How to file a complaint against NYS Department of Labor unemployment office for poor service

You can file a complaint through the NYS Department of Labor's website under their customer service section. There's also a complaint form you can submit to the state ombudsman office. Document everything - dates, times, claim numbers, and what happened during each interaction. Screenshots of your online account showing the rejected claims will help too.

same boat here, been waiting 6 weeks for my adjudication to clear and nobody can tell me why its taking so long. the whole system is broken

For formal complaints, you'll want to contact the NYS Department of Labor's Bureau of Customer Relations first. If that doesn't resolve it, escalate to the New York State Inspector General's office. They handle complaints about state agency misconduct. Also consider reaching out to your state assembly member - they often have staff who can help with constituent services and unemployment issues.

I had similar issues last year trying to reach someone at NYS Department of Labor. Ended up using a service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that helped me get through to an actual agent. They have a video demo showing how it works (https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI). Saved me weeks of frustration calling that 888 number over and over.

THE WHOLE UNEMPLOYMENT SYSTEM IS A JOKE! I've been fighting with them for 3 MONTHS and they act like they're doing ME a favor. These people get paid with our tax dollars and treat us like garbage. File complaints everywhere - NYS Department of Labor, governor's office, your representatives, EVERYWHERE!

just wanted to say thanks for posting this, didn't know you could complain about the service itself. thought you could only appeal benefit decisions

I went through something similar last year and found that contacting your local state senator's office can be really effective. They have caseworkers who specifically handle constituent issues with state agencies like the Department of Labor. I called Senator [my local senator]'s office, explained the situation, and they opened a case file. Within a week, someone from DOL actually called me back and resolved my claim issue. It's worth a shot alongside the formal complaint process - sometimes political pressure gets faster results than going through the agency's own complaint system.

I'm dealing with a similar nightmare right now - it's been 8 weeks since I filed and my claim is stuck in "pending" status with zero communication. The phone system is absolutely useless. I tried calling 200+ times last week and got through exactly once, only to be told they'd "look into it" and call me back. Spoiler alert: they never called back. Thanks for asking about the complaint process - I'm definitely going to try the ombudsman office and contacting my assembly member like others suggested. This level of dysfunction is unacceptable when people are struggling to pay basic bills.

Another option is to file a complaint with the New York State Comptroller's office - they audit state agencies and can investigate systemic issues. You can submit complaints online at osc.state.ny.us. I'd also recommend documenting everything in writing and sending a certified letter to the NYS Department of Labor Commissioner summarizing all your issues, dates, and the impact it's had on you. Having that paper trail can be crucial if you need to escalate further. Don't give up - your experience is unfortunately common but there are multiple avenues to pursue accountability.

I'm going through the exact same nightmare - it's been 10 weeks since I filed my initial claim and I'm still getting the runaround. What's really frustrating is that they have all these different complaint channels but it feels like they're designed to exhaust you rather than actually solve problems. I've started a spreadsheet tracking every interaction, phone call, and email because at this point I'm treating this like building a legal case. Has anyone here actually gotten results from filing complaints, or do they just disappear into the bureaucratic void? I'm especially interested in hearing if the Inspector General's office or State Comptroller complaints led to any real action, because I'm ready to file with every agency mentioned in this thread.

I had success getting through to someone at NYS DOL by filing a complaint with my local assembly member's office first, then following up with the State Comptroller as others mentioned. What really made the difference was sending a detailed timeline to both offices showing the dates of my rejected claims, call attempts, and financial hardship caused by their delays. The assembly member's caseworker actually got DOL to call me within 3 days, and they resolved my claim status immediately. I'd recommend hitting multiple channels simultaneously - don't wait for one to respond before trying another. Also, if you have any documentation showing you missed rent or other bills because of their delays, include that in your complaints. It demonstrates real harm beyond just inconvenience and seems to get faster attention.

I've been following this thread and want to add that the Legal Aid Society of New York also has resources for unemployment issues. They have a hotline specifically for people dealing with DOL problems and can provide free legal assistance if your situation escalates. Their website has guides on navigating the appeals process and filing complaints. Also, don't forget to check if your local city council member has constituent services - they sometimes have connections with state agencies that can help expedite cases. I know it's exhausting having to try so many different channels, but the squeaky wheel approach really does work with bureaucratic agencies. Keep pushing and document everything!

I went through a similar ordeal last year and found that filing complaints through multiple channels simultaneously was key. Start with the NYS Department of Labor's Bureau of Customer Relations, then escalate to the State Inspector General and Comptroller's office. But what really moved things was contacting my state senator's office - they have dedicated staff for constituent services who can cut through the red tape. Also document EVERYTHING: dates, times, reference numbers, names of people you spoke with, and especially any financial hardship caused by delays (missed rent, overdraft fees, etc.). The more evidence you have of actual harm, the more seriously they take your complaint. Don't give up - the system is broken but there are ways to make it work if you're persistent and strategic about it.