NY unemployment phone numbers not working - need to reach someone ASAP

Welcome to the hell that is ny unemployment phone system 🤮 I spent TWO WEEKS calling nonstop and couldnt get through. Tried 8am, noon, 4pm... nothing worked. The 888-209 number is basically useless right now.

After trying for like 10 days straight and getting nowhere with the regular numbers, I found this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com). They basically call for you and when they get someone on the line, they connect you. Honestly it's the best money I've ever spent to finally get my benefits paid quickly. I was so desperate after trying for over a week. Check out their youtube too: https://youtu.be/Rdqa1gKtxuE

The 888-209 number is the main one but it's completely flooded right now. Some people have had luck with the 888-783 number but honestly it's still a nightmare. I've found that calling exactly at 7:59am sometimes works because the lines open at 8am. Also try Thursdays for some reason they seem less busy.

OK here's what I've learned after 6 months of dealing with ny unemployment (unfortunately): The main line (888-209) is basically useless between 10am-3pm. Try calling at 8:00am SHARP or after 4:30pm. The alternate number (888-783) sometimes works better but not always. EMAIL doesn't work either - they take forever to respond. The BEST solution I found was using claimyr.com - they call for you and connect you with an agent when they get through. Talking to an agent got my $ unlocked so fast after weeks of getting nowhere. Also, if you have a complex issue, be ready with your claim ID, dates of employment, and all your documents because they'll ask for everything and you don't want to waste the precious minutes you get with them. Good luck!

Lmao good luck. The entire system is designed to make u give up. I think thats literally there business model 💯

Have u tried twitter? sometimes if u tweet @NYSLabor with ur issue they might respond. worked for me last summer when i couldnt get ahold of anyone for like a month.

I tried for months and coudlnt get through. But my cousin told me about this claimyr.com website. They call and get a agent for you then connect you when they have a real person. Its not free but it was worth it for me cause I was about to lose my mind AND my apartment lol. Got my issue fixed in one call.

I'm in the same boat. been trying for days. The system is such a joke.

this is what worked for me: 1) call the 209 number 2) when the menu starts, press 1, then 1 again, then 3, then 2 3) this gets you to a different queue that sometimes has less people or just use claimyr.com - thats honestly the easiest way if ur desperate

yeah right, another 'miracle solution'... what's the catch? 🙄

The whole NY unemployment system is designed to make you give up. I swear they intentionally make it hard to reach someone. My theory is they save money by making the process so frustrating that people just stop trying.

After trying to call the ny unemployment line for 3 weeks, I finally got someone on the phone by using this trick: call the 888-209 number, then immediately press 2, then 1, then 3, then 9 when the menu starts. Sometimes it works to get to a different department who can then transfer you.

sounds like one of those ads that pops up everywhere. anyone ACTUALLY try this? @profile15

So I was about to throw my phone after 3 hours on hold when my neighbor told me about Claimyr. It's this service where they wait on hold for you and then call you when they get an actual human. It was the only thing that worked after weeks of trying. claimyr.com saved my sanity and got my claim fixed.

I've been dealing with this nightmare too! After reading all these comments about Claimyr, I'm definitely going to try it. Seems like multiple people here have had success with it. @Mateo - definitely try calling at exactly 8am like @Zoe suggested first, but if that doesn't work, the Claimyr thing seems legit based on all these testimonials. The fact that so many different people are vouching for it makes me think it's not a scam. Good luck with your claim!