NY unemployment benefits cut off after missing interview call - need that 835 phone number

same EXACT thing happend to me last summer. The system is totally rigged against us. They call once, at a random time, and if you miss it they act like you're committing fraud or something. I had to use this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) to finally get someone on the phone after being hung up on 20+ times. It was the best money I ever spent because I got all my backpay released the same day I talked to the rep. They also have a helpful video explaining how it works: https://youtu.be/Rdqa1gKtxuE

The phone number is 835-905-5692. I got the same letter last month when I missed my interview because I was at a doctor's appointment. Seriously, who schedules important calls without confirming a time first??? The ny unemployment system is so broken.

This is classic NYSDOL. They make it IMPOSSIBLE to actually talk to someone and then penalize YOU when their system fails. I spent 6 months fighting a similar issue. You need to document EVERYTHING. Take screenshots, record calls (NYS is one-party consent), save emails. Get ready for a battle because they won't make this easy.

I know EXACTLY how you feel right now. The anxiety of dealing with NY unemployment is worse than being unemployed itself sometimes! This happened to me in February. The number should be 835-678-4140 if it's the missed interview reinstatement line. But honestly good luck getting through... I called 47 times over 3 days before someone picked up.

Ugh the whole NY unemployment system is designed to make people give up. Here's what you need to do: 1. Keep calling that 835 number (I think it's 835-905-5682 for missed interviews) until you get through 2. While you're trying to reach them by phone, also send a secure message through your online account explaining the situation 3. Contact your state representative/assembly person - they can sometimes expedite cases 4. Consider using claimyr.com to get through the phone lines - it costs a bit but they will wait on hold for you and connect when a human answers 5. When you finally talk to someone, ask for a supervisor immediately if they can't help you 6. Request that they backdate your payments once the issue is resolved 7. Document EVERYTHING - dates, times, names of representatives you speak with Don't let them wear you down. This is YOUR money that YOU are entitled to. The system is deliberately frustrating, but persistence is key. I went through this last year and eventually got all my money, including backpay for the weeks they wrongfully denied me.

The 835 number is probably fake. All legit NY state numbers start with 888, 800, or 518. I'd be careful calling random numbers, could be a scam. Always go through the official website to get contact info.

sorry bout your situation 😕 The unemployment system is such a joke. They expect us to be available 24/7 for their random calls but they NEVER pick up when we call them. like how is that fair????

Try 835-905-5682. And if you get through, you better say a little prayer first. Honestly it's easier to win the lottery than to get a helpful person at NY unemployment. They'll probably make you verify your identity 500 times and then tell you to call a different number 🤡

Pro tip: when you call, immediately ask for a tier 2 specialist. The first person who answers usually can't do anything except read scripts. Say "I need to speak with a claims specialist about a missed interview reinstatement" right away. Saves so much time.

I'm gonna go against the crowd here and say something apparently controversial: the NY unemployment system actually works fine IF you follow all their rules exactly. They told you there would be an interview, you missed it, now there are consequences. That's how it works. They can't keep rescheduling for everyone who misses calls.

The real number is 835-925-4682. I just dealt with this last week. But prepare yourself: they're going to make you reapply completely from scratch and you'll probably lose 2-3 weeks of benefits in the process. The system is designed to save the state money by making everything so frustrating that people give up.

Have you tried the general helpline? 888-209-8124? Sometimes they can look up your specific case and give you the right number to call. Be prepared to wait on hold for 2+ hours tho 💀

I know this sounds crazy but have you tried Twitter? @NYSLabor sometimes responds to DMs and can help escalate cases. I got desperate after 3 weeks of calling and DMed them, and they actually fixed my issue within 2 days.

check your spam folder! sometimes they send follow-up emails there. also the 835 numbers change frequently so even if someone gives you one it might be outdated by now. just fyi

this is y i always answer ALL calls when im on unemployment, even spam ones. you never know when its gonna be them. and they LOVE to call from random numbers that look like spam. the whole system is a trap designed to disqualify as many people as possible.

WRITE TO YOUR STATE SENATOR!!! I cannot stress this enough. After 2 months of getting nowhere with unemployment, I emailed my state senator's office and they fixed everything in 3 days. They have special channels to DOL that regular people don't have access to.

The number is 835-905-5682 but it's basically impossible to get through. I used claimyr.com after trying for 2 weeks on my own and they got me connected to a live agent in about 40 mins. Best decision ever since the agent was able to fix my similar issue and release all my back payments on the spot.

Might be 835-687-4820? That's the number I had to call for something similar. But tbh good luck getting through. I ended up having to physically go down to the local labor office to get it sorted out. If you live near one, sometimes in-person is the only way to actually resolve these issues.

Oh wow, reading through all these responses is both helpful and terrifying at the same time! It sounds like I'm in for quite the battle. I'm definitely going to try multiple approaches - calling that 835-905-5682 number first thing tomorrow morning, reaching out to my assembly person AND state senator, and maybe even trying the Twitter DM thing. The fact that so many of you have been through similar situations makes me feel less alone in this mess, but also really frustrated that this is such a common problem. It's ridiculous that we have to jump through so many hoops just to get the benefits we're entitled to. Thank you all for taking the time to share your experiences and advice - this community is honestly a lifesaver when dealing with such a broken system!

I went through this exact same situation about 6 months ago! The stress is unreal when your benefits just disappear like that. Here's what worked for me: I called 835-905-5682 (which seems to be the consensus number from everyone's responses) but also simultaneously sent a message through the NY.gov unemployment portal explaining the missed call situation. The key is to be persistent but polite - I ended up getting through on my 15th call attempt by calling right at 8:02 AM. When I finally spoke to someone, I immediately asked for a tier 2 specialist and explained that I had called back the same day I missed the interview but never got a response. They were able to reinstate my benefits and even backdated the payments I'd missed. The whole process took about 3 weeks but I did get all my money. Don't let them intimidate you - you have every right to those benefits! Also keep calling that original number they left in the voicemail if you can still make it out, sometimes that direct line works better than the general callback number.

I'm so sorry you're going through this - the NY unemployment system really is designed to wear people down until they give up! I had a very similar experience where I missed their call because I was at work (ironically trying to find employment) and they terminated my benefits without any real attempt to reschedule. What finally worked for me was a combination approach: I called that 835-905-5682 number every morning at exactly 8:00 AM while also filing a complaint with the NY Department of Labor's complaint hotline (different from regular unemployment). The complaint hotline is 888-469-7365 and they actually have more power to escalate cases that are stuck in the regular system. It took about 10 days but once my case got flagged through the complaint process, they not only reinstated my benefits but also acknowledged that their original process was flawed. Also, if you still have that coffee-stained letter, try taking a photo of it and adjusting the contrast/brightness on your phone - you might be able to make out more of the number than you think. Don't give up - you're entitled to those benefits and their poor communication process shouldn't cost you weeks of payments!

I went through almost the exact same thing back in October! They called during my lunch break and I was in a meeting, so I missed it by literally 2 minutes. When I called back the same day, nobody answered and then my benefits just vanished. It's like they set us up to fail on purpose. The number you're looking for is definitely 835-905-5682 - I can confirm that's the missed interview reinstatement line because I had to call it about 30 times before getting through. Here's what I learned from my experience: 1. Call RIGHT at 8:00 AM when they open - not 8:01, not 8:05. Set multiple alarms. 2. If you get the busy signal, hang up and redial immediately. Don't wait. 3. When someone answers, immediately say "I need to speak with a tier 2 specialist about reinstating benefits after a missed interview" - the tier 1 people can't actually help you. 4. Have your claim number, SSN, and that form you filled out ready to reference. Also try sending a secure message through your online account explaining the situation while you're calling. Sometimes that creates a paper trail that helps when you finally get through to someone. The whole system is absolutely maddening, but don't give up! It took me 3 weeks of daily calling but I eventually got all my back payments. You've got this!

I'm going through something similar right now and this thread has been incredibly helpful! Just wanted to add one more tip that worked for me - if you have access to multiple phones (like a cell phone and a landline, or can borrow someone else's phone), try calling from different numbers simultaneously right when they open. Sometimes one line gets through faster than others. I also found that calling from a landline seemed to have slightly better success rates, though that might just be coincidence. The 835-905-5682 number seems to be the consensus here and matches what I have from my own paperwork. One thing to keep in mind - when you do get through, they might try to transfer you to someone else who can "better help" with your specific situation. DO NOT let them transfer you unless they guarantee you won't get disconnected. I made that mistake once and got hung up on after waiting 2 hours to get through initially. Also, if you're still struggling after a week of calls, consider reaching out to local news stations that cover consumer issues. Sometimes the threat of media attention gets cases resolved faster than anything else. The system is broken but you're definitely not alone in dealing with this nightmare!