Who to call for unemployment benefits - can't get through to NYS Department of Labor
I've been trying to figure out who to call for unemployment help and I'm completely lost. I filed my initial claim 2 weeks ago and it's showing pending but I have no idea what's happening. The main NYS Department of Labor number just puts me in an endless loop and I keep getting disconnected after waiting for like an hour. Is there a different number I should be calling? I need to know if there's an issue with my claim or if this is normal processing time. Really stressed about this since I have bills due next week.
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Brielle Johnson
The main customer service line is 888-209-8124 but honestly it's a nightmare to get through. Best times to call are usually Tuesday or Wednesday mornings right when they open at 8am. Make sure you have your confirmation number from when you filed ready.
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Jake Sinclair
•Thanks! Do you know if there's a specific department I should ask for? My claim just says pending and I can't tell if it's stuck in adjudication or what.
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Honorah King
ugh same boat here, been calling for days and either get busy signal or hung up on after waiting forever. the system is so broken
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Oliver Brown
Two weeks pending could mean your claim is in adjudication, which happens when they need to verify your work history or reason for separation. You can also try reaching out through the secure messaging system on your my.ny.gov account, though responses can take 3-5 business days. If you need to speak to someone urgently about claim status or adjudication issues, I had luck using a service called Claimyr that helps you get through to NYS Department of Labor agents. Check out claimyr.com - they have a video demo at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI that shows how it works.
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Jake Sinclair
•I didn't know about the secure messaging option! I'll try that first since calling seems impossible. Thanks for mentioning that service too, might be worth looking into if I can't get answers soon.
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Mary Bates
•Never heard of that service before but honestly if it means not sitting on hold for hours it might be worth checking out. The phone system is ridiculous.
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Clay blendedgen
Wait is adjudication the same thing as an appeal? I'm so confused by all these terms and my claim has been sitting there for 3 weeks now with no updates
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Oliver Brown
•No, adjudication is when they're reviewing your claim to make sure you meet eligibility requirements. An appeal is what you file if they deny your claim and you disagree with their decision. Adjudication usually takes 2-4 weeks depending on how complex your case is.
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Ayla Kumar
same here! except mine's been pending for almost a month now and I'm starting to panic about rent
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