NYDOL: Can't complete unemployment claim, system says I need to verify info with a person but can't reach anyone. Help!
Hey everyone, I'm having trouble completing my unemployment claim. The system keeps telling me I need to speak to a person to verify some information, but I can't get through on the phone. I tried both online and over the phone, but they just keep directing me back to the unemployment number. I'm not even sure what exactly needs to be verified. Has anyone else dealt with this? Any advice on how to actually reach a human?
22 comments


Owen Jenkins
Ugh, welcome to unemployment hell. I swear they make it impossible on purpose. Have you tried calling right when they open? That's how I finally got through after weeks of trying.
0 coins
Alice Coleman
•Thanks for the tip! What time do they open? I'll try anything at this point 😩
0 coins
Owen Jenkins
•They open at 8 AM I think. But be ready to hit redial for like an hour straight. It's a pain but eventually you might get lucky!
0 coins
Lilah Brooks
•I heard they secretly open the lines at 7:55 AM. Might be worth trying a few minutes early 👀
0 coins
Jackson Carter
Same boat here. Been trying for weeks to verify my identity. The online system is a joke and the phone lines are always busy. I'm starting to think it's hopeless.
0 coins
Kolton Murphy
Have you checked your mail carefully? Sometimes they send letters with specific instructions or a dedicated number to call for verification. I almost missed mine cuz it looked like junk mail 🤦♂️
0 coins
Alice Coleman
•Oh man, I'll definitely double check my mail. Thanks for the heads up!
0 coins
Evelyn Rivera
I FINALLY found a way to get through! There's this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that basically waits on hold for you and then calls you when they get a real person. It costs $20 but honestly it was worth every penny after weeks of frustration. Here's a video explaining how it works: https://youtu.be/Rdqa1gKtxuE
0 coins
Julia Hall
•Sounds too good to be true. Has anyone else tried this?
0 coins
Arjun Patel
•Is this legit? $20 seems steep just to make a phone call...
0 coins
Evelyn Rivera
•I get the skepticism, but it really did work for me. After spending hours trying to get through myself, $20 felt like a bargain. But yeah, do your own research!
0 coins
Jade Lopez
•Can confirm, I used it too. Felt kinda silly paying for a phone call but it saved me so much time and stress.
0 coins
Tony Brooks
Here's what worked for me: 1. Call exactly at 7:59:50 AM (use an atomic clock for accuracy) 2. As soon as it hits 8:00, start rapidly pressing the number for English or Spanish 3. When you hear the menu, immediately press the number for claims questions 4. If you get a busy signal, hang up and repeat It took me about 20 tries but I finally got through. Good luck!
0 coins
Ella rollingthunder87
•This is some next-level strat 😂 Unemployment speedrun any%
0 coins
Yara Campbell
•Bruh why does claiming benefits gotta be harder than dark souls 💀
0 coins
Isaac Wright
Have you tried reaching out to your local state representative? Sometimes they can help push things through or at least get you in touch with someone who can help.
0 coins
Maya Diaz
idk if this helps but I had a similar issue and it turned out they needed additional proof of income. might be worth checking if you have all your documents ready just in case
0 coins
Alice Coleman
•That's a good point, I'll gather everything I can. Better to be over-prepared I guess!
0 coins
Tami Morgan
guys. i literaly spent 3 months trying to verify my identity. turns out there was a typo in my ssn on there end. keep trying youll get through eventually
0 coins
Rami Samuels
•3 MONTHS??? omg that's insane. glad you got it sorted tho
0 coins
Haley Bennett
•This is why I have trust issues with government systems 🙃
0 coins
Douglas Foster
Pro tip: if you have a friend or family member who speaks another language, try calling the non-English line. Sometimes those have shorter wait times!
0 coins