I had this same worry back in January! Turns out DOL sent me the notification email but it went to my spam folder, so I almost missed it. Make sure you're checking all your email folders and also log into your NY.gov account regularly to check for messages there too. They usually give you about 2-3 weeks notice before you need to take action.

To summarize what everyone has said: 1. Do NOT file a new claim until your current one is exhausted or you're instructed to do so 2. The September 5th deadline only matters if your benefit year is ending before that date 3. The system will notify you 2-3 weeks before any action is needed 4. Filing early can create serious problems that take weeks or months to resolve The best thing you can do right now is keep certifying weekly as normal and wait for official instructions from NYSDOL.

One last thing - just be prepared that your benefit amount might be drastically reduced or eliminated during those December weeks depending on how much you earn. New York uses the following formula: For each day you work, your weekly benefit rate is reduced by 25%. Plus, if you earn more than $200, any amount over $200 further reduces your weekly benefit. So if you're working 5 days a week in December, you'd get $0 for those weeks regardless of how much you earn. But that's okay - your claim stays open and when you go back to working 4 days in January, you'll start receiving partial benefits again for that 1 day you're not working.

Wow I didn't know you could be collecting unemployment while working at all?? I thought once you get a job even part time you're done with unemployment. the whole system makes zero sense to me 🤦‍♂️

The whole system is BROKEN BY DESIGN!! They make it nearly impossible to get through because they don't want to pay people. I've been dealing with NYSDOL for 3 months and spent probably 40+ hours just trying to get through to a person. It's dehumanizing and cruel to people who are already struggling. They know exactly what they're doing!

UPDATE: I finally got through! I ended up using Claimyr this morning after trying for an hour on my own with no luck. Got connected to an agent in about 20 minutes and they fixed my issue right away - turns out there was a verification flag on my account that they quickly removed. My payment should be processed in 3 business days. Thanks everyone for your help and suggestions!

I'm in a similar situation and called the NY unemployment help desk about ID.me issues. They told me that even though ID.me is a third-party service, NYSDOL can sometimes override verification issues if you can prove your identity directly to them. The representative suggested sending a secure message through the unemployment portal with clear photos of your identification documents. Include your claimant ID and a brief explanation of the ID.me issues you're having. This worked for me after 3 failed attempts with ID.me. Key point though: Document EVERYTHING. Save screenshots of error messages, note the dates/times you attempted verification, and record any reference numbers from ID.me. This documentation strengthens your case if they question why you couldn't file sooner.

my cousin works at nysdol and says they're getting TONS of id.me complaints lately. apparently there was a system update in October that made it more strict. try checking the NY unemployment twitter or facebook - sometimes they post workarounds when lots of people have the same problem

Here's what's actually happening with the "release" situation: When a NYSDOL representative tells you they just need to "release" your payment, they're referring to removing a temporary system hold. These holds can happen for various legitimate reasons: - Identity verification checks (especially if you've recently updated any personal information) - System flagging patterns that require manual review - The October 2025 system migration that affected many accounts - Break-in-claim verification requirements The frustrating part is that these holds require manual intervention - there is no automatic resolution after a certain timeframe. And with the current call volume, many legitimate claims are stuck in limbo. I recommend: 1. Continue trying to call early morning (7:55am) and be ready to hit redial repeatedly 2. Use the secure message system with very specific subject lines ("Payment Release Request - Claim #XXXX") 3. Contact your state representative as another commenter suggested 4. Document everything for potential interest penalties (NYS does pay interest on long-delayed benefits in some circumstances) This system-wide issue should improve by late December according to the latest NYSDOL communications.

I finally got through to NYSDOL!!! Used Claimyr from the suggestions here and was connected to an agent in about 35 minutes (after trying for WEEKS on my own). The agent said there was a "verification hold" on my account from when I uploaded my ID back in August that never cleared properly. She removed it while I was on the phone and said all my back payments should process in 1-3 business days! Thank you all SO MUCH for the help - will update when the money actually hits my account. What a relief!!!