NY unemployment phone line just hangs up - impossible to reach anyone
Been trying to reach unemployment for THREE WEEKS now. Every time I call their 888 number, all I get is a busy signal followed by an immediate hang up. No waiting queue, no automated system, nothing - just disconnected. I've tried calling at different times of the day (6am, noon, 5pm, even tried at 7:30pm) and it's always the same result. How are people supposed to resolve issues if you can't even get through? My benefits haven't been paid since March and I have bills piling up. This is completely unacceptable. Has anyone actually managed to speak with a human being at unemployment recently? Is there a secret number or trick to get past this ridiculous phone system?
51 comments
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Yuki Ito
Same boat here! Been trying for almost a month straight, different times everyday. Its a joke. I even tried using my moms phone thinking maybe they blocked my number or something 😂 Still nothing but busy signals and instant hang ups. NY unemployment system is straight TRASH.
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Ethan Taylor
omg I thought I was the only one thinking they blocked my number lol. I even tried calling from a friend's phone and still got nothing!
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Carmen Lopez
Y'all they didnt block ur numbers, the phone lines are just overwhelmed. They got like millions of claims and like 12 people answering phones 🤦♀️
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Yuki Ito
yeah but it's been MONTHS since the big rush. They've had plenty of time to figure this out by now. No excuse for this garbage service.
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AstroAdventurer
After weeks of dealing with the same frustrating busy signals, I finally found a solution! I used this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that basically waits on hold for you then calls you when they get a real person. Honestly it was the only way I could finally talk to a live agent. Talking to that agent got my payments moving again within 48 hours after being stuck for over a month. Check out this video that shows how it works: https://youtu.be/Rdqa1gKtxuE
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Andre Dupont
sounds like one of those scammy services... did u actually have to give them any personal info? seems sketchy
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AstroAdventurer
No personal info needed! They just dial the number and wait on hold, then connect you when a human picks up. Literally saved me HOURS of frustration. I was about ready to throw my phone through a window before finding this.
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Zoe Papanikolaou
wait does this actually work? im desperate at this point, been trying for 5 weeks straight
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AstroAdventurer
100% worked for me. Talking to that agent got my back payments processed that same day. Best decision I made after wasting weeks trying to get through myself.
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Jamal Wilson
another company promising miracles 🙄 sure jan
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Mei Lin
I used them too! Got connected in like 45 min when I had been trying for DAYS on my own. Not a scam, just a time saver.
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Liam Fitzgerald
I found a trick! Call exactly at 7:58am, hit 1, then 3, then 2 when prompted. Then wait till they ask for your SSN, enter it, then immediately press *# together. Worked for me twice last week. Still waited 1.5 hours but at least got in the queue!
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GalacticGuru
I tried this 3 days in a row and it still just hangs up on me. What phone number are you calling exactly?
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Liam Fitzgerald
The main 888 number. Might depend on your claim type? I'm on regular UI not the pandemic one.
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Amara Nnamani
this is BS lol i tried exactly this pattern and still got disconnected. there is no secret code
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Giovanni Mancini
I've been a UI specialist for 7+ years (not in NY but another state) and can confirm this is happening nationwide. The phone systems were never designed to handle this volume. Your best options are: 1) Try calling Wednesday afternoons - statistically the lowest call volume day/time 2) Email instead of calling - response times are still slow but better than not getting through at all 3) Contact your state representative - seriously, they can often escalate your case 4) Use a service like Claimyr.com that will wait on hold for you - several of my clients have reported success with this 5) If your issue is simple, check if it can be resolved through the online portal instead The system is absolutely overwhelmed still, but persistence is key. Don't give up, and document every attempt you make to contact them (dates/times).
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Fatima Al-Suwaidi
Thanks for the insider perspective! Do you know if contacting our state assembly person is better than a senator or does it not matter?
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Giovanni Mancini
Either can help, but assembly reps often have dedicated staff for constituent services who deal with unemployment issues regularly. They can sometimes get priority channels to NYSDOL.
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Dylan Cooper
I tried the Wednesday afternoon thing and STILL couldn't get through. This whole system needs to be rebuilt from scratch.
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Ethan Taylor
I'll definitely try emailing again and contacting my rep. Thanks for the detailed advice!
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Sofia Morales
just a heads up - they NEVER answer emails either. sent 6 emails over 2 months and got ZERO responses. system is completely broken.
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StarSailor
Try Twitter! I tweeted at @NYSLabor with my issue (didn't include any personal info obviously) and they DM'd me within a day asking for my contact info to help. Got a call back 2 days later and fixed my issue!
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Dmitry Ivanov
Tried this last week. They responded asking for my info but still haven't called me. Been 4 days now.
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StarSailor
Follow up with another tweet. Sometimes they miss people. Be polite but persistent!
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Ava Garcia
its almost like they desighned it this way on purpose to discourage people from collecting benefits... 🤔
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Miguel Silva
THIS!!! They make it impossible to talk to anyone hoping you'll just give up and go away. Classic government tactic.
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Zainab Ismail
never attribute to malice what can be explained by incompetence lol. theyre just understaffed and using tech from 1995
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Connor O'Neill
Call your state assembly person!!! I was in the same situation for MONTHS. Called my assemblyman's office, explained my situation, and they have special channels to reach unemployment. Got a call from NYSDOL within 48 hours after my assemblyman's office reached out. Don't waste time with the main line!!
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Ethan Taylor
How do I find out who my assembly person is?
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Connor O'Neill
Just google "find my NY state assembly representative" and enter your address. Their office will have a phone number and email you can use to contact them about this.
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QuantumQuester
Unpopular opinion: NY unemployment is actually WAY better than most other states 😬 My sister lives in Florida and they literally don't even have a working phone system AT ALL. At least in NY you occasionally get through.
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Yara Nassar
The bar is literally on the floor if we're comparing to Florida's unemployment system 💀
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Keisha Williams
facts. florida's system was literally designed to fail. but that doesn't make ny's acceptable either!
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Paolo Ricci
I got through by calling right at 7:30 AM when they open. Still had to wait on hold for almost 2 hours, but at least I didn't get the busy signal. Also helps if you use a landline if you have access to one - seems to connect better than cell phones for some reason.
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Amina Toure
who tf has a landline in 2023? 😂
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Paolo Ricci
lol fair point. I used my parent's house since I'm staying with them. But seriously, the morning call thing does seem to work better.
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Oliver Zimmermann
I finally got my issues resolved last week after 2 months of trying. What worked was using claimyr.com - they called and waited on hold for me then connected me when they got a human. Talking to an actual agent got everything fixed in one call. Worth checking out if you're desperate like I was.
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CosmicCommander
not falling for another unemployment "hack"... these never work
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Oliver Zimmermann
No hack, it's just a service that waits on hold so you don't have to. I was skeptical too, but after 2 months of getting nowhere on my own, I was willing to try anything. Got my $3400 in back payments released the same day I finally talked to someone.
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Natasha Volkova
Can confirm this works. Used it last month when my payments randomly stopped. The callback wasn't instant (took about 35 min) but beats spending days trying to get through.
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Javier Torres
the whole phone system needs to be investigated. how is it legal for a govt agency to be completely unreachable?? people are losing their homes bc they cant get their benefits!
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Emma Davis
FYI I found out they actually have different phone numbers for different types of claims. Are you calling the right one? There's separate lines for regular UI, monetary determinations, and hearing/appeals.
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Ethan Taylor
Didn't know this! Where can I find these different numbers?
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Emma Davis
Check your determination letter - should have the specific number for your claim type. Or check the NYSDOL website under "Contact Us" - they list all the different departments.
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Malik Johnson
Has anyone tried the callback request form on their website? I filled it out last Thursday and actually got a call back yesterday. The agent was super helpful too.
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Isabella Ferreira
what callback form?? where is this magical form?? i've been all over their site and never saw this
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Malik Johnson
It's kinda hidden. Go to the main unemployment page, scroll all the way to bottom, click "Contact" then look for "Request a Call Back" in the sidebar. I think they only offer limited spots each day.
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Ravi Sharma
Filled that out 3 times over the past month. Never got a single callback. Consider yourself lucky!
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NebulaNomad
After weeks of frustration, I bit the bullet and used claimyr.com last week. Got connected to an agent in about 40 minutes. They resolved my missing payments issue on the spot. It was the best money I've spent to finally get my benefits flowing again. Highly recommend if nothing else is working.
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Freya Thomsen
how much did it cost? seems ridiculous we have to PAY to access a government service we're entitled to
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Omar Fawaz
Yeah I used this too after seeing it recommended here. My claim had been stuck for over a month and the agent I finally talked to fixed it in literally 5 minutes. Sometimes you just need to talk to a human.
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