I'm so worried this is going to happen to me too...I'm about to reapply next week when my benefit year ends. Reading this is making me panic. What if I can't pay my rent? Did you try going to the actual unemployment office in person? I'm wondering if that might be better than calling?

Just wanted to share what finally worked for me last month. After trying everything, including that Claimyr service someone mentioned (which did get me through but the agent couldn't help with my specific issue), what ACTUALLY fixed my problem was emailing my state senator's office. They have staff dedicated to helping constituents with unemployment issues. I emailed on a Monday explaining my situation, got a response Tuesday asking for details, and by Friday I got a call from a supervisor at NYSDOL who fixed everything. My benefits were in my account the following Wednesday including all my back pay. Don't give up!

Just a quick update on the NY unemployment system in 2025: they've actually improved the online application a lot recently. They now have a specific section for COVID-related claims and backdating requests built right into the regular application process. It asks specifically about illness and other good cause reasons for delayed filing. They've also added a virtual assistant chat function that can answer basic questions while you're filling out the application. It's not perfect, but it's definitely better than a few years ago when the system was constantly crashing. One more tip: if you have any friends or family who can sit with you while you complete the application, that often helps reduce the stress of the process.

btw my brother had to do this and he just went to the library and the librarian helped him fill it all out for free. might be worth checking if ur local library does this

If the selfie verification is where you're getting stuck, try these exact steps that worked for me: 1. Use a solid color wall as background (white or light blue works best) 2. Make sure light is coming from in front of you, not behind 3. Remove glasses, hats, or anything on your face 4. Hold your phone at eye level (not looking down at it) 5. Move slowly when following the prompts Also, their system sometimes has maintenance periods late at night, so try during business hours if possible.

Just checking back - were you able to resolve this issue? I'm curious if any of the suggestions worked for you, as I'm helping my brother who's running into similar ID.me verification problems with his NY unemployment claim.

UPDATE: I used the Claimyr service someone recommended below and finally got through to an agent! They confirmed I was missed in the April cycle due to a processing backlog but have now manually added me to receive payment on April 29th. They said this happens sometimes with eligibility determinations that come through right after a payment cycle. SUCH a relief to have an actual date now!

Good advice about saving the confirmation number. For everyone's reference, the current NY unemployment CTC payment schedule for 2025 is: - January 15th - February 19th (delayed due to President's Day) - March 18th - April 29th (delayed due to tax filing deadline) - May 20th - June 17th - July 15th If your eligibility is determined within 14 days before any of these dates, you might be rolled to the next cycle unless you specifically contact them to request inclusion in the current cycle.

Just to add some factual information that might help others: The backpay process for NY unemployment in 2025 involves several steps: 1. Filing the TC-12.3 form (Request for Retroactive Payment) 2. Assignment to a specialized backpay processor (not a regular claims examiner) 3. Review of your work and earnings history for the backpay period 4. Determination of eligibility for each week claimed 5. Processing of payments if approved The official timeframe is 10-15 business days, but in reality, it often takes 3-6 weeks. The key is making sure step #1 and #2 actually happen. Many claims get stuck because the form is filled out but never properly submitted into the processing queue. One tip: When you call, ask them for a "confirmation number" for your TC-12.3 submission. If they can't provide one, the form probably wasn't properly submitted.

Just as a follow up - did you ever get this resolved? I'm curious whether you had to call back multiple times or if they actually processed your backpay claim after that first call where they completed the TC-12.3.