State Unemployment Phone Numbers and Getting in Touch With a Live Agent For Help With Your Delayed or Pending UI Benefits Claim

One thing many readers have been complaining about when it comes to getting help or information on their pending Unemployment Insurance (UI) payment or retroactive benefits claim is finding a number to call so that they can get through to someone they can speak to.

Due to ongoing staffing shortages at state UI agencies, COVID work restrictions and ongoing system/IT issues with unemployment filing systems it is very hard to get through a live person that can help you with claim issues or delayed current and back payments.

This has been acutely felt with the recently ended 2021 unemployment extensions and for PUA claimants who have to provide a lot more documentation to justify their claim. With state agencies focusing resources on updating IT systems and processing back payments related to the various UI program extensions, they have little time to take calls and actively help those desperately looking for help with their claims and wondering when they will start getting paid.

That’s why most agencies are directing people to their state website or social media channels to get more information. But a lot of time that information is generic and not helpful for most people with issues specific to their claim. So with that in mind here state UI agency contact numbers and some tips and tricks to get through to a live person.

If you have any questions or numbers/approaches that have worked for you please leave a comment below. This may help others or hopefully gets you more information on your issue.

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Jump to your State (more coming soon)

California (CA) EDD Contact Numbers

You can see the regularly updated CA resource page for more information and reader comments on dealing with the CA EDD, but here are the best contact numbers for help with your UI Claim

Visit Ask EDD unemployment benefits page to request to backdate your claim if you think it has the wrong start date. Then select Claim Questions and then Backdate the Effective Date of my UI Claim Due to COVID-19.

General UI questions and technical help with registration, password resets, EDD Account Numbers, and how to use UI Online: 1-833-978-2511 (English and Spanish). Hours: 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. (Pacific time), seven days per week.

Note: EDD representatives answering general questions will not have access to your claim or payment information. To get specific claim support or information call the following numbers between 8 a.m. to 12 noon (Pacific time), Monday through Friday: For English: 1-800-300-5616; For Spanish: 1-800-326-8937

Automated phone line to certify: English: 1-866-333-4606; Spanish: 1-866-333-4606


New York (NY) Unemployment Number

Here are the best contact numbers and tips to get in touch a live agent at the NY DOL. See the New York Department of Labor (DOL) resource page for more information and reader comments.

  • New Claim: 1-888-209-8124. This is the Telephone Claims Center (TCC). Open from Monday – Friday 8:00 AM – 7:30 PM & Saturday and Sunday 7:30 AM – 8:00 PM
  • Pending Claims: 1-800-833-3000
  • Weekly Certification: 1-888-581-5812 (for regular UI) or 1-833-324-0366 (for PUA).. PLEASE NOTE: PUA recipients need to certify weekly. Regular UI should be certified online or when requested by the DOL
  • For NY.gov assistance or other website issues call 800-833-3000.

You must call This number here (833)-491-0632 (NY DOL LWA Certification) As I did and only found out through friends that they were receiving their $300 in Lost Wages Assistance (LWA) benefits and I wasn’t. Nor did I ever receive an email from the Dept.of labor(unemployment). Once you call this automated number and answer the (1 or 2 I forget how many exactly) question(s) you will receive your money In a matter of days literally. Please be patient, and LISTEN to all of the Question/options BEFORE answering!! GOOD LUCK (Bridgette from NY)

Like all major state UI agencies the NY DOL is currently experiencing high call volumes, so if you can get through to an agent and their website is not useful consider contacting them via their social media sites (e.g twitter) which seem to have the new updates posted regularly. Or follow me on twitter where I retweet pertinent updates.


Florida (FL) Unemployment Number

You can see the regularly updated FL resource page for more information and reader comments on dealing with the FL DEO, but here are the best contact numbers for help with your UI Claim

  • Reemployment Assistance Hotline for UI Claims – 1-833-FL-APPLY (1-833-352-7759 and choose option 5). The hours of operation are Monday through Friday 7:30 AM to 6:30 PM and Saturday and Sunday 8 AM to 5 PM ET.
  • You may be eligible to modify the date of your claim to the date you originally attempted to apply for Reemployment Assistance only if you were unable to file a claim between the weeks of March 9, 2020 to April 9, 2020.
  • Check your account information in CONNECT is up-to-date and accurate. Connect is the online portal for managing your DEO UI account is will be available from 8 a.m. to 7:59 p.m. daily, Monday – Friday (maintenance and processsing takes place over the weekend).
Business AreaFAQEmailPhone
Claims and BenefitsFAQReemployment Assistance Contact Form1-800-204-2418
Appeals – Clerks OfficeFAQAppeals Email1-800-204-2418
Appeals CommissionFAQAppeals Commission Email (850) 487-2685
Employer InformationFAQReemployment Assistance Contact Form 1-877-846-8770

You have to call 1-800-204-2418 option 5. Tell the representative your issue. They will send an email to the proper department. Make sure they send it and not give you the email address and tell you to send it. I was told to send it myself and 2 weeks later I called back and was told not proper process. FYI, I’ve been waiting 5 weeks for one of my checks I never received. Told it could be from 4- 10 weeks to receive.

You can also try and use the new use the new CHAT feature on FloridaJobs.org. But many readers have said this is still a bit buggy and for general questions only.


Texas (TX) Unemployment Number

Here are the best contact numbers and tips to get in touch a live agent at the TX TWC. See the Texas Workforce Commission (TWC) resource page for more information and reader comments.

Claim status and payment request options are available daily, 7:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m (CT). General information is available anytime. Call: 800-558-8321

Tele-Center Phone Number: 800-939-6631; Business hours are now Sunday – Saturday, 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Central Time.

Other Contact Options:

your appeal of a TWC decision?Email the Appeals Department
([email protected]).
TWC customer service or for complex claim issues:Email Customer Relations
([email protected])
or call 512-463-2236.

Pennsylvania (PA) Unemployment Number

Here are the best contact numbers and tips to get in touch a live agent at the Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry (L&I). See the PA resource page for more information and reader comments.

  • UC Live Chat – Monday – Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.​
  • UC Customer Service Line: 888-313-7284
  • ​PUA Customer Service Line: 855-284-8545; Monday – Friday from 8 a.m. – 3 p.m

Request Backdating

If you are looking to have the effective date of your claim earlier than the week in which you opened your claim, you can call the PUA Call Center at 855-284-8545 OR you can send an email request to [email protected]. In the Subject line of the email, indicate BACK DATE REQUEST and in the body please indicate exactly when and how COVID affected your employment or self-employment and which weeks you wish to claim. The effect of COVID-19 on your employment must be due to one of the COVID-19 related reasons in the CARES Act for PUA eligibility.


New Jersey (NJ) Unemployment Number

Here are the best contact numbers and tips to get in touch a live agent at the NJ Division of Unemployment Insurance Labor and Workforce Development (LWD). See the resource page on this site for more information and reader comments.

Questions about your claim

  • North New Jersey:  201-601-4100
  • Central New Jersey:  732-761-2020
  • South New Jersey:  856-507-2340

Illionis (IL) Department of Employment Security (IDES) Contact Numbers

Call IDES Customer Service Center at 800-244-5631 for questions around your claim. You can also call this number it you were unable to file your claim because of capacity or system limitations or to discuss backdating your claim with a representative. See others experiences at the IDES forum page.

To certify for Unemployment Insurance benefits, click here or call Tele-Serve at 312-338-4337 Monday – Friday 3:00 a.m. – 7:30 p.m.


Georgia (GA) Department of Labor (GDOL) Contact Numbers

Its hard to get a hold of a live agent at the GDOL, and they strongly encourage you to use their online portal, but their UI customer service can be reached via 404-232-3001 or 877-709-8185. They also have a general number at 404-232-3990 per their official service directory. For more on the various comments and hundreds of comments around challenges with filing and get paid see the GA UI Forum page.


Virginia (VA) VEC Contact Numbers

Delayed payments by the VEC due to reinstated work search requirements has been a primary cause of payment delays for many Virginians. To get help you can see the following contact numbers from the VEC Customer Contact Center at 1-866-832-2363. This is available from 8:15am to 4:30pm, Monday – Friday and 9am to 1pm Saturday.

You can also call their claims info line – 800-897-5630 – to get the status of your claim and file an appeal. You can use their automated chat bot (via main VEC website) to get started in off peak or non-working VEC hours. This can get you going in the right direction faster than via the phone service.

VEC Constituents Inquiry Form for those who want to get help from their local representative on UI Payment issues. Fill in the fields on the form with your details and focus on the specific pitfalls needing to be fixed. Don’t use as a complaint form.

Virginia Workforce Connection – It is mandatory to register when you first file for UI; Mandatory to upload existing or new resume for job searching. If you don’t do this your work search requirement could be impacted and your payment could be delayed.

VA Work Search Requirements (required from June 1st) – you must actively make at least two job contacts each week and report the details online or over the phone: For regular UI claimants, online at www.getgov2go.com or over the phone at 800-897-5630; For PUA claimants, you must call 866-832-2363 and follow the prompts to file your weekly claim

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136 thoughts on “State Unemployment Phone Numbers and Getting in Touch With a Live Agent For Help With Your Delayed or Pending UI Benefits Claim”

  1. I have been waiting for Colorado to issue payment for my pua claim for over 2 years n ow I’ve done I’d me everything still Nothing.

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  2. I found a claim February 2021 I reopened a brand new claim I filed every single week until June 16th when I finally got a job and I had a hearing because I voluntarily quit my job up in Pennsylvania and moved to Tennessee so I had a hearing I won that hearing and of course I didn’t understand the paperwork and I end up falling and appeal on myself waited 7 months finally getting an answer saying they appeal that I filed was dismissed and that I was actually granted my unemployment now I’ve been trying to get a hold of an unemployment specialist in Pennsylvania and of course all I get is the subcontractors and you get a damn ticket now I’ve been waiting months and months I got bills out the butt I paid into my unemployment like everyone else did plus they owe me the $300 on top of everything for each week so what in the heck are you supposed to do who do you get a hold of Governor wolf I need to talk to unemployment specialist that actually works for unemployment not a subcontractor

    Reply
  3. For NYC– don’t waste your time trying to call 200000 times.. Contact your assembly member / council member / senator’s office – you can just look up online who it is. I even wrote to the wrong person the first time and they helped direct me anyway! You can call but what I did was SEND AN EMAIL so they have a record of you. Just EMAIL so you don’t have to spend more time on the phone. They’ll email or call you back. I was told by the unemployment person who CALLED ME (!!!) today that doing this jumps you up in the queue/flags your claim. I put my claim in at the beginning of Oct and it got totally STUCK, even after my past employer put in the info that was requested– couldn’t get through whatsoever on the phone and was freaking out everyday. But after reaching out to those folks within a week my claim has MOVED and been approved. Don’t just sit there calling the unemployment #!! GOOD LUCK AND DON’T GIVE UP!!!

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  4. Going on 6 months on pending in FL never have I spoke to anyone only auto message call volume is to high then hung up on I worked for many years thru pandemic time payed all my fn taxes then in may I had a massive stroke lost function in my left side and couldn’t work any longer .I wish I could work. Will there ever be a competent system that works for the people . When will there be people to actually work on your cases n pay what I’m owed fn 6 months about to be homeless

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  5. Any delaware info they keep saying it’s pua and they have to bubble it to them out now pua is gone so why aren’t our states paying now at the lowered rate !?

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  6. I stopped receiving my benefits since last year on Nov 21 2020 it is now Oct 8 2021 and still no benefits every time I call they say my claim is under review, I have no pending appeals or anything my ID has been verified.. they keep putting in escalations which they tell me to wait up to 4 to 8 weeks once I do that and the time has passed I try to claim and nothing then they put in another escalation.. I am getting really frustrated I have bills that need to be paid I’m in jeopardy of losing my apartment and it seems like they don’t even care

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  7. I am in the exact same predicament and it’s so sad and unfair. They are more concerned about pua claimants ( which is easy to fraud) .ore than people who have actually WORKED all if their lives. They are probably laughing at us. Karma will get them!

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    • I finally gave up trying to reach UI and contacted my assembly person. I was helped immediately by their assistant via email and within less than 2 weeks had my UI claim resolved. I really recommend it. State agency’s hate hearing from elected officials no matter the political party.

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  8. I am in Florida and 2 weeks ago after signing up with the new ID program my account was listed as suspended…one week went through and went back for 2nd week and the suspended” message was there and no way to apply for further benefits..calling the 800 numbers are not working(busy)at this time..

    I am looking for others with this issue in Florida..TIA

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  9. I feel ridiculous because many of you are further in than I am. California. Filed for a new claim after not working since last may. Did the id me. Continued on edd website doing weekly certs. The one time I got thru, a tier 1 worker said they just needed to change my 3 weeks to the new claim, as it was showing
    against the old (expired) one. That needed a tier 2 worker. Disconnected during transfer. Haven’t gotten thru since. I have medical bills to pay, am an older worker so even when I interview I get a thanks but no thanks. My meds even with covered ca cost a lot. Frustrating to no end. Dialing from before they open til after they close.

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    • I LIVE IN virginia and everyone is piss off cause we can not even talk to a human being and what is really sad they give you the same number 1-800-832-2363 knowing you are not going to talk to anyone Some people have been trying to contact them for a whole year and they still tell you to call that number as in the article knowing you are noy going to talk to anyone : IT is sad that Vec do not give a fuck whether we pay our bills or not , and our Governor is telling all Claimant to be Patient how you going to be patient when you have not been Paid in Month after month

      Reply
  10. My pua stop cause of id me verification issues but now I’m verified for 2 weeks and I still have not received my unemployment my employer closed shop I’m losing my apartment and my family is going to be homeless on top of starving cause unemployment has not unlocked my claim after doing all that they have asked me to do

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  11. I have filed my unemployment September 2020 I have not heard from nobody I have not gotten the letter I have not got a phone call my unemployment is not related to the covid I was let go from my job and September 2020 I cannot get ahold of anybody so if anyone out there could help me please feel free to leave a comment here

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  12. Lost my home car and all personal belongings and I mean everything. This is no joke I can’t have my kids stay the night because I have no home and I just feel like a burden.. I have gotten thru to Edd 2 times since I can’t even remember last year and both times they hung up on me it’s bs. Something needs to be done and now there saying I can’t get my back pay

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  13. This is a joke and the joke is on us. Yea us the ones that are seeking understanding the ones that have real documents asked for. For Nevada or any other state to make a statement/announcement to the media through local news sources in The last days of August and throughout September that there will be 167,000 people receiving a denial letter for PUA claims in a October 2020 and then an unspecified amount announced again in November for denial in December 2020 and the DETR website portal is having issues every single week where claims cannot be claimed u cnt tell me something isn’t fishy. Then October 16, 2020 after my denial letter the same day I submitted an appeal and uploaded the facts nd proof for my appeal then December 24, 2020 I received another Monetary eligibility letter saying I was eligible and once again I uploaded all my documents had employer give me an updated invoice then u want to yell fraud no fraud is these people at home DETR has answering phone calls in which we have to give our personal information to. Not to mention I’ve never ever even been mailed a letter stating anything. I’ve never received nothing in the mail regarding my claim only on the DETR website in my messages my first eligibility letter my denial letter and another eligibility letter in which I only applied 1 time. Yea jokes on me.

    Reply
  14. We filed for unemployment, (My Husband and I ) in NH in 2020, under 1st Cares Act We both qualified,Me, I was Quarantined first , then went back to work after mandatory 15 days, a day and a half later was escorted out of the bldg. And was told in no uncertain terms, I could leave, I was (fired)! Employer says I just disappeared one day…she is not telling unemployment the truth…my husband had to quit due to a strained relationship with employer who sent me home…and no protections were implemented due to Covid 19,because Boss refused to believe in it, But anyway we now are being told we owe back pay of $33,000 and we can’t try to apply for any government help either according to Legal aid, so we sleep in the car or get a room if and when we can afford it. Going on 6 Months now with no Appeal Hearing…

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    • IT IS CLEAR THAT THE VEC DO NOT CARE WHETHER WE LIVE IN CARS OR NOT , they even hired a bunch of new people who messed up claimants claim and now it is impossible to talk to anyone

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  15. Personally ive been waiting for a response since 04/2020.. ky ui hasnt called me back and ive even tried getting help from governor’s office… i have called every number ive found left voicemails tried the online chat it was a nice idea but complete fail… i even had an in-person interview and it got me 2 recent months… but they “werent authorized” to do anything else and i need to call the main office and be persistant… what good that ever does… i call from 10 min before the office opens and keep trying until 15 min after they close… what do i get??? Nothing except uatomated response that got me nowhere thus far… what am i supposed to do??

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    • im in the EXACT SAME situation as you in NV UI ive been filing since 4/2020 no RESPONSE .. finally contacted someone on the phone and tney had the aduacity after a whole year of no answer to HANG UP on me because i wanted to speak to someone who would avctually give me info on m case when the rep said to just wait and continue to look online for updates !!! this is Freaking rediculous!!!!

      Reply
  16. I am having similar issues here in Alabama you call when the claim lines open . You sit and wait only to be told through the automated system that all appointments have been taken for the following day and it’s only 5:02 there is definitely something wrong with this system and we absolutely need HELP OTHER THAN THIS AUTOMATED CRAP ITS NO HELP!!!! You don’t get any response from emails and all the employees that you think are going to help refer you to the automated number.

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    • I’m so freaking I’ll at this I been claiming Wkly sets the Monday be4 Christmas nothing nottta can talk to any one if I do get human they say can’t help call the number for next day call back sh****** its done before you can dial number I’m so I’ll in Alabama

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  17. I been trying to receive my unemployment Benefit for the last 7 months plus they keep me out Your UI!I have call sent emails and still no one reach out to me.Then I left voicemail phone numbers and left my email addressand still no response.

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    • I have been having the same problem even longer. I am broke and even if I go back to work today, if u find work, I am still left with all my bills to the maxxxxxx.

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  18. I have been locked out of my account because it says i have to do id.me but every time i try to do it says i have to do a video call and it says my hold time is 3hr 53mins the time will go down to 1hr 58mins and then go right back up and i can’t get in touch with my local office at all anyone have any advice to help me out with this. I live i Ga

    Reply
    • IT IS CLEAR THEY ARE DOING IT ON PURPOSE THEY KNOWINGLY GIVE YOU NUMBERS THAT THEY ALREADY KNOW NO ONE WILL ANSWER

      Reply

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