Need to speak to NY unemployment agent TODAY - alternative numbers or bypass methods?

I was in the same boat last month. Spent 3 days trying to get through the normal way. What finally worked for me was Claimyr. They basically hold your place in line and call you when they get an agent. I was super skeptical at first but it worked within about 40 minutes. Their website is claimyr.com and they have a video that shows how it works: https://youtu.be/Rdqa1gKtxuE

There are a few strategies that sometimes work for reaching NY unemployment: 1. Try calling at 8:29am - right before lunch rush starts but after morning peak 2. When you get the main menu, try option 2, then 1, then 4 instead of going directly to claims 3. If you have a partially completed application, sometimes going through that path can connect you faster 4. Make sure you're calling on Tuesday-Thursday. Monday and Friday are typically the busiest days. Hope this helps! Also be sure to keep certifying weekly even while you're trying to resolve this issue.

have u tried emailing them?? sometimes thats faster then calling. i emailed last week and they got back to me in 2 days

The system is RIGGED to keep us from getting help!!! I've been trying for TWO MONTHS to get someone on the phone about my appeal. TWO MONTHS!!! They don't want to talk to us because then they'd have to actually solve problems. My cousin works for the state (not DOL) and he says they're deliberately understaffed to save money. It's all about the budget, not helping people.

Try calling this number: 1-888-209-8124. Then when the automated system picks up, press 9 for Spanish, then immediately press 2. Even if you don't speak Spanish, this sometimes connects you to a rep who can then transfer you to an English-speaking agent. The Spanish-language queue is often shorter. Also make sure you're calling from the exact phone number listed in your unemployment account. Their system prioritizes calls from registered numbers. Don't forget to continue certifying for benefits every week while you're trying to resolve this issue. If you miss weeks of certification, that creates a much bigger problem to fix.

I had a similar issue in February. After trying for days, I finally got through by doing these specific steps: 1. Call exactly at 8:01am (not 8:00, as everyone tries then) 2. When the system asks why you're calling, say "payment issue" clearly 3. When asked for your ID number, enter it slowly 4. If it says high call volume, hang up and try again immediately It took me 6 tries in one morning, but I eventually got through. The agent told me my account had a hold because they needed to verify my identity again (even though I'd been receiving benefits for months). Once she removed the hold, my payments started again the next day. Also, check your message inbox on the unemployment website. Sometimes they send notices there that explain payment delays.

Update on my earlier comment - I just want to be clear that I don't work for Claimyr, I was just in this exact situation last month. The video demo really shows how it works: https://youtu.be/Rdqa1gKtxuE. What happened was they called me when they had an agent on the line. When I answered, they connected me directly to the DOL person who fixed my issue. Just sharing what worked for me when nothing else did.

try calling at 4:55pm right before they close. sometimes they answer quickr then cause they wanna go home lol. worked for me once.

One more thing I just remembered - if your issue is about a missing payment specifically, try the payment trace line instead of the main claims line. The number is 1-888-581-5812. Sometimes it's less busy because it's more specialized.

my brother had same problem last month and he went in person to the career center and they helped him!! not sure if theres one near u but maybe worth a shot??

UPDATE: Finally got through!!! Used the payment trace number that someone suggested here, called at 8:01am, and got a real person after only 12 minutes on hold. My issue was that there was an "identity verification flag" on my account that no one told me about. They needed me to upload my ID again (even though I did this when I first applied). The agent removed the hold and said my payments should resume within 3 business days. THANK YOU everyone for your help and suggestions!!