Why is filing for unemployment so difficult with NYS Department of Labor system?

omg yes!! the website is trash, i gave up after 3 days of trying

The NYS Department of Labor system is definitely frustrating, but there are some strategies that can help. First, try filing your claim very early in the morning (around 6-7 AM) or late at night when server traffic is lower. Make sure you have all your employment information ready before starting - employer addresses, dates of employment, reason for separation, and your last 18 months of work history. If the website times out, don't refresh immediately - wait about 10 minutes before trying again. Also, use a desktop computer rather than mobile if possible, as the system works better on full browsers.

I had the same exact problem last month! Spent DAYS trying to get through on the phone. What finally worked for me was using this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that helps you get connected to NYS Department of Labor agents. They have this video demo that explains how it works: https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI. Basically they handle the calling and waiting for you, then connect you when an agent picks up. I was skeptical at first but it actually worked - got through to someone within a few hours instead of days of trying myself.

The system is overloaded because they're still dealing with higher claim volumes than pre-pandemic levels, plus they're running on outdated technology. The my.ny.gov portal integration was supposed to improve things but it created new bottlenecks. Your best bet is persistence with the early morning filing strategy mentioned above. Make sure you're not using any browser extensions that might interfere, and clear your cache before starting. If you keep getting logged out, it might be your browser's security settings - try disabling pop-up blockers temporarily during the application process.

This whole system is designed to discourage people from filing claims. They make it as difficult as possible hoping you'll just give up and find another job instead of collecting benefits you're entitled to. It's deliberate bureaucratic warfare against working people.

Once you do get your initial claim filed, the weekly certification process is much smoother. The key is just getting past that first hurdle. Don't give up - you've earned these benefits through your payroll taxes. Document all your attempts to file in case there are any questions later about the delay in your claim start date.

I'm going through the exact same thing right now! Been trying for almost a week and it's so frustrating. The system kicked me out three times yesterday when I was almost done with the application. Going to try that early morning approach - hopefully 6 AM works better. It's ridiculous that we have to strategize around server traffic just to access benefits we're entitled to. Hang in there, we'll get through this eventually!

I'm dealing with this exact same issue right now! Been trying to file for three days straight and the website keeps crashing right when I get to the employment history section. It's so demoralizing spending hours filling everything out just to get kicked back to the login screen. I'm going to try that 6 AM strategy everyone's mentioning - seems like timing really does matter with their overloaded servers. Has anyone had luck with the phone lines during specific hours, or is it just as much of a nightmare no matter when you call? Really appreciate everyone sharing their experiences here, at least I know I'm not alone in this struggle.