sooo what did u end up doing?? any luck getting your backpay yet??

I went through this exact same situation last year! The key thing that finally worked for me was being super persistent with the appeals department phone number that Malik mentioned. I called (518) 402-0089 every single day for a week at exactly 9:15 AM (seemed to be when they had the shortest wait times). When I finally got through, the agent told me that portal requests for backdating often get stuck in their system and that calling is actually the fastest way to resolve it. She processed my 6 weeks of back payments right there on the phone - took maybe 15 minutes total. The agent also mentioned that if you're working now, make sure to emphasize that you were actively job searching during those missed weeks and available for work. They need that confirmation for backdating approval. Don't give up! That $2,100 is absolutely worth fighting for. The combination approach you mentioned sounds perfect - hit them from multiple angles and one will work.

Oof, cross-state unemployment issues are the worst. Sending you good vibes, OP! 💖

I went through this exact same situation about 6 months ago! Here's what worked for me: First, make sure you have all your NJ wage statements and employment records ready. NY unemployment will need your complete work history from NJ. The trick is to file your claim with NY first (since that's where you're living now), then they'll request the wage info from NJ automatically through something called the Interstate Connection Network. You shouldn't have to manually send anything between states - they handle that part. BUT if for some reason that automated system isn't working, you can call NY unemployment and specifically ask them to do an "interstate wage request." They have a process for this. Also, pro tip: when you're on hold, use the callback feature if they have one. Saved me hours of sitting by the phone! Hope this helps - the interstate stuff is confusing but once you get it sorted, it should flow smoothly. Good luck! 🍀

I just wanted to chime in as someone who went through this exact same situation about 6 months ago. The ID.me verification process is absolutely brutal, but don't give up! A few things that saved me: 1) Try the mobile app instead of the website if you're having upload issues - it worked way better for me, 2) Make sure your documents are saved as JPG or PNG files, not PDF (learned this the hard way), and 3) If all else fails, the video chat option actually moves faster than you'd think, usually within 24-48 hours. I know it feels hopeless when you're stuck in this loop, but once you get past ID.me, the rest of the unemployment process moves pretty quickly. Stay strong everyone! 💪

I'm currently stuck in the same ID.me verification loop right now and this thread has been SO helpful! I've been trying for over a week to upload my documents and keep getting error messages. Going to try calling that number (866-775-4363) first thing tomorrow morning at 8am like some of you suggested. Has anyone had luck with the mobile app recently? My laptop keeps timing out but maybe my phone will work better. This whole process is so stressful when you're already dealing with being unemployed. Thank you all for sharing your experiences - at least I know I'm not alone in this struggle!

Just wanted to add another data point - I've been having this exact same issue for the past 3 weeks! I was using Safari on my Mac and it was driving me absolutely nuts. After reading through all these suggestions, I switched to Chrome and tried entering my work search activities around 6:30 AM this morning. Everything saved perfectly! I also started keeping a backup Excel sheet with all my job application details, dates, and contact info just in case. It's so reassuring to know I'm not the only one dealing with this and that there are actual solutions. The early morning + different browser combo seems to be the key. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences and workarounds - this community is amazing! 👍

I've been struggling with this exact same issue for about 2 weeks now! It's so frustrating when you spend time filling everything out and then half the fields just disappear. I was starting to think my computer was broken or something. Reading through all these suggestions has been incredibly helpful - I had no idea it could be a browser issue. I've been using Firefox this whole time, so I'm definitely going to try switching to Edge or Chrome tomorrow morning. The early morning timing tip makes a lot of sense too since that's probably when fewer people are using the system. I'm also going to start taking screenshots before I hit save, just in case. Has anyone had luck contacting NYSDOL directly about recovering missing entries, or is it better to just re-enter everything using these workarounds?

Make sure you double check that your routing and account numbers were entered correctly when you set up direct deposit. One wrong digit and your payment could be floating in limbo somewhere. NYS Department of Labor should send you a confirmation email when direct deposit is activated on your account.

I switched to direct deposit about 6 months ago and it's been so much more reliable than the debit card! The first payment did take about 3-4 business days, but now I typically see my unemployment benefits in my account within 24-48 hours of the claim being processed. One thing I learned is that if you set up direct deposit mid-week, it can take a bit longer for that first payment since the banking systems need time to verify everything. Also, make sure you log into your NY.gov account and verify that the direct deposit info shows as "active" - there should be a green checkmark or "verified" status next to your banking information. If you don't see that, it might mean there was an issue with the setup that needs to be fixed.