Who do I call about unemployment claims at NYS Department of Labor?
I'm completely lost here and don't know who to contact about my unemployment situation. Filed my claim two weeks ago but haven't heard anything back from NYS Department of Labor. My claim status just says pending and I have no idea if that's normal or if something's wrong. I've been looking everywhere for a phone number but the website just sends me in circles. Who exactly am I supposed to call when I have questions about my UI claim? Is there a specific department or number I should be using?
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Giovanni Colombo
The main NYS Department of Labor customer service number is 888-209-8124, but honestly good luck getting through. They're swamped and you'll probably be on hold for hours or get disconnected. Your claim showing pending for 2 weeks isn't unusual - they're processing a lot of claims right now. You can also try checking your online account for any messages or requests for additional information.
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Amara Okafor
•Thanks! I'll try that number. Should I keep calling back if I get disconnected or is there a better time to call?
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Fatima Al-Qasimi
ugh the phone system is absolutely terrible, I called like 20 times last week and either got busy signals or hung up on after waiting 2 hours
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StarStrider
I had the same problem last month trying to reach someone about my adjudication status. After getting nowhere with the regular phone line, I used this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that basically calls for you and gets you connected to an actual NYS Department of Labor agent. Worked way better than trying to get through myself. They have a video demo showing how it works: https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI. Made the whole process so much less stressful.
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Dylan Campbell
•How much does something like that cost? Seems like we shouldn't have to pay extra just to talk to someone about our own benefits.
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StarStrider
•I get that frustration but honestly after wasting days trying to get through myself, it was worth it just to get answers about my claim status. Way less hassle than the regular phone nightmare.
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Sofia Torres
You can also try messaging them through the online portal but don't expect a quick response. I sent a message 3 weeks ago and still haven't heard back. The whole system is just overwhelmed and understaffed.
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Dmitry Sokolov
Make sure you're checking your claim status regularly online too. Sometimes they'll request documents or information and if you miss it, your claim gets delayed even more. The NYS Department of Labor website isn't the greatest but it's usually faster than trying to reach someone by phone.
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Amara Okafor
•Good point, I'll make sure to check daily for any updates or requests. Hopefully my claim moves along soon.
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