This is such a comprehensive thread with amazing advice! As someone who works in customer service (different industry), I can tell you that the workforce center approach is 100% the right move. Phone systems are designed to filter people out, but when you show up in person with proper documentation, staff are much more motivated to actually solve your problem. One small addition to all the great advice here - when you go to the workforce center, ask if they can put a note on your account about the access issues you've experienced. Sometimes having that documented can help prevent the same problem from happening again if you need to access the system in the future. Also, don't feel bad about this taking up so much mental energy. Job loss is already a huge stressor, and dealing with broken government systems on top of that is genuinely exhausting. You're handling this really well by reaching out and gathering all this info before you go in. Hope you get this resolved quickly tomorrow! 🤞

I'm really sorry you're dealing with this nightmare, Justin! 😞 I went through something very similar about a year ago and it was absolutely maddening. Here's what finally worked for me: First, definitely try the workforce center route that everyone's recommending - it really is a game changer. But while you're gathering documents, also check if you might have filed a claim during COVID. A lot of people filed for pandemic assistance programs and completely forgot about it since the rules were so different back then. Also, this might sound weird, but check if you ever did any gig work through apps like DoorDash or Uber - some of those platforms automatically enrolled drivers in unemployment systems during 2020-2021 for the pandemic relief programs, and you might not have even realized it happened. The other thing I'd suggest is bringing a notebook to the workforce center and writing down everything they tell you - names, reference numbers, next steps, etc. Sometimes they'll give you info that becomes super important later if anything goes wrong with your claim. Losing your job right before the holidays is rough enough without KDOL making everything worse. But with all the solid advice in this thread, you've definitely got the tools to get this sorted out. Hang in there! 💪

I'm actually dealing with this right now too! Just got locked out yesterday after trying to log in multiple times. The whole "SSN already associated with existing account" thing is so frustrating when you know you never created an account before. I haven't done the post office verification yet but sounds like that's my next step based on everyone's advice here. Quick question - do you remember which documents you needed to bring to the post office? Want to make sure I have everything ready so I don't waste a trip. Also really appreciate everyone sharing the 7:30 AM calling strategy - definitely going to try that once I get my verification done. This whole system is such a headache but it's comforting to know so many people have made it through eventually! 🤞

Just wanted to add my experience here since I went through something very similar about 3 months ago. The post office verification through ID.me is definitely the right move, but here's what I learned: even if you don't get the confirmation email, KDOL can usually see your verification attempt in their system within 1-2 business days. When you call (and yes, definitely call at 7:30 AM sharp - that's the only way I got through), have these ready: your post office receipt number, your SSN, and ideally a photo of your driver's license on your phone. The agent asked me to read off specific numbers from my license to verify it matched their records. One thing that really helped speed things up was being very specific about the error messages I was getting. I took screenshots of every "account locked" or "SSN already associated" message and described them in detail to the agent. This helped them understand exactly what type of lockout I was dealing with. The whole process took about 8 business days from post office verification to being back in my account, but the actual phone call to fix it was only about 20 minutes once I reached the right person. Hang in there - it's frustrating but definitely solvable! 💪

Congrats on winning your appeal! 🎉 That's such a relief when you finally get the right outcome. I'm actually going through something similar right now - my appeal hearing is scheduled for next week and I'm super nervous about it. Can I ask what kind of documentation you found most helpful? I have medical records too but I'm worried about how to present everything clearly. Any tips on what to emphasize during the hearing would be amazing!

Congrats on winning your appeal! 🎉 That's a huge relief when you've been dealing with all that stress. From my experience (went through this about 6 months ago), here's what helped me: 1. Call them ASAP - don't wait! The sooner you contact them about claiming missed weeks, the better. 2. They'll likely have you fill out a "Request for Backdating" form or something similar. 3. For back pay on weeks you already claimed - mine took about 4-5 weeks to hit my account after the appeal decision. 4. Keep checking your online account daily for updates and any new correspondence. The whole process can still be slow even after winning, so try to stay patient. Document every phone call and save all emails/letters. You've already done the hard part by winning the appeal - the rest should be more straightforward! Let us know how it goes! 🤞

Have you checked your spam folder? Sometimes the verification emails end up there.

This happened to me too! Turns out there was a glitch in their system that wasn't syncing the in-person verification with online accounts. I had to go back to the post office and ask them to resend the verification. It's a pain, but it might be worth a shot.

Oof, dealing with insurance is the worst. 🤮 I swear they make everything complicated on purpose. Good luck OP, hope you get that extension!

Listen up, because I've been through this rodeo before. Here's what you need to do: • Call them immediately. Don't wait. • Be polite but firm. You're not asking for a favor, you're requesting a reasonable accommodation due to circumstances beyond your control. • Have all your facts ready. Date you received the notice, details about the weather, any news reports about mail delays, etc. • If the first person you talk to can't help, ask for a supervisor. • Get any extension they give you in writing - email is fine. • Follow up with a written request as well, either by email or fax. • Set a reminder for yourself to follow up on this in a few days. Remember, you're not the first person to need an extension and you won't be the last. Stay calm, be persistent, and you'll get through this. Good luck!