NY unemployment phone lines impossible - 2 weeks trying to reach an agent
I've spent the last two weeks trying to get through to NY unemployment and it's driving me crazy! I call different times of day, I've tried their main number, I've tried the claims center numbers - NOTHING. Either I get disconnected immediately or I'm stuck in an endless loop of automated messages. Has anyone actually managed to speak to a real person recently? I need to fix an issue with my claim and the website says I have to call. This is beyond frustrating at this point.
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Brooklyn Foley
same here, on week 3 of trying. its ridiculous they expect us to just sit around all day hitting redial!!! i heard mornings are better but i've called at 7:58am exactly when they open and still nothing. system is designed to make ppl give up imo
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Elijah Knight
•It's seriously the worst. Have you found ANY number that actually connects? I'm getting desperate here.
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Jay Lincoln
I've had success reaching them by calling exactly at 8:00 am, but you need to use the claims specialty line (888-209-8124) and immediately press 1, then 3, then 2 when the automated system starts. This bypasses some of the queue. Also, Thursdays seem to have lower call volume in my experience.
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Elijah Knight
•Thank you! I'll try this exact sequence tomorrow morning. Did you have to try multiple days with this method or did it work first try?
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Jay Lincoln
•It took me two attempts - first day I still waited 45 minutes before getting disconnected, but the second day I got through after about 30 minutes on hold. Just stay on the line once you're in the queue, even if there's silence for a while.
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Jessica Suarez
try calling the albany office direct, worked for me last week when main line was usless. cant remember the # tho sorry
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Elijah Knight
•If you happen to remember that Albany number, please share it! At this point I'd call any office that might help.
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Marcus Williams
After weeks of trying the regular channels with no luck, I finally used Claimyr to get through to a NYSDOL agent in under 30 minutes. I was skeptical at first, but they basically call and wait on hold for you, then connect you when they reach an agent. Saved me days of frustration. You can see how it works at https://youtu.be/Rdqa1gKtxuE - their website is claimyr.com if you're desperate like I was.
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Elijah Knight
•I've never heard of this service before. Did they actually get you through to someone who could help? My claim has a payment hold and I'm getting really anxious about it.
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Marcus Williams
•Yes, they connected me directly with a claims specialist who fixed my issue on the spot. I had a similar problem with payments being held for "verification" that wasn't even needed. It was such a relief to finally get it resolved.
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Lily Young
The trick is to keep calling nonstop. I literally called 47 times in one day before getting through. The system is DESIGNED to wear you down so you'll give up. DON'T GIVE UP! Your benefits are YOUR MONEY that YOU EARNED!!
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Kennedy Morrison
•this!!! its literally our money. they make it impossible on purpose hoping ppl will just stop trying
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Wesley Hallow
I remember when I was claiming unemployment last year I had a similar issue trying to reach someone. Have you tried the callback option on their website? You fill out a form and they're supposed to call you back, though it can take a few days. It worked for me when I needed to verify my identity for my claim.
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Elijah Knight
•I tried the callback option last week and still haven't heard anything. Did they actually call you back when they said they would?
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Wesley Hallow
•They did call me back, but it was like 4 days later and from a blocked number at 8:30am so I almost missed it! Maybe try submitting another callback request?
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Jay Lincoln
Just a heads-up based on my experience - when you finally do get through, make sure you have all your information ready: 1. Your NY.gov ID and password 2. Social security number 3. All employer information for the last 18 months 4. Any claim determination numbers or messages you've received 5. Your bank information if you need to update payment details The agents are usually helpful once you reach them, but you don't want to waste the opportunity by not being prepared.
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Elijah Knight
•This is really helpful - thank you! I'll make sure I have everything ready to go.
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Brooklyn Foley
anybody else notice they ALWAYS disconnect you after exactly 30 mins of hold time?? its like they designed it to be just long enough that you've wasted your time but not actually get help
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Lily Young
•YES!!!! I've timed it too - always cuts off around 28-32 minutes. It's INFURIATING. That's not a coincidence, it's DELIBERATE!!!
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Marcus Williams
I just checked and yes, Claimyr still works with NY unemployment as of 2025. After you get through to an agent, make sure to ask them to note your account with whatever issue you're having resolved, and get the agent's ID number if possible. This creates a record in case you need to reference the conversation later.
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Elijah Knight
•Thanks for the tip about getting the agent's ID. I'm going to try their service tomorrow if my morning call attempt doesn't work. At this point, I just need this resolved.
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Jessica Suarez
update?? did u get thru??
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Elijah Knight
•Finally got through this morning! Used that service the others mentioned (Claimyr) and was connected to an agent within 45 minutes. They fixed the issue with my claim - turns out there was a discrepancy with my employment dates that was causing the payment hold. Everything should be processed within 3 business days. Such a relief!
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StarSeeker
•That's awesome news! So glad you finally got it sorted out. Employment date discrepancies seem to be a common issue that causes holds. Thanks for updating us - gives me hope that there's light at the end of this tunnel!
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Aria Park
•Congrats on getting through! I've been dealing with the same runaround for weeks now. Did Claimyr charge you anything for the service? I'm at my wit's end but want to know what I'm getting into cost-wise before I try it.
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AstroAdventurer
•@Aria Park Yes, they do charge a fee - I think it was around $20 but honestly worth every penny considering I was about to lose my mind from calling for weeks. They have the pricing on their website. For me it was way better than missing more work to sit on hold all day!
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KaiEsmeralda
Been lurking here for a while and finally decided to jump in since I'm dealing with the exact same nightmare. Week 2 of trying to reach someone about a payment issue and it's honestly affecting my mental health at this point. Reading through all these comments gives me some hope though - seems like there are actual solutions that work! Going to try that 8am call strategy with the specific number sequence first, and if that doesn't work I'll look into the Claimyr service. Thanks everyone for sharing what's worked for you, this community is a lifesaver when the system is failing us this badly.
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Carmen Ortiz
•Welcome to the group! I totally understand how draining this process can be - you're definitely not alone in feeling like it's affecting your mental health. The fact that we even need to strategize and share "hacks" just to reach the people who are supposed to help us is honestly ridiculous. Really hope the 8am strategy works for you tomorrow. If not, don't feel bad about using the paid service - sometimes you just have to do what works. Keep us posted on how it goes!
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Miguel Hernández
•Hey @KaiEsmeralda, totally feel you on the mental health impact - this whole process is designed to wear us down. One thing that helped me stay sane while going through this was setting specific times for calling (like just mornings) instead of trying all day long. That way you're not consumed by it 24/7. Also keep a log of when you call and what happens - it helps you see patterns and also gives you documentation if you need to escalate later. You've got this!
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Fatima Al-Farsi
•@KaiEsmeralda I completely relate to the mental health aspect of this whole ordeal. I went through something similar last year and it was exhausting having to choose between spending entire days on hold or risking missing important calls. One tip that saved my sanity - if you do try the manual calling route, consider using speaker phone and doing other activities while you wait. I actually got through twice by calling while doing household chores, so I wasn't just sitting there getting more frustrated by the minute. The system really shouldn't be this broken, but at least this community has shown there are ways around it. Rooting for you!
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Miguel Ramos
•@KaiEsmeralda Welcome! You're definitely in the right place - this whole thread has been so helpful for me too. I was literally at my breaking point after 2+ weeks of getting nowhere with the phone system. That feeling of it affecting your mental health is so real and valid - it's incredibly stressful when you need help with your benefits and can't even reach a human being. The 8am strategy with the specific number sequence that @Jay Lincoln shared is definitely worth trying first. If that doesn t'work out, the Claimyr option seems to be working for people even though it costs money. Sometimes you just have to invest in your sanity, you know? Really hoping you get through soon - keep us updated!
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