New York Unemployment: Can't finish claim because no one answers the phone!

I found a way to solve NY unemployment phone frustrations, watch this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=84XVDGFL2gk

Welcome to the club, buddy. I've been trying to get through for months too. It's like they're playing hide and seek with us or something 🙄

I found a method to get someone on the phone. I used this site's (claimyr.com) calling tool that dials the phone menu, stays on hold, waits for a live agent to pick up, then sends the call to my phone. It does cost $20, but it works. Check out this video for more info: https://youtu.be/Rdqa1gKtxuE

Have you tried calling right when they open? I heard thats the best time to get through

This is why the system is broken. They make it impossible to reach them and then wonder why people are struggling. It's a joke.

Guys, I've been down this road and I've got some tips that might help. Here's what worked for me: • Call early in the morning, like 5 minutes before they open. Be ready to hit redial. • Use multiple phones if you can. I had my cell and landline going at the same time. • Try different days of the week. Mondays and Fridays seem to be the busiest. • Check their social media for any announcements about high call volumes or system issues. • If all else fails, consider using a service like Claimyr. Yes, it costs money, but it saved me weeks of frustration. Remember, persistence is key. Don't give up! The system sucks, but you gotta play the game to win. Good luck!

have u tried emailing them? sometimes that works better than calling

This is why I'm considering moving to a different state. NY unemployment is a nightmare 🤮

Unpopular opinion: maybe if everyone stopped calling about every little thing, it would be easier to get through for those who really need it 🤷‍♀️

I feel ya. Been trying since May. At this point, I'm convinced the ny unemployment office is run by a bunch of trained monkeys 🐒

Has anyone tried reaching out to their local representative? Sometimes they can help push things through.

I've been in the exact same boat since July! What finally worked for me was using the callback feature on their website - you have to dig around to find it, but it's there. You schedule a callback and they actually do call you back, usually within 2-3 business days. It's not perfect but way better than sitting on hold for hours. Also, try calling the technical support line instead of the main claims line - sometimes they can transfer you directly to a claims specialist and the wait times are shorter. Don't give up, the system is broken but there are workarounds! 💪

OMG thank you so much for mentioning the callback feature! I had no idea that existed. I've been literally calling hundreds of times and getting nowhere. Definitely going to try scheduling a callback tomorrow. Also great tip about the technical support line - makes total sense that it would have shorter wait times. You might have just saved my sanity! 🙏

I've been going through the exact same nightmare since August! What's really helped me is calling the spanish language line (even if you don't speak spanish) - it has way shorter wait times, and when someone answers you can ask to be transferred to an english speaking agent. Sounds weird but it actually works! Also try calling exactly at 8:00 AM on Wednesdays - that's when I finally got through last week. The whole system is a mess but hang in there, you'll eventually get someone! 🤞

I'm dealing with the exact same situation! Been trying since late July and it's beyond frustrating. What's worked for me recently is calling their disability line first (even though it's not disability related) - they often have shorter wait times and can sometimes transfer you to the right department. Also, I've had better luck calling on Tuesdays around 2 PM when the morning rush dies down but before the end-of-day panic sets in. The system is absolutely broken, but don't lose hope! I finally got through last week after months of trying and they were actually really helpful once I reached a human. Keep pushing - we shouldn't have to jump through all these hoops but unfortunately that's the reality right now 😤

I've been struggling with this exact same issue since early August! What finally got me through was a combination of strategies I picked up from this thread and some trial and error. I tried calling at 7:58 AM sharp on a Thursday (right before they officially open), used two phones simultaneously, and kept hitting redial for about 45 minutes straight. It was exhausting but I finally got through! Once I had a human on the line, they were actually super helpful and got my claim sorted in about 20 minutes. The key is persistence - I know it's frustrating AF but don't give up. Also seconding what others said about trying the Spanish line workaround and contacting your local rep if nothing else works. This system is completely broken but there are ways to work around it. Hang in there! 💪

This thread is giving me life! 🙌 I've been stuck in this same hellish loop since late June and was starting to lose my mind. Reading everyone's strategies and success stories is exactly what I needed. I'm going to try the Thursday 7:58 AM approach with two phones, and if that doesn't work I'll definitely look into the callback feature and Spanish line workaround. It's absolutely insane that we have to become strategic masterminds just to access our own unemployment benefits, but I'm grateful for this community sharing what actually works. The fact that multiple people have mentioned once you get through they're actually helpful gives me hope! Thanks everyone for not giving up and sharing your experiences - we shouldn't have to deal with this broken system but at least we're figuring it out together! 💪

I've been dealing with this exact nightmare since mid-July and finally had a breakthrough last week! What worked for me was combining several strategies from this thread: I called the main line at exactly 8:02 AM on a Tuesday (waited 2 minutes after opening to avoid the initial rush), used my cell phone and had my partner call simultaneously on their phone, and we both kept hitting redial for about 30 minutes straight. The key was having backup - when my call finally went through to the hold music, my partner hung up their attempt. I waited on hold for another 45 minutes but actually got a real person who was super helpful and resolved my claim issues in one call! Also want to echo what others said about persistence - I probably called 200+ times over 3 months before this worked. The system is absolutely broken and it shouldn't be this hard, but don't lose hope. Document everything, try different times/days, and consider reaching out to your local representative if all else fails. You've got this! 🙏