NY unemployment phone hours and secret number trick to reach agents faster

The official hours for NY unemployment phone line is 8am-6pm Monday-Friday. But honestly the trick is calling right at 8:00:00 am sharp. Not 8:01, not 8:05. Exactly when they open. Set ur alarm for 7:55 and start dialing at 7:59:50!

I've been calling NY unemployment for 3 weeks now (missing payments since January 15th) and I finally got through yesterday. Here's what worked for me: 1. Call exactly at 8:00am when they open 2. When the automated system starts, press 1, then 3, then wait for the next prompt and press 2, then 9 3. It'll ask for your PIN - enter that 4. When it starts listing options, press # twice quickly This somehow got me to a different queue with only a 15 minute wait instead of the usual "we're experiencing high call volume" message that hangs up on you.

I dunno about any "secret numbers" but I do know they HANG UP on you if the queue is full which is THE MOST FRUSTRATING THING EVER!!!! Been trying for 5 days and can't get through. System is completely broken in 2025 just like it was in 2024 and 2023...

The official NYSDOL Telephone Claims Center hours are 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM Monday through Friday. There is no officially published "trick" to reach agents faster, but there are a few strategies that might help: 1. Call precisely at 8:00 AM when the lines open 2. Mid-week (Tuesday-Thursday) tends to have slightly lower call volumes 3. Avoid calling on Mondays and right after holidays 4. Have all your information ready when you call 5. Make sure your phone has a full charge and good reception The system is designed to route calls based on need and volume, so any "special sequence" would likely be temporary at best as the system is updated regularly.

I tried calling 15 times last month for my claim issue and the automated system just kept hanging up on me because "high call volume" blah blah. Total waste of time. Finally I used this service called Claimyr that actually gets you through to an agent. It costs money but honestly saved me days of frustration. You can see how it works at claimyr.com or check their demo: https://youtu.be/Rdqa1gKtxuE Basically they navigate the phone system for you and call you back when they have an agent ready. Worked for me when nothing else did.

The button sequence trick doesn't always work because they change the system every few months to prevent people from skipping the line. The one that @UnemploymentExpert posted (1-3-2-9-PIN-##) worked for me last week but might not work today. These "shortcuts" spread by word of mouth and then NYSDOL catches on and changes things.

DONT WASTE UR TIME WITH BUTTON TRICKS!!! They always change the system and what worked for someone else 2 weeks ago probably won't work now. I wasted three days trying different "secret codes" people told me about. The ONLY thing that actually works is calling exactly at 8:00:00 AM and having good luck that day.

Update: Since my previous post, I've talked with an agent twice. The sequence I mentioned (1-3-2-9-PIN-##) still worked as of yesterday (May 2nd, 2025). The agent I spoke with actually told me they're aware of these "workarounds" but they can't update the phone system too often because it costs the state money. So these tricks tend to work for 1-3 months before they change things.

Just wanted to share my experience from this morning - I tried calling at exactly 8:00 AM using the sequence that @Alice Fleming shared (1-3-2-9-PIN-##) and it actually worked! Got through to an agent after only 18 minutes on hold instead of getting the usual "high call volume" hangup. The agent was super helpful and resolved my pending claim issue right away. For anyone still struggling to get through, definitely worth trying that sequence while it's still working. Also make sure you have all your documents ready because once you get an agent on the line, they can usually fix most issues pretty quickly if you have everything they need.

I've been dealing with NY unemployment for months now and here's what I've learned through trial and error. The 8:00 AM sharp timing is absolutely critical - I use an atomic clock app to make sure I'm dialing at exactly the right second. The button sequence that @Alice Fleming shared has been working for me too, but I've noticed it only works about 60% of the time. When it doesn't work, I hang up immediately and redial because sometimes you get lucky on the second or third try within that first 5-10 minutes after opening. Also pro tip: if you do get through to an agent, ask them to add notes to your file about what you discussed - this saves time if you need to call back later since the next agent can see the previous conversation history.

I work as a customer service supervisor (not for unemployment, but similar high-volume phone systems) and wanted to share some insights that might help. The reason these button sequences work temporarily is because they route you to less commonly used menu paths that have separate agent pools. When word spreads about a sequence, that path gets overloaded too and they have to change it. A few additional tips: 1) If you get a busy signal or "high call volume" message, don't wait - hang up and immediately redial. The system assigns queue spots in real-time. 2) Have a backup phone ready (like a cell phone if you're calling from landline) because sometimes one carrier route works better than another. 3) Write down EXACTLY what the agent tells you and get their name/employee ID if possible. This has saved me so much hassle in other government agencies. Good luck everyone - the system is frustrating but these community tips really do help!

I've been struggling with the same issue for weeks now! Reading through all these responses has been so helpful - I had no idea about the button sequence trick or the importance of calling at exactly 8:00 AM. I've been calling randomly throughout the day and getting nowhere. Going to set multiple alarms for tomorrow morning and try the 1-3-2-9-PIN-## sequence that several people have confirmed still works. It's ridiculous that we have to resort to "tricks" just to reach someone about our legitimate claims, but I'm grateful this community exists to share what actually works. Will report back if I have any success - fingers crossed my pending claim can finally get resolved!

I've been following this thread closely and wanted to share my own experience from this week. I tried the 1-3-2-9-PIN-## sequence on Tuesday morning at exactly 8:00 AM and it worked! Got connected to an agent after about 22 minutes on hold. However, when I tried the same sequence yesterday (Thursday), it didn't work and I got the usual "high call volume" disconnect. This confirms what others have said about these shortcuts being temporary. For anyone still trying to get through, I'd recommend having a few backup strategies: 1) Try the button sequence but don't rely on it completely, 2) Call at exactly 8:00 AM with multiple phones if possible, 3) Have all your documents ready including claim number, SSN, and any correspondence from NYSDOL, 4) If you don't get through in the first 10 minutes, try again around 8:30 AM when some people might have given up. The agent I spoke with mentioned they're seeing a huge spike in call volume lately due to some system changes they made in April, so persistence is key. Don't give up - it took me 8 attempts over 3 days but I finally got my claim resolved. Good luck everyone!

I just tried calling this morning using all the tips from this thread and wanted to share what happened! Set my alarm for 7:55 AM, had both my cell phone and landline ready, and started dialing at exactly 8:00 AM using the 1-3-2-9-PIN-## sequence that everyone's been talking about. The sequence worked and I got into a different queue! After 31 minutes on hold, I finally spoke to an agent who was able to resolve my pending claim issue in about 10 minutes. My claim had been stuck because they needed additional verification of my previous employment, which the agent was able to process right there on the call. She also added detailed notes to my file like @Taylor To suggested, so if I need to call back there's a record of everything we discussed. For anyone still struggling - the 8:00 AM timing really is crucial, and having all your documents ready makes a huge difference. The agent told me that having my employer information, dates of employment, and claim number ready saved us both a lot of time. The sequence still seems to be working as of this morning (at least for some people), but have backup plans ready in case it doesn't work for you. Don't give up - it took me reading this entire thread to finally understand the strategy, but it worked! Thank you to everyone who shared their experiences and tips!

I've been lurking in this thread for days and finally decided to create an account just to say THANK YOU to everyone sharing their experiences! I've been trying to reach NY unemployment for almost 3 weeks about my claim that got flagged for "identity verification" even though I've been receiving benefits for 2 months already. After reading all these detailed strategies, I feel like I actually have a game plan now instead of just randomly calling and hoping for the best. Going to try the 8:00 AM sharp timing with the button sequence tomorrow morning - I've got my atomic clock app downloaded, both phones charged, and all my documents organized in a folder. It's honestly ridiculous that we need military-level planning just to talk to someone about our benefits, but I'm so grateful this community exists to help each other navigate this broken system. Will definitely update with my results to help others who might be in the same situation. Fingers crossed!

I've been dealing with NY unemployment issues for months and wanted to share a few additional tips that have helped me based on my experience as someone who works in IT support. First, if you're using a cell phone, make sure you're in an area with the strongest signal possible - dropped calls when you finally get through are heartbreaking. Second, I've noticed that having your claim information pulled up on the NYSDOL website while you're on the call helps because agents can often see the same information you're looking at. Third, if you get disconnected while talking to an agent, call back immediately and tell the next agent you were just disconnected mid-call - they can sometimes look up the notes from the previous conversation. The system really is broken, but persistence combined with these community strategies does work. I got through last month using the timing and sequence tips shared here, and my claim was resolved in one call. Don't give up everyone - keep sharing what works and we'll all get through this together!