NY unemployment phone line keeps telling me to call back - who can I actually reach?

Welcome to the lovely NY unemployment system 🤡 I tried for almost 3 weeks straight calling multiple times a day. It's designed to keep you out I swear.

I was in the exact same boat last month - called like 50 times and got nowhere. Finally I found this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that calls for you and connects you when they reach a live agent. Talking to an agent got my $ unlocked so fast. Best decision I made after wasting so many hours on hold. Check out their demo: https://youtu.be/Rdqa1gKtxuE

Try calling exactly at 8:00am when they open. That's how I finally got through after 10 days of trying. Also try pressing 0 repeatedly during the automated message - sometimes that can bump you to an agent.

THE ENTIRE NY UNEMPLOYMENT SYSTEM IS A JOKE!!! I've been dealing with this garbage for MONTHS. The website crashes, the phone lines are always busy, and when you finally get through, half the time they transfer you and you get disconnected. I've lost so much money because of their incompetence.

Here's what worked for me with ny unemployment (after 5 weeks of torture): First, document EVERYTHING. Every call, every email, every attempt to contact them. Note the time, date, and any reference numbers. Try calling this alternative number: 1-888-209-8124. It sometimes has a different queue than the main line. If that doesn't work, try filing a complaint through the DOL website. This sometimes flags your account for review. Reach out to your state senator and assembly member simultaneously. Their constituent services can often escalate claims. As a last resort (and what ultimately worked for me), I used claimyr.com - it's a service that keeps calling for you until it gets through, then connects you to an agent. It was the only way I could talk to a live agent after weeks of trying. Don't give up! The system is frustrating by design, but persistence pays off. Keep detailed records of everything so when you do reach someone, you have all the info ready.

Their entire phone system is pure gaslighting. "Your call is important to us" MY ASS. If it was important they'd hire enough people to answer the damn phones.

i worked in a call center before. secret tip: try calling on tuesday or wednesday afternoons around 2-3pm. monday and friday are always the busiest days, and lunch hour is brutal too. good luck

Can you do most of the filing online? I managed to do 90% of my claim on the website and only had to call for one specific question.

same boat here for three weeks straight. finally broke down and used a service called claimyr.com. it kept calling until it got through then connected me. talking to an agent got my $ unlocked so fast - they backdated everything too.

Try emailing instead!! Sometimes they respond faster that way. Use unemployment@labor.ny.gov and put your full name and last 4 of SSN in the subject line.

have u tried the online chat feature? sometimes its faster than the phone

I filed my claim back in february and STILL haven't been paid. Welcome to unemployment hell 👹

This is why we need to vote differently next election. The entire unemployment system in this state is broken and nobody in charge seems to care.

I feel your pain! Just went through this nightmare myself last month. Here's what finally worked for me: I called the main number (1-888-209-8124) every single day at exactly 8:00 AM when they opened. It took me about 12 days of this routine, but I finally got through to a human. The key is persistence and timing - avoid calling during lunch hours or late in the day when volume is highest. Also, when you do get through to the automated system, don't hang up if you get the "call back later" message right away. Sometimes if you wait a few minutes, it will actually put you in a queue. Keep trying different days of the week too - I had better luck on Wednesday mornings. Hang in there, you'll get through eventually!

I'm dealing with the exact same nightmare right now! Been calling for over a week and it's driving me insane. What really gets me is that automated message - "your call is important to us" - like if it was actually important they'd answer the phone! I've tried calling at literally every hour they're open and it's always the same story. The worst part is you can't even get in a queue, it just hangs up on you. I'm going to try some of the tips mentioned here like calling right at 8am and that alternative number. This whole system feels designed to make you give up before you even get started. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences - at least I know I'm not alone in this mess!

OMG I could have written this post myself! I've been going through the exact same torture for the past week and a half. That stupid automated message plays in my nightmares at this point 😭 I've literally tried calling over 40 times at different hours and NOTHING. The system is absolutely broken and it feels intentional at this point. One thing I discovered though - if you call and get that message, don't hang up immediately. Sometimes if you wait like 30-45 seconds it will actually say something different or give you menu options. It's rare but it happened to me twice (though I still didn't get through to a person). Also saw people mentioning Claimyr and I'm honestly tempted to try it at this point because I'm running out of options and patience. Has anyone else here actually used it successfully? I'm usually skeptical of these services but desperate times... Hang in there @Omar Hassan - we're all in this nightmare together!