What is the number to unemployment NYS Department of Labor - can't find correct phone number
I've been searching everywhere for the right phone number to call NYS Department of Labor about my unemployment claim but I keep finding different numbers online. Some say to call the claims center, others say to use the employer line. My weekly claim certification is due tomorrow and I have questions about reporting my part-time hours from last week. Can someone please tell me what is the number to unemployment that actually works? I tried calling 888-209-8124 but it just hangs up on me after being on hold for 2 hours.
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Leeann Blackstein
The main NYS Department of Labor unemployment number is 888-209-8124 but you're right that it's almost impossible to get through. That number handles both new claims and existing claim questions. The system is overloaded and will disconnect you if call volume is too high. Try calling right at 8am when they open or during lunch hours around 12-1pm.
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Liv Park
•Thanks! I'll try calling at 8am tomorrow. Do you know if there's a separate number for weekly claim questions vs new applications?
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Ryder Greene
been trying that same number for weeks, it's a joke. you wait forever just to get hung up on
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Carmella Fromis
For what it's worth, I had the same problem getting through to NYS Department of Labor for weeks trying to resolve an adjudication issue. I ended up using a service called Claimyr that basically calls for you and gets you connected to an actual agent. You can check them out at claimyr.com - they have a video demo at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI showing how it works. It saved me probably 20+ hours of failed calling attempts.
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Theodore Nelson
•Is that legit? Sounds too good to be true. How much does something like that cost?
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Carmella Fromis
•It's legit - they don't ask for any personal info, just make the calls for you. I was skeptical too but it actually worked. Not sure on pricing but it was worth it to finally talk to someone at NYS Department of Labor.
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AaliyahAli
The 888 number is correct but here's what I learned after months of dealing with NYS Department of Labor phone system. Call exactly at 8:00am, have your SSN and PIN ready, and don't hang up even if it says high call volume. Sometimes it will still put you in the queue. Also make sure you're calling from the phone number on file with your unemployment account.
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Liv Park
•Oh I didn't know about the phone number thing! I've been calling from my work cell but my personal number is what's on my account. That might explain some of my issues.
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Ellie Simpson
just go online to my.ny.gov and handle whatever you need there. way easier than trying to call
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Arjun Kurti
I spent THREE HOURS on hold last week just to ask about my job search requirements and they hung up on me right when someone picked up. This system is absolutely broken. The fact that we have to jump through all these hoops just to get basic information about our own claims is ridiculous.
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