How to reach a real person at NY unemployment office - keep getting disconnected
I've been trying for 2 WEEKS to talk to an actual human at the NY unemployment office and it's driving me crazy! Every time I call, I get stuck in this endless phone menu loop that eventually disconnects me. I've tried calling at different times (early morning, mid-day, right before they close) and NOTHING works. My claim has been pending for over a month now, and I really need to talk to someone about why it's not being processed. Has anyone successfully gotten through to a real person? What's the trick? I'm getting desperate and bills are piling up...
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Klaus Schmidt
lol good luck with that... NY unemployment system is designed to make u give up. ive been trying since january!!
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Esmeralda Gómez
•Since JANUARY?? That's terrifying. Have you found any workarounds at all?
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Aisha Patel
I had the same issue last month. What worked for me was calling at exactly 7:58am (2 minutes before they officially open). The queue is shorter then, and I only had to wait about 35 minutes. Also, when the automated system asks why you're calling, say "payment issue" rather than "claim status" - it seems to route you to agents faster.
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Esmeralda Gómez
•Thank you! I'll try calling at 7:58 tomorrow morning and use the payment issue option. Fingers crossed this works.
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LilMama23
•This doesn't always work tho. I tried the early morning trick 5 days in a row and still got disconnected. It's totally random if you get through or not.
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Dmitri Volkov
Have you tried sending a message through your online account? Sometimes they actually respond within a few days. Go to your NY.gov ID account, then messages, then compose new.
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Esmeralda Gómez
•Yeah, I sent 3 messages through the portal over the past two weeks. Still waiting for any response...
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Gabrielle Dubois
After spending EIGHT HOURS trying to get through to NYSDOL last week (kept getting disconnected after waiting 1-2 hours each time!!!), I finally found this service called Claimyr that got me connected to an agent in under 20 minutes. It basically keeps dialing for you and holds your place in line. Saved my sanity! They have a video showing how it works at https://youtu.be/Rdqa1gKtxuE. Their website is claimyr.com if you want to check it out.
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Esmeralda Gómez
•Omg that sounds amazing right now. I'm going to check out that video. At this point I'd try anything to not have to keep calling all day.
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Klaus Schmidt
•does that actually work? sounds too good to be true
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Tyrone Johnson
Here are some additional strategies that might help: 1. Try calling the alternative claims center number (888-209-8124) if you've been using the main line 2. Select the Spanish option, then request an English speaker when connected (many agents are bilingual) 3. If your claim shows as pending for over 4 weeks, you can request an escalation through your online portal 4. Your local state representative's office can sometimes intervene - worth reaching out to them The current average wait time is approximately 2-3 hours during peak periods (10am-2pm), so if possible, try during off-peak hours. The system is experiencing higher than normal volume since the January policy changes.
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Esmeralda Gómez
•Thank you for these detailed suggestions! I hadn't thought about contacting my state rep - that's a good idea. What exactly are the January policy changes you mentioned? I'm wondering if that's related to my claim delay.
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Tyrone Johnson
•The policy changes primarily affected benefit calculation methods and verification requirements. There's now an additional verification step for claims filed after January 15, 2025, which has created a backlog. If your claim was filed after this date, that could explain the delay. When you do reach an agent, specifically ask if your claim is awaiting the new enhanced verification process.
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Ingrid Larsson
I WAS IN THE SAME BOAT!!!! Called 47 times in one day!!! The phone system is BROKEN BY DESIGN!! They don't want to talk to us! After my benefits were denied for NO REASON, I couldn't get anyone on the phone for over a month. The whole system needs to be investigated! They're probably denying claims automatically to save money!!!
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LilMama23
•yep happens every time the system gets updated. same thing in 2023 when they changed the website. total disaster for like 3 months
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Esmeralda Gómez
UPDATE: I tried the Claimyr service that someone recommended below, and I FINALLY got through to an agent today! It took about 30 minutes from start to finish. The agent told me my claim was stuck because of the new verification process they implemented in January. They fixed it on the spot and said I should receive my benefits within 3 business days. SUCH a relief! Thanks everyone for your suggestions.
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Aisha Patel
•Great news! Did they explain why they didn't notify you about the verification issue? They're supposed to send an email or letter when additional verification is needed.
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Dmitri Volkov
•congrats! makes me wonder how many ppl give up b4 they get thru
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Henrietta Beasley
So glad you finally got through @Esmeralda! Your success story gives me hope. I've been dealing with the same nightmare for 3 weeks now - my claim has been "under review" since mid-February and I can't get anyone on the phone. The automated system just keeps telling me to check back online in 72 hours, but nothing ever changes. I'm definitely going to try that Claimyr service you mentioned. Did they charge you anything for getting you connected? Also wondering if anyone knows - when they say "3 business days" for benefits, do they actually stick to that timeline or is it usually longer?
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Tristan Carpenter
•@Henrietta - I'm so sorry you're going through this too! Yes, Claimyr does charge a fee (I think it was around $20), but honestly it was worth every penny considering I was about to lose my mind calling all day. As for the 3 business days timeline - the agent seemed pretty confident about it, and from what I've read in other posts here, they usually do stick to that once the issue is actually resolved. The problem is just getting TO that resolution point! Definitely try Claimyr if the traditional calling methods aren't working for you. Good luck!
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Sofia Morales
I'm dealing with the exact same frustration! Been trying to reach NY unemployment for almost 3 weeks now and it's like they don't want us to get through. My claim has been "pending review" since early February and every time I call, I either get disconnected after waiting for hours or the system just hangs up on me completely. It's ridiculous that we have to jump through so many hoops just to talk to someone about our own benefits. Reading through everyone's experiences here, it sounds like this is a widespread problem and not just bad luck on my part. I'm going to try some of the suggestions mentioned - the early morning calling trick and maybe that Claimyr service if I get desperate enough. Has anyone had any luck with reaching out to local elected officials? I'm wondering if that's worth trying too.
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Morgan Washington
•@Sofia - You're definitely not alone in this! I've been following this thread closely since I'm in a similar boat. From what I've seen here, contacting your state rep or local assembly member can actually be quite effective - @Tyrone mentioned it earlier and I've heard success stories from other communities too. They have direct lines to the DOL and can often get cases escalated. It might take a few days to hear back, but it's worth a shot while you're also trying the other methods. The fact that so many of us are dealing with identical issues really does suggest this is a systemic problem with their new verification process. Hang in there!
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Liam Duke
I just went through this exact same nightmare last month! After reading all these comments, I wanted to share what finally worked for me. I tried the early morning calling (7:58am) trick that @Aisha mentioned for about a week straight with no luck. Then I combined it with calling the alternative number @Tyrone suggested (888-209-8124) AND selecting the Spanish option first. Even though I don't speak Spanish, when I got connected I just said "English please" and they transferred me to a bilingual agent. The whole process took about 45 minutes total wait time. The agent explained that my claim was also stuck in that new January verification system - apparently thousands of claims are backed up because of this policy change. She was able to clear it immediately and I got my benefits deposited 2 days later. Don't give up! The system is definitely broken but there are ways around it if you keep trying different approaches.
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