definitely file asap because even if they deny you initially you can appeal and the whole time youre appealing you should keep filing your weekly claims

I went through something similar about 6 months ago - got fired for what they called "attendance issues" but it was really due to my mom's medical appointments that I had to help with. The NYS Department of Labor actually sided with me during adjudication because I had emails showing I tried to work with my supervisor on the scheduling. The key thing is to file your claim right away like others said, and when they do the fact-finding interview, be honest about the childcare situation and any communication you had with your employer about it. Also keep filing those weekly claims even if your case is under review - you don't want to miss out on benefits for weeks you should have been eligible for. The whole process took about 4 weeks for me but I ended up getting approved and they paid me retroactively for the waiting period.

NYS Department of Labor offices operate Monday-Friday, typically 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM. However, the online system is accessible 24/7 for weekly claims, checking claim status, and uploading required documents. If you specifically need to speak with an agent and can't call during business hours, there's a service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that can help you get through to NYS Department of Labor representatives. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI showing how it works.

The whole system is so outdated anyway. Why can't they just have extended hours like other government services? Some of us have jobs and can't call during their precious 9-5 window.

Guys I just had a similar issue last week and i wnated to add that if your waiting for a call back make sure your phone isn't blocking unknown numbers. NYSDOL calls show up as unknown and I missed their call twice because of that lol. And they don't leave voicemails either which is super annoying

I've been in a similar situation and what finally worked for me was using multiple strategies at once. First, try the Claimyr service that @Klaus Schmidt mentioned - it really does work and saved me from getting disconnected constantly. Second, while you're waiting for that, definitely reach out to your assembly member's office like @Yuki Tanaka suggested. I called mine and they had someone from DOL call me back within 48 hours. Also, make sure you have all your documentation ready - claim number, correspondence reference numbers, and a clear summary of your issue written down. The agents can fix things quickly if you have everything organized. Don't give up - the system is frustrating but there are ways to get through!

The 26 week thing is true but honestly the whole system is designed to discourage you from using it. They make the job search requirements more and more ridiculous, the website crashes constantly, and don't even get me started on trying to reach anyone by phone. I burned through my 26 weeks mostly fighting with their system instead of actually job hunting.

same boat here! just started collecting last month too. good luck with the job search, hopefully we both find something soon before the 26 weeks runs out

I tried both ways and here's what I learned: Online is definitely faster BUT if you have any special circumstances (like working out of state or multiple employers) you might need to talk to someone eventually. Start with online filing and only call if you absolutely have to.

Thanks everyone! This is super helpful. I'll definitely go with online filing and try to do it early in the morning like @Amina suggested. Good to know about documenting everything too - I'll make sure to screenshot everything just in case. Really appreciate all the advice!