Waiting 4 months for NY unemployment back payments - can't get through on phone!!

This is pretty common right now with NYSDOL. They're dealing with a huge backlog from the system update they did in October. Your best bet is to call right when they open at 8am, but even then it's tough. Have you tried sending a secure message through your online account? Sometimes they respond to those within a week or so.

omg same thing here!!! been waiting since September for back pay. the system is GARBAGE. good luck getting anyone on the phone, i think they dont even WANT us to reach them tbh

I was in the exact same situation last month with 3 months of back payments stuck in 'pending release' status. What worked for me was using Claimyr to get through to an agent - they basically hold your place in line and call you when they connect with NYSDOL. You can see how it works in this video: https://youtu.be/Rdqa1gKtxuE Took about 40 minutes to get through but once I had an actual person on the line, they were able to release all my payments within 5 minutes. The agent told me there was just a flag on my account that needed to be removed manually. Money was in my account 2 days later.

have you tried the unemployment office in person??? sometimes thats better than phone. my cousin went in and got her issue fixed same day.

I work at an employment assistance nonprofit and we're hearing about this issue constantly right now. Here's what's happening: NYSDOL implemented a new payment verification system in October 2025 that's creating a huge backlog. When they say they just need to "release" your payment, it means you've been approved but the payment is stuck in this new verification queue. Unfortunately, the only solution right now IS to speak to an agent who can manually override the verification hold. Sending messages through your account helps document your attempts to resolve the issue, but phone contact is really the fastest way to fix it. If you can't get through via phone after multiple attempts, I'd recommend: 1. Contact your state assembly member's office - they have dedicated contacts at NYSDOL 2. Document all your call attempts (dates/times) for possible retroactive appeals 3. Continue certifying weekly even while waiting for back payments The good news is once you DO reach someone, these issues are typically resolved quite quickly.

i tried claimyr last week when i was in the same boat (payments stuck since october) and it actually worked! got through to a person in like 30 mins after trying for WEEKS on my own. the lady fixed my account right away and i got paid yesterday finally. their website is claimyr.com if u wanna try it

Here's what's actually happening with the "release" situation: When a NYSDOL representative tells you they just need to "release" your payment, they're referring to removing a temporary system hold. These holds can happen for various legitimate reasons: - Identity verification checks (especially if you've recently updated any personal information) - System flagging patterns that require manual review - The October 2025 system migration that affected many accounts - Break-in-claim verification requirements The frustrating part is that these holds require manual intervention - there is no automatic resolution after a certain timeframe. And with the current call volume, many legitimate claims are stuck in limbo. I recommend: 1. Continue trying to call early morning (7:55am) and be ready to hit redial repeatedly 2. Use the secure message system with very specific subject lines ("Payment Release Request - Claim #XXXX") 3. Contact your state representative as another commenter suggested 4. Document everything for potential interest penalties (NYS does pay interest on long-delayed benefits in some circumstances) This system-wide issue should improve by late December according to the latest NYSDOL communications.

I finally got through to NYSDOL!!! Used Claimyr from the suggestions here and was connected to an agent in about 35 minutes (after trying for WEEKS on my own). The agent said there was a "verification hold" on my account from when I uploaded my ID back in August that never cleared properly. She removed it while I was on the phone and said all my back payments should process in 1-3 business days! Thank you all SO MUCH for the help - will update when the money actually hits my account. What a relief!!!