New York Department of Labor - Unemployment Oficina del Defensor del Reclamante del UI

This number connects you with the New York Department of Labor's Claimant Advocate Office. People who call this office are often seeking guidance about the appeals process, help navigating questionnaires or forms or assistance understanding their labor rights. If you have been denied unemployment benefits, agents here can help walk you through submitting an appeal. Representatives with this office can also help you prepare for upcoming hearings and appeals at no cost. Although advocates cannot provide direct representation, they can help direct you to a local legal aid office that may be able to provide assistance. 

If you are calling to submit a claim for unemployment insurance, you will be directed to call the Telephone Claims Center at another number. The Claimant Advocate Office is not able to process claims or appeals, but it can help you navigate problems with the claim or appeal process. Representatives in this office are also unable to help you check on the status of an unemployment claim or appeal; for this, you will need to contact the Telephone Claims Center. 

If you call the line outside business hours, a short recording will instruct you to try again between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. EST, Monday and Friday. There is no option to leave a message or request a callback. If you call during business hours, you will be asked for your claim number and some authentication information, including your Social Security number. You should have these handy to expedite the call process, as well as a list of your questions and any documentation you may be seeking clarification on. 

When I called around midday, it took just over half an hour to connect with an agent. The representative who answered the call was pleasant and well-informed about New York state's labor laws and the unemployment appeals process. They were able to provide information on the rights of employees and the duties of employers in New York state. Not only is the advice helpful and well-articulated, but it's available in a wide variety of languages. 

Representatives with this call center seemed to be government employees based in New York. As such, they were easy to understand and understood my questions well. When I asked about the claimant appeal process, their responses seemed natural and unscripted. I did not have to ask for much clarification, but they were able to elaborate on terms and laws that were unfamiliar to me.