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im also a seasonal worker for parks and rec every summer they lay us off and every winter its the same headache with unemployment. idk why they dont have a special system for state workers who they KNOW are legitimate???
Just wanted to follow up - were you able to get your ID.me verification sorted out? If you're still having issues, there's a specific pathway for state employees. You can request a referral code from your agency's HR department that can sometimes expedite the ID.me process. Not all HR reps know about this, so you might need to specifically ask for the "Trusted Referee Vouching" option.
I got it working! After trying multiple browsers and following the lighting suggestions, it finally accepted my verification. Now I'm just waiting for NYSDOL to process my claim. Thanks everyone for your help - this community saved me so much frustration!
Great to hear you got it working! For anyone else reading this thread in the future - the ID.me issues are usually technical (browser compatibility, camera settings, lighting) rather than eligibility-related. And as a tip, your ID.me verification will be valid for future years, so you won't have to go through this again next season.
how do you even check what they're claiming? my letter didnt have ANY breakdown showing how they calculated the amount!!
You'll need to call and request an itemized statement. The letter should have a reference number - keep that handy. You can also log into your NY.gov account and check your tax documents there. If you have your 2021 tax return and 1099-G, you can calculate roughly what you should owe by multiplying your unemployment income by your tax bracket percentage (minus whatever was already withheld).
Update: I finally got through to someone at the tax department! For anyone else dealing with this, I set up a 36-month payment plan ($36/month) which is much more manageable than the lump sum. They verified the amount was correct - turns out I had selected federal withholding but not state withholding when I applied for unemployment. Lesson learned the hard way!
thanks for updating! gonna call tomorrow and try to do the same thing. $36/month sounds way more doable.
i think i got the whole thing backward when i first filed lol. thought my benefit would be higher cuz i was looking at my yearly total not the quarter thing. was disappointed when the real amount came through
To summarize for anyone else with the same question: 1. The base period (full year) determines if you're eligible for benefits 2. Your weekly benefit amount is based on your highest quarter earnings within that base period 3. The formula is approximately 1/26 of your highest quarter earnings 4. The maximum weekly benefit in NY for 2025 is $650 5. If your determination seems wrong, you can request a reconsideration Hope this helps clear things up!
One last thing to try: the NYSDOL has a Twitter account (@NYSLabor) where they sometimes respond to people having issues. Some folks have had success sending them a direct message with their contact info (never include your SSN or claim ID in public tweets). Worth a shot while pursuing the other avenues mentioned.
I'll try that too! At this point I'm willing to try anything. Thanks everyone for all your suggestions. I'm going to: 1. Contact my state rep/senator 2. Try that Claimyr service to get through by phone 3. Send a DM to the NYSDOL Twitter 4. Look into visiting an office in person I'll update if any of these work!
Quick update: I actually got mine resolved finally. Called using that service I mentioned, got through to someone who told me my claim had been stuck because they needed proof I'd been searching for work, but the notification never got sent to me due to a "system error." Once I uploaded my job search records, my claim was approved within a week and I got all my backpay. The whole thing could have been resolved in 5 minutes if I could have just gotten someone on the phone months ago. The system is beyond broken.
Zoe Alexopoulos
Had the same issue back in January. Got super worried, but checked my bank account 2 days later and the money was deposited on schedule despite the website never updating correctly. The website and the actual payment system seem to be separate sometimes. I wouldn't worry unless your payment doesn't arrive on your usual day.
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Mateo Martinez
•Thanks, that makes me feel better. I'll wait and see if the payment hits my account on the regular day. Fingers crossed!
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Andre Lefebvre
Final advice - if your payment doesn't arrive on schedule, don't wait around hoping it will resolve itself. Call immediately. For issues like this, getting ahead of potential problems can prevent weeks of delayed payments. When you call, mention specifically that you received the 'already certified' error message when trying to certify again, as that's evidence your original certification was recorded.
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Mateo Martinez
•Thanks for all the advice! I used that Claimyr service someone mentioned above and got through to a rep this morning. They confirmed my certification went through fine and said it's just a display glitch affecting some accounts. Payment should arrive on schedule! Such a relief.
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