Who do I call for unemployment benefits in NY - need contact info

You can file your initial unemployment claim online at labor.ny.gov - it's actually faster than calling. The phone number for claim questions is 888-209-8124 but expect long wait times. For filing your weekly claims, you can call the Tel-Service at 888-581-5812. Make sure you have your Social Security number and employment history ready.

ugh good luck getting through on the phone!! ive been trying for 3 days straight and keep getting disconnected after waiting 2 hours

If you're having trouble reaching someone at NYS Department of Labor by phone, I recently discovered Claimyr (claimyr.com) which helps you get through to unemployment agents. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI that shows how it works. It saved me hours of calling and getting hung up on. Worth checking out if you need to speak to someone about your claim status or have specific questions.

Same situation here, lost my restaurant job. The NYS Department of Labor system is so overwhelmed right now. I ended up filing online at 6am when the servers weren't as busy.

Don't waste time calling - the phone system is a nightmare. File online and if you need help later, deal with it then. The important thing is getting your claim date established so you don't lose any weeks of benefits.

Filing online is definitely the way to go initially. If you run into adjudication issues or your claim gets stuck, that's when you'll need to call. Keep all your employment records handy - dates, wages, reason for separation.

I went through this same situation a few months ago. Here's what worked for me: Start with the online application at labor.ny.gov early in the morning (like 6-7 AM) when the system is less busy. Have your last employer's info ready including exact dates of employment and your final pay stub. If you get stuck on any questions, you can save your progress and come back to it later. The phone lines are brutal right now - I spent literally days trying to get through. Focus on getting your initial claim filed online first, then worry about calling if you run into specific issues later. The key is establishing your claim date so you don't lose any potential benefits while figuring out the details.

I was in the exact same boat a couple months ago - lost my job suddenly and panicked about getting unemployment started. Here's what I learned: definitely go the online route first at labor.ny.gov. The phone system is absolutely brutal right now. I'd recommend trying to file between 6-8 AM when the servers aren't as overwhelmed. You'll need your Social Security number, driver's license, and employment info for the last 18 months (employer names, addresses, dates worked, and gross wages). Don't stress too much about getting every detail perfect - you can make corrections later if needed. The most important thing is getting your claim filed to establish your benefit year start date. Once that's done, you can deal with any issues that come up. The weekly certification can be done online or by phone, and that's usually much easier than the initial filing. Hang in there - it's overwhelming at first but once you get through the initial application it gets much more manageable!