How do you get a hold of a live person at the NYDOL unemployment division?

by Erika
(New York City)

I filed a claim and they instructed me to claim credit for my unpaid work week. They said I could do it online, but the website that they referred me to (unemployment assistance on the www.labor.nyc.gov website)stated I could not begin to receive payment until I had called the phone number I have already called and claimed credit. When I called again the same automated message told me to use the website. I have tried non stop to get a human being on the phone and there don't appear to be any. Im getting so frustrated!
help!



Hi Erika,

Sorry, I can't help much .. but I can empathize.

I never thought it was much fun to call any state. I was never impressed much by the "hold music" .. if they even bothered to have some.

When you get the automated message .. is there an option to speak with someone bi-lingual?

It seems to be working for a lot of people .. Seems they aren't as busy as the english only lines and they seem more than willing to help .. even in english:)

Are you calling one of these NY unemployment phone numbers?

Other than this .. maybe some nice fellow New Yorker will leave a comment as to how they managed to get a hold of a "live person".