Unemployment Insurance process can be overwhelming and at times frustrating, especially for individuals with limited English proficiency or other barriers. As a result, there is a new state agency available to help you with your unemployment application. The New York State Unemployment Insurance Claimant Advocate Office at the NYS Department of Labor was recently created to assist claimants understand their rights and responsibilities throughout the Unemployment Insurance process.New York State Unemployment Insurance Claimant Advocate Office offers free, impartial service to assist all claimants, especially those with limited English proficiency or other barriers. If your needs go beyond Unemployment Insurance, we will point you to additional resources.
A claimant advocate will directly assist you one-on-one, explain the process and answer all your questions about:
- An Unemployment Insurance Determination or
- other UI-related Documentation
- How to Proceed with a Hearing
- How to Appeal a Decision
- Your Rights and Responsibilities
To contact them you can either:
Call toll-free: 1-(855) 528-5618
E-mail: UIClaimantAdvocateOffice@labor.ny.gov.
Phone and in-person appointments are available with services available in approximately 200 languages.
Hours of Operation: Monday - Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
When you call, please have ready:
• Last four digits of your social security number
• A list of questions
• Any related documents
DISCLAIMER: Office staff are not lawyers and can’t represent you at a hearing. If you cannot afford to pay an attorney or a registered representative, you may be able to get free representation from a pro bono attorney or your local Legal Aid Society or legal services program. For a list of legal resources, including attorneys, registered representatives, legal services programs and pro bono attorneys’ organizations, go to the Unemployment Insurance Appeal Board website at www.uiab.ny.gov. Click on the “Resources” tab and then click on “List of Attorneys & Authorized Agents.” You may also request this list by calling 1-518-402-0205.