April 9 Update: NYS Department Of Labor Announces Partnerships To Boost Tech Capacity and Make It Easier for New Yorkers To File

Albany, NY (April 09, 2020) -

Facing an unprecedented spike in unemployment insurance applications related to the COVID-19 pandemic, the New York State Department of Labor and the New York State Office of Information Technology Services today announced a “Tech Surge” in partnership with Google Cloud, Deloitte, and Verizon to improve the reliability of the state’s online and telephone-based unemployment insurance application systems. The Tech Surge will include critical upgrades to the Department of Labor’s technology systems that will increase its capacity to accept and process applications, making it easier for New Yorkers to apply for benefits.

Please note the following:

“Tech Surge” includes Critical Upgrades from Google, Deloitte, and Verizon

• New Yorkers Who Had Been Told to Call Department of Labor Should Stop — They Will Receive a Call from New York State within the next 72 Hours to Complete Their Application Online
• Unemployment Insurance Application Will Go Offline Today from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM — Will Be Rebooted with New, Streamlined Application System New Yorkers Urged to Use New Online Application System, Which can Handle Most Applications from Start to Finish Without a Telephone Call
• Department of Labor’s Online Systems Now Supported by Over 60 Web Servers, up from just 4 Before COVID-19 Crisis Call Center Now Open 7 Days a Week, with 1,000 Staff Answering Phones and Processing Claims and Plans to Add an Additional 1,200 Staffers

In addition:, the Department of Labor has:

• drastically expanded the call center’s hours, including opening on Saturdays and Sundays:
• Monday - Friday: 8:00 AM to 7:30 PM Saturday and Sunday: 7:30 AM to 8:00 PM

In addition, earlier this week Governor Cuomo announced he had directed the Department of Labor to immediately make $600 in additional weekly unemployment benefits available to all New Yorkers. The additional benefits were included in the Federal CARES Act, but, unlike other states, New York began delivering the extra unemployment insurance to unemployed individuals before Federal funds are disbursed to the states. New York is also extending the period covered by unemployment benefits for another 13 weeks, for a total of 39 weeks.

The New York State Department of Labor is dedicated to ensuring that every New Yorker who is entitled to unemployment insurance benefits will receive all benefits due. New Yorkers seeking to file an unemployment insurance claim should visit labor.ny.gov or call the Telephone Claim Center at (888) 209-8124.

Please click here for full article at Department of Labor.