I just went through this exact same situation two months ago and I feel your pain! After wasting an entire day trying different free fax apps that kept failing, I discovered something that saved me so much hassle - you can actually call the unemployment office and speak to a human who will often let you email your documents instead of faxing them. I know getting through on the phone is nearly impossible, but I used one of those callback services (Claimyr) that waits on hold for you. Cost me about $20 but the agent I spoke with gave me a direct email address and I had my documents submitted within an hour. The automated notices make it sound like fax is your only option, but the actual agents have way more flexibility. If you want to stick with faxing though, make sure your document scans are crystal clear - blurry images cause most transmission failures. Good luck and don't stress too much, there are definitely solutions!

I'm dealing with this exact same issue right now! Got my fax notice yesterday and I'm completely lost. After reading through everyone's experiences here, it sounds like getting a real person on the phone might be the best route since they can offer email options that aren't mentioned in the automated notices. Has anyone tried scanning documents with the Google Drive app? I heard it has a decent scanner feature too. Also really appreciate everyone sharing their Claimyr experiences - $20 sounds totally reasonable if it means avoiding the fax nightmare. The fact that NY unemployment still requires faxing in 2023 is absolutely ridiculous!

I'm in this exact situation too - my benefits ran out 5 weeks ago and I've been totally lost about what to do next. This thread has been incredibly helpful! I had no idea about the Shared Work Program or One-Stop Career Centers. Like everyone else, I'm frustrated that NYS Department of Labor doesn't provide clear guidance when benefits exhaust - just that "exhausted" status with no roadmap. I'm going to try filing a new claim online this week even though I probably don't have enough recent wages, and also reach out to my local One-Stop Career Center. The job market in my area (upstate NY) has been really tough, especially for anything that pays a living wage. It's honestly such a relief to find this conversation and realize I'm not alone in this confusing process. Thank you for posting this question - you've helped so many of us who are dealing with the same struggle!

I'm going through this exact same situation right now - my benefits just exhausted 2 weeks ago and I've been completely overwhelmed trying to figure out what comes next. This whole thread has been absolutely invaluable! I had no idea about any of these resources like the One-Stop Career Centers, Shared Work Program, or the Claimyr service. It's really frustrating that when your benefits hit that "exhausted" status, the my.ny.gov portal basically just leaves you hanging with zero guidance about what options might still be available. I've been in food service management for years and the industry has been so unpredictable - finding positions that offer decent hours and pay has been incredibly challenging. Based on all the advice here, I'm going to try filing a new claim online this week even though I'm not sure I'll have enough recent wages to qualify. I'm also definitely going to reach out to my local One-Stop Career Center to explore training programs and other support options. The idea of the Shared Work Program is really interesting too - that could be perfect while I'm transitioning back into full-time work. Thank you so much for starting this conversation - it's been more helpful than anything I've found through official channels, and it's such a relief to know so many of us are navigating this same confusing process together!

I went through this exact situation about 6 months ago when I wanted to visit family in Texas for 10 days while collecting unemployment. After doing a ton of research and reading NYS DOL guidelines, I decided to be completely transparent and not claim benefits for the entire period I was away. Here's why: the "able and available for work" requirement isn't just about being physically present - it means you could realistically accept a job offer or attend an interview on short notice. Being in another state for a week clearly doesn't meet that standard. When I resumed filing after my trip, NYS DOL processed everything normally with no questions asked. I lost about $600 in benefits, but it was absolutely worth the peace of mind. My advice based on personal experience: don't claim for any days you're in Florida, keep documentation of your job search activities while away (apply to remote positions if possible), and resume filing normally when you return. NYS DOL actually respects when you're honest about availability rather than trying to game the system.

I'm also dealing with this exact situation right now - planning to visit my cousin in Orlando for about a week while on unemployment. Reading through everyone's experiences here has been incredibly helpful, especially hearing from people like @Sophie Hernandez, @Edward McBride, and @Zainab Ibrahim who actually went through this and shared their detailed approaches. The consensus seems pretty clear: if you can't realistically be available for work (meaning you couldn't fly back immediately for an interview or start a job), don't claim benefits for those days. I was initially worried about losing a week of benefits, but after seeing how many people had zero issues when they resumed filing after voluntary gaps, I'm convinced this is the right approach. Better to be conservative with NYS DOL than risk overpayment problems later. Has anyone here had experience with longer trips (like 2+ weeks) and how that affected their claims?

I feel you on this! Just went through the exact same thing last month and it was absolutely maddening. The ID.me verification loop is like being trapped in digital purgatory. What finally worked for me was getting through to a live agent who explained that there was a tiny formatting difference in how my name appeared in their different systems - something I never would have figured out on my own. The agent was able to manually sync the records and I was back in within 10 minutes. Definitely try the claimyr service that others mentioned - I was skeptical at first but they really do get you connected to someone who can actually help. Don't give up, this is totally fixable once you get the right person on the phone! Keep all your documents handy when you call.

Just joined this community after hitting the exact same ID.me verification nightmare! Been locked out for 3 days now and reading through everyone's experiences here is both terrifying and oddly comforting - at least I know I'm not alone in this mess. The loop is driving me absolutely insane and I'm already behind on bills. Going to try claimyr.com right now based on all the success stories here. It's wild that we need a third-party service just to access our own benefits, but desperate times call for desperate measures. Fingers crossed this works! Will update if I get through. Thanks everyone for sharing your solutions - this thread is a lifesaver! 🙏

My cousin had the same worry but her immigration lawyer told her to definitely file for unemployment since she earned it. She's been collecting for 4 months now with no immigration issues. Don't let fear keep you from getting benefits you're entitled to!

I completely understand your anxiety about this - it's such a scary situation when you're worried about your immigration status! But everyone here is absolutely right. I went through this exact same worry when I was laid off during my green card process. Unemployment insurance is NOT considered public charge because it's an earned benefit - you literally paid for this insurance through your payroll deductions. The USCIS policy manual specifically excludes unemployment compensation from public charge considerations. I collected UI for about 8 months and it had zero impact on my immigration case. Don't let fear prevent you from accessing benefits you earned and deserve! File your claim with NYS Department of Labor - you paid into this system and you're entitled to these benefits.