NYS Department of Labor office hours - when is the unemployment office open for walk-ins?
I've been trying to figure out when I can actually visit a NYS Department of Labor office in person to sort out my unemployment claim issues. My weekly claims keep getting flagged and I can't get through on the phone. Does anyone know the current office hours for unemployment offices? Are they doing walk-ins again or is everything still appointment only? I'm in the Rochester area if that makes a difference.
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Mei Wong
Most NYS Department of Labor Career Centers are open Monday through Friday, typically 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM, but hours can vary by location. You should check the specific office locator on labor.ny.gov for your Rochester area office. Many locations are still doing appointments for unemployment issues rather than walk-ins, so calling ahead is recommended even if you can't get through to the claims center.
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Jamal Anderson
•Thanks! I'll check the website for the specific Rochester office hours. Hopefully they can help me figure out why my claims keep getting held up.
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QuantumQuasar
i went to the one in buffalo last week and they said unemployment stuff is mostly by appointment only still. they gave me a number to call but its the same one thats always busy lol
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Liam McGuire
•If you're having trouble getting through to NYS Department of Labor by phone, there's actually a service called Claimyr that can help you reach an agent. Check out claimyr.com - they have a video demo at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI that shows exactly how it works. I used it last month when my claim was stuck in adjudication and finally got through to someone who could help.
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Amara Eze
The system is so broken! I've been trying to get help with my job search requirement questions for weeks. Even when the offices are open, half the time they tell you they can't help with unemployment claims and you have to call the phone number that never works. It's like they don't want to actually help people.
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Giovanni Greco
•I feel you! The whole process is frustrating when you just need basic answers about your claim status.
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Fatima Al-Farsi
Just FYI the office hours posted online aren't always accurate. I drove to the Syracuse office during their posted hours and they were closed for 'staff training'. Always call first if you're making a special trip, even though getting through is hard.
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Mateo Warren
I had a similar issue with flagged claims in the Albany area. What worked for me was going to the career center early in the morning (like 8:30 AM sharp) and asking to speak with someone about "claim resolution" rather than just general unemployment questions. They were more likely to help with specific claim issues rather than just directing me to call the phone line. Also bring all your documentation - pay stubs, separation notice, any correspondence from DOL. Sometimes they can at least tell you what's causing the flag even if they can't fix it on the spot.
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Jamal Washington
•That's really helpful advice about going early and asking specifically about "claim resolution"! I never thought about the wording making a difference. Did they actually help resolve your flagged claims at the career center, or did you still have to go through the phone system eventually? I'm wondering if it's worth the drive to Rochester if they can only tell me what's wrong but not actually fix it.
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