office in Albany can sometimes get attention when electronic methods fail, though it takes longer. The address is: NYS Department of Labor, Building 12, State Office Campus, Albany, NY 12240. Hang in there - I know how stressful it is when your benefits are pending!

I've been through this exact same nightmare with the NYS DOL messaging system! What finally worked for me was a combination of several approaches mentioned here. First, I tried @Zainab Omar's suggestion about using an incognito window on a different device - that actually got the messaging system working again for me. But before that worked, I also reached out to my local state senator's office (similar to the assemblymember suggestion from @Javier Mendoza). They have staff specifically trained to help with unemployment issues and can sometimes bypass the normal channels. You can find your representatives at nysenate.gov by entering your zip code. Another thing that helped was documenting everything - I kept screenshots of the error messages and a log of when I tried calling. This made it much easier when I finally got through to someone to explain the full situation. Don't give up - there are definitely ways around these technical issues even though it's incredibly frustrating when you're waiting on benefits!

I'm dealing with the exact same messaging system errors! This thread has been incredibly helpful - thank you everyone for sharing your experiences and solutions. I'm going to start with @Zainab Omar's suggestion about using incognito mode on a different device since both she and @Elijah Jackson had success with that approach. If that doesn't work, I'll definitely try reaching out to my local assemblymember's office as @Javier Mendoza suggested, and I love @Liam O'Reilly's comprehensive backup options like the Comptroller's Office complaint form and Twitter DMs. It's so frustrating that we have to jump through all these hoops just to communicate about our claims, but at least now I have a clear action plan instead of just feeling stuck. Has anyone had any luck with the early morning calling strategy that @Emma Davis mentioned? I might try combining that with some of these other approaches.