why can't i file my unemployment claim - NYS Department of Labor system issues?
Been trying to file my unemployment claim for 2 days and the my.ny.gov website keeps giving me errors. Sometimes it says my SSN doesn't match their records, other times it just times out when I click submit. I lost my job last week and really need to get this filed ASAP. Has anyone else had problems with the NYS Department of Labor online system lately? Not sure if I'm doing something wrong or if there's a system issue.
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Zainab Omar
The my.ny.gov portal has been having intermittent issues this week. Try clearing your browser cache and cookies first, then use Chrome or Firefox instead of Safari or Edge. Also make sure you're using the exact SSN format they want - no dashes or spaces. If you're still getting the SSN error, double-check that your name matches exactly what's on your social security card, including any middle initials.
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QuantumQuasar
•Thanks! I was using Safari so I'll try Chrome. Should I be worried about the delay affecting my claim date? I read somewhere that it starts from when you first become unemployed not when you actually file.
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Connor Gallagher
same thing happened to me last month!! kept getting kicked out of the system right at the end. super frustrating when you need benefits
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QuantumQuasar
•How did you finally get it to work? I'm getting really stressed about this.
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Connor Gallagher
•had to try like 6 times over 3 days but it finally went through. just keep trying different times of day
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Yara Sayegh
If the online system continues to fail, you can call the NYS Department of Labor claims center at 888-209-8124, but be prepared for long wait times. Your claim will be backdated to your last day of work as long as you file within the first week of unemployment, so a day or two delay shouldn't hurt your benefits. The system tends to be less busy early morning or late evening.
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Keisha Johnson
•I've been trying that number for weeks and can never get through! The phone system just hangs up on you after being on hold forever. There's got to be a better way to reach someone at NYS Department of Labor.
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Paolo Longo
•Actually, I found this service called Claimyr that helps you get through to NYS Department of Labor agents when the phones are jammed. Check out claimyr.com - they have a video demo at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI that shows how it works. Saved me hours of trying to call myself when I had issues with my weekly claim certification.
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CosmicCowboy
The whole NYS Department of Labor system is a MESS. They upgraded it last year and it's been nothing but problems since. Half the time the website doesn't work, the other half your claim gets stuck in adjudication for weeks. Good luck getting any real help from them.
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Amina Diallo
•yeah its pretty bad but what choice do we have
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Finnegan Gunn
I had similar issues when I filed a few months ago. One thing that helped me was making sure I had all my employment information ready beforehand - employer name exactly as it appears on your W2, dates of employment, and reason for separation. The system times out quickly if you're searching for info while filling it out. Also try filing during off-peak hours like early morning (6-8 AM) when fewer people are using the system. The SSN issue might be related to how your name is entered in their database vs your social security card - even spacing can matter.
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Kylo Ren
•This is really helpful advice! I didn't realize the spacing could matter for the name field. I'll definitely try filing early morning tomorrow with all my employment info prepared ahead of time. Do you remember roughly how long the whole application took once you got it working? Want to make sure I block out enough time so I don't rush through it.
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