Thank you everyone for all the helpful responses! I'm definitely NOT going to file a new claim now. I'll just keep certifying weekly and report the days I'm not working during the renovation shutdown. I'm going to have a chat with my supervisor tomorrow to let them know this is the correct procedure - seems like a lot of employers don't really understand how the system works. Really appreciate all your help!

Also make sure ur checking ur unemployment messages every day!! sometimes they send weird questionnaires u gotta answer right away or they stop ur payments!!!

Another option to consider would be applying for Emergency Assistance to Families (EAF) through your local Department of Social Services. This is designed for temporary financial crises like yours. The application process is separate from both unemployment and disability. You'll need documentation of your medical situation and financial need.

To summarize your options: 1. Check if you qualify for NY disability through a previous employer (if you worked within the last 26 weeks before your injury) 2. Apply for emergency assistance through DSS while waiting to be cleared for work 3. Once medically cleared, apply/reapply for unemployment if your employer still doesn't have work available 4. Consider calling 211 (United Way helpline) which can connect you with additional local resources The key is documenting everything - keep copies of all medical records, work communications, and application confirmations.

So frustrating!!! I got excited when I heard about this from my neighbor. I'm barely making ends meet with the current benefit amount, I was hoping there was some extra help coming. Why would they spread fake news about this? Got my hopes up for nothing!

Just to be 100% clear for everyone in this thread: • There is NO new stimulus payment for unemployment recipients • The NY Child Tax Credit is for tax filers with dependent children • Some UI recipients may receive retroactive payments if their claims were incorrectly calculated • Regular UI benefits in NY still have a maximum duration of 26 weeks • The maximum weekly benefit amount remains $594 for 2025 If you're struggling to reach someone at DOL to resolve issues with your existing claim, consider using a service like Claimyr to get through the phone lines. I've recommended it to several people who were stuck in claim limbo.

For anyone else facing this issue, here's the formal process that should work (though as we've seen, sometimes there are technical glitches): 1. Submit your address change through your NY.gov account AND by submitting form DS-1204. 2. Call NYSDOL at 1-888-209-8124 and specifically request that they verify the address change has been processed in all their systems. 3. Ask them to check the "Key Bank transmission status" specifically - this is a separate field in their system that indicates whether your updated information has been sent to Key Bank. 4. If the change has been processed but not transmitted to Key Bank, request an "external system sync" - this is the technical procedure the helpful agent performed for the original poster. 5. Get a confirmation number for this request. The disconnect between NYSDOL's system and Key Bank's database is a known issue that affects many claimants. When standard procedures don't work, asking specifically about the "transmission status" and requesting an "external system sync" can help get the right technical solution applied.

FINAL UPDATE: It worked! Got my Key Bank card yesterday with the correct address. All my benefits were there ($1,340 total). Such a relief after months of stress. For anyone else dealing with this: 1. Use Claimyr to get through to an actual person (saved me hours of frustration) 2. Specifically ask about the "Key Bank transmission status" and request an "external system sync" (exactly as someone suggested above) 3. Get a reference number and follow up if nothing happens Thanks everyone for your help and suggestions! Now I can finally catch up on my bills.

My friend just went through this exact situation last month. After weeks of calling and getting nowhere, she actually got through by using that Claimyr service someone mentioned above. She said it was worth it because the agent was able to see that her ID verification had actually been approved internally but hadn't updated in the system. They fixed it while she was on the phone and her status changed to approved the next day. I think the bigger issue is that the new ID.me system isn't communicating properly with the main NYSDOL system. Sometimes the verification goes through on the ID.me side but doesn't register correctly with unemployment. That's why talking to an actual agent who can check both systems is so important.

I had a pending ID verification that took forever too! But here's what finally worked for me: I found an email address for the ID verification department directly: NYSIDverify@labor.ny.gov (not the general unemployment email). I sent them an email with my claim ID in the subject line, and attached copies of my documents again. Got a response within 2 days saying they were expediting my verification, and it was approved 3 days later. Not sure if this email still works (this was in February) but might be worth trying!