When I had to do ID.me last year, it was actualy kinda easy. But my sister couldnt get it to work at all on her phone, she had to use a laptop. So maybe try different device if it gets stuck?? Also they asked for my electric bill as proof of address so maybe have some bills ready just in case.

Just to follow up on the certification issue - the NYSDOL online system has been updated in 2025 to be more flexible about certification days, but the guidance documents and some representatives haven't fully caught up with these changes. This is likely why you received conflicting information. If you certified online and received a confirmation number, you should be fine. The system will record your certification for the correct benefit week regardless of which day you certified.

btw that claimyr thing someone mentioned actually works, used it last month when my account got locked for no reason. beats calling 500 times

One more thing - tell your friend to print out her payment history and effective days remaining BEFORE her BYE date hits. Nice to have a record just in case there are questions later.

I used that Claimyr service someone mentioned above. Felt weird paying to get through to unemployment but I was desperate and it actually worked. Got connected to an agent in about 15 minutes when I'd been trying for days. Worth it to get my claim unstuck.

For anyone dealing with seasonal work claims, here's a checklist to avoid delays: 1. Mark your employment as seasonal if that's accurate 2. List ALL employers from the last 18 months, not just your seasonal job 3. Be ready to explain why you're available for full-time, year-round work now 4. Make sure your contact info is current so they can reach you if there are questions 5. Answer all fact-finding questionnaires promptly In my experience, seasonal claims almost always get extra scrutiny. The DOL is checking that you're not someone who voluntarily only works part of the year.

so we all just got a raise without being told?? sweet! im buying pizza tonight lol

Thanks everyone for the reassurance! I feel so much better knowing this is just a normal annual adjustment and not some mistake that's going to come back to haunt me. It's weird they don't send a notice about it, but I'll take the extra money without complaint!

To address your question about negotiating a lower repayment percentage: Yes, this is possible in cases of financial hardship. When you speak with an agent, explicitly state that you're experiencing financial hardship and cannot afford the standard 50% deduction. Be prepared to explain your situation briefly. NYSDOL can reduce the percentage to as low as 20% in documented hardship cases. Having your current essential expenses calculated before the call will help make your case. Emphasize necessities like housing, utilities, and food costs. Regarding Form TC-85.4, this is typically provided by the agent during your call and can sometimes be completed verbally. Always request written confirmation of any repayment plan terms.

One crucial thing no one has mentioned: Make sure you continue to certify every week while this is being resolved! Many people stop certifying when their benefits are suspended, but this creates a whole new problem. Even though you're not receiving payments, you need to maintain your claim by certifying weekly.

I'm glad someone mentioned Claimyr. After trying for a week to get through on my own (literally 40+ calls), I used them and got connected in about 25 minutes. The agent explained that my denial letter was only for regular UI, but they were processing my claim under ABP (which uses more recent wages). She told me to keep certifying while that determination was being made. Without that clarification, I would have stopped certifying and lost weeks of potential benefits.

After reviewing all the advice here, I think your best course of action is: 1. Carefully read your denial letter to see if it mentions evaluating you for Alternate Base Period (ABP) 2. Continue certifying weekly while this evaluation is happening 3. Contact NYSDOL for clarification - yes, it's difficult to reach them, but necessary in your situation 4. Keep documentation of all your certifications and any communication with NYSDOL This is a common situation that confuses many claimants. The system's design isn't user-friendly, but there's likely a legitimate reason you can still certify.

anyone try the mocrosoft skills thing? i heard they got free tech trainings + job placement help

Thanks everyone for all the suggestions. I've made a list of action items for tomorrow: 1. Contact my local Career Center 2. Look into the 599 Training Program 3. Apply for SNAP benefits 4. Try using Claimyr to actually reach someone at NYSDOL 5. Explore the Microsoft training program It's been really helpful hearing from others in the same situation. Makes me feel less alone in this struggle at least. I'll update once I make some progress with these resources.

Just wait till you have a REAL problem with your claim and need to actually talk to someone! I spent THREE WEEKS trying to get a human on the phone when they randomly decided to

That sounds awful! I hope they get it sorted out for you soon. I'll definitely appreciate the smooth sailing while it lasts!

Update for everyone: Since this seems to be a common issue, I wanted to mention that the NY unemployment system is currently undergoing another system update in February 2025 that's supposed to improve backpay processing. If you're having issues, now is actually a good time to get your case reviewed before the transition. Cases still pending during the system migration might experience additional delays.

I FINALLY GOT THROUGH TO SOMEONE! Used Claimyr this morning and spoke to an actual helpful agent. Turns out my backpay got stuck in review because of an employer dispute that was resolved months ago but never properly updated in the system. They've escalated it to the special payments unit and said I should see movement within 2-3 weeks. Finally some progress! Thank you all for your help and suggestions!

Just to clarify for everyone: NY does allow partial benefits when you work part-time. The current formula reduces your weekly benefit by 25% for each day you work, regardless of hours (even 1 hour counts as a day). If you work 4+ days or earn more than your maximum benefit rate, you get nothing for that week. OP, when you call, specifically ask if your account has a "partial benefits flag" or if it's under review. Sometimes they need to manually verify your part-time work, especially if this is a new part-time job that wasn't on your original claim.

UPDATE: Finally got through to someone at unemployment this morning! There was indeed a flag on my account requiring manual review because I started reporting part-time work. The agent released all my payments and said I should receive everything within 2-3 business days. She said this is happening to a lot of people right now. Thanks everyone for your help!