Hey Justin, I'm really sorry you're dealing with this mess - getting locked out of KDOL right when you need benefits most is incredibly frustrating! 😤 I went through something similar a few months ago and honestly, the workforce center route that everyone's mentioning is absolutely the way to go. I spent two weeks trying to get through on the phone before someone told me I could just walk into a local office. Got it sorted in under an hour once I was there in person. One thing I'd add to all the great advice here - when you go to the workforce center, ask them to print out your account activity history if they can. Sometimes seeing the timeline of when the account was created or last accessed can help you figure out if it was fraud, an old forgotten account, or something your employer did. Also, bring a backup form of ID if you have it (passport, birth certificate, etc.) - sometimes their ID scanners are finicky and having options helps speed things up. The fact that you lost your job right before Christmas and now have to deal with this bureaucratic nightmare is just awful. But hang in there - everyone in this thread is proof that it does get resolved eventually, even though KDOL makes it way harder than it should be. You've got a solid plan now with all the advice here! 💪

This thread is exactly what I needed to see! I'm not dealing with the same issue yet, but as someone who's had to interact with KDOL before, I know how absolutely maddening their system can be. Justin, I really feel for you - being unemployed during the holidays is stressful enough without having to play detective just to access your own benefits. The workforce center advice seems to be the clear consensus here, and honestly, it makes total sense. Government agencies are always better to deal with in person when their phone/online systems fail (which seems to be constantly with KDOL 🙄). I'd also suggest taking screenshots of any error messages you're getting when you try to log in - sometimes the exact wording can give the workforce center staff clues about what's going wrong with your account. And definitely keep track of all the time you're spending on this - if there's any way to get compensated for the delayed benefits later, you'll want that documentation. Hope you get this sorted out quickly! The holidays are tough enough without bureaucratic nightmares on top of everything else. 🤞

I'm going through the exact same thing right now! Filed for unemployment 2 weeks ago and got the dreaded "SSN already associated with existing account" message. Did my post office verification last Friday but still haven't heard anything back from ID.me. Reading through all these comments is both reassuring and terrifying - glad to know I'm not alone but wow, some of you have been waiting MONTHS 😰 Based on what everyone's saying, I'm definitely going to try calling at 7:30 AM sharp tomorrow with my post office receipt in hand. The tip about asking specifically for the "identity verification department" seems like it could be a game changer. Question for those who've been through this - did you have to provide any additional documents during the phone call, or was the post office receipt usually enough? Want to make sure I have everything ready to go! Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences. This community is a lifesaver when dealing with KDOL's nightmare system! 🤞

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! 🤞

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!