I've been reading through all these responses and they're super helpful! I'm actually dealing with a similar situation right now where I can access my NY.gov ID but it's not properly linked to my unemployment account. When I try to log in, it takes me to a page that says "no claims found" even though I know I have an active claim. Has anyone else run into this specific linking issue? I'm wondering if I should call the technical support number or if there's a way to fix the linkage online. Really don't want to sit on hold for hours if there's a simpler solution!

I just want to thank everyone who contributed to this thread - this is exactly the kind of information that should be stickied or made into a guide somewhere! The NY unemployment system is so unnecessarily complicated with all the different login methods and account linking issues. I'm saving this whole thread for future reference. A few quick tips to add based on what I've learned from dealing with government websites: 1. Always use the same browser when accessing government sites - they can be finicky with cookies and sessions 2. Never use incognito/private browsing mode for important accounts because you lose all the auto-save benefits 3. Screenshot or write down your account details immediately after creating any government account - don't rely on memory! 4. If you move, update your address with ALL your government accounts separately - they don't talk to each other The system really needs to be simplified but at least we can help each other navigate the mess. Thanks again to everyone who shared their experiences and solutions!

I'm so sorry you're going through this tough situation. While childcare issues typically don't qualify as "good cause" for unemployment in NY, I'd still encourage you to apply and be completely honest about your circumstances. Make sure to include that daycare closure letter and explain that you actively tried to find alternative childcare but couldn't. Sometimes adjudicators will consider unique situations. In the meantime, also check if you qualify for emergency assistance programs through your county's social services department - they sometimes have emergency childcare funding or other support for parents in crisis situations like yours.

I went through something similar when my babysitter quit unexpectedly and I couldn't find replacement care. NYS DOL initially denied my claim, but I appealed with documentation showing I had exhausted all childcare options in my area and included letters from several daycares that had waiting lists. The appeal judge was more understanding of the emergency nature of the situation. It took a few months to resolve, but I eventually got approved. Don't give up after the first decision - the appeals process can be more thorough in considering individual circumstances. Also document everything you're doing to find both childcare and new employment while you wait.

I'm having this exact same issue right now! Just finished my ID.me verification on my iPhone about 10 minutes ago and I'm stuck at that "Return to the other open browser tab" message. Reading through all these comments, it's clear the manual workaround is the way to go - opening a new tab and going directly to labor.ny.gov while keeping the ID.me tab open. It's absolutely ridiculous that such a basic redirect function has been broken for so long and they haven't fixed it! This thread has been more helpful than hours of searching the official site. About to try the workaround now - really hoping it works because I can't afford to wait much longer for my benefits. Thanks everyone for sharing actual solutions! 🙏

This exact same thing happened to me about 2 weeks ago! I was so frustrated I almost threw my phone. The mobile redirect from ID.me is completely broken - you're definitely not alone in this. Here's what finally worked: After you get stuck at that "return to other browser tab" message, DON'T close that ID.me tab. Open a brand new tab in your browser, manually type labor.ny.gov into the address bar, and log back in with your NY.gov ID credentials like you normally would. The system should immediately recognize that you completed ID.me verification and let you continue. I know it sounds too simple but that's literally all you have to do - the automatic redirect just doesn't work on mobile browsers. Keep that ID.me tab open as backup until you successfully get back into the unemployment portal though! It's honestly embarrassing that NY hasn't fixed such a basic bug but at least this workaround gets you unstuck without having to start over. You're almost there! 💪

Just wanted to add my experience - I had forfeit days last summer and was able to get them reduced by calling the 209 number. The key was having all my paperwork ready and being really clear about what happened. I got through on my third try (called early morning around 8:15am) and the rep was actually pretty helpful. She looked at my account and saw it was an honest mistake with reporting part-time work, so she reduced my forfeit from 6 weeks to 2 weeks right there. Definitely worth trying the phone first before going the formal appeal route, especially if it's just a reporting error.

I'm dealing with a similar forfeit penalty situation right now and this thread has been super helpful! One thing I wanted to add - when you do call (whether through the regular 209 number or using a service like Claimyr), make sure you have your determination notice number handy. The reps can pull up your case much faster if you give them that reference number right away. Also, I've found that being polite but persistent really helps - some reps are more willing to help than others, so if the first person you talk to seems unhelpful, it's worth trying again with someone else. The early morning call time tip sounds smart too - I'm going to try that approach tomorrow!

I'm in almost the exact same situation! Got my withdrawal of determination letter for forfeit days just last week. Reading through all these responses is so helpful - I had no idea about things like the "pending determination reversal" flag or that the system might need manual intervention. It's both reassuring and frustrating to see how common these delays are. I'm definitely going to call this week armed with all the specific questions people mentioned here. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences - it's making me feel way less alone in dealing with this bureaucratic maze! Will update if I learn anything new from my call.

I just went through this exact same process! Got my withdrawal letter in January for 30 forfeit days that were originally imposed for "failure to report work search activities" (which was total BS since I had been reporting everything correctly). Here's what actually happened with my case: Called the 888-209-8124 number after waiting 2 weeks with no automatic processing. Took me literally 4.5 hours on hold but finally got through to an agent who was actually helpful. She told me that withdrawal letters don't automatically trigger the payment system - there's a separate "backpay reconciliation" process that has to be manually initiated by an agent. My payments showed up exactly 5 business days after that call. The agent also mentioned that if you had any weeks where you partially worked during the forfeit period, those calculations can get more complicated and might take longer to process. One tip: when you call, ask them to email you a confirmation that they've initiated the backpay process. I got an email within 24 hours confirming they had "submitted account for retroactive benefit calculation" which gave me peace of mind that it was actually moving forward. The whole system is honestly a nightmare but the withdrawal letter is definitely good news - just don't expect it to happen automatically!