Can we talk about how they're sending these "important notices" but their website STILL crashes every Sunday when everyone tries to certify?? They need to fix their broken system before adding more requirements. Last Sunday I tried for 3 hours to certify and kept getting error messages!! Anyone else dealing with this garbage?

Just to make sure everyone has the complete information, here's what else was in the email that hasn't been mentioned yet: 1. They're launching a new mobile app in June 2025 for certifications and status checks 2. Direct deposit payments will process 1 day faster (48 hours instead of 72) 3. The monetary determination process is being streamlined from 10 days to 5 days for most claims 4. They're adding Saturday call center hours (8am-2pm) starting in May Overall, while there are some stricter requirements, there are also several improvements to the system that should help claims process faster.

I just went thru this last weekend!!! The phone system is totally different - the voice sounds like a younger guy and some of the questions are in a different order. But my payment posted today (Tuesday) just like normal. One thing I did notice was the process took about 2 minutes longer than it used to.

Has anyone else noticed that the website has been extra glitchy lately too? I wonder if they're doing a bunch of updates to everything at once. My friend who certifies online said the website looks different too now.

I didn't think of checking online! I'll do that right now. Hopefully there's more information there than what was in the letter.

Just checked and there is some additional info! Looks like they found a discrepancy between the unemployment income reported on my W-2G form versus what the department had on record. Mystery solved! Thanks for the suggestion!

When I had to do ID.me last year, it was actualy kinda easy. But my sister couldnt get it to work at all on her phone, she had to use a laptop. So maybe try different device if it gets stuck?? Also they asked for my electric bill as proof of address so maybe have some bills ready just in case.

Just to follow up on the certification issue - the NYSDOL online system has been updated in 2025 to be more flexible about certification days, but the guidance documents and some representatives haven't fully caught up with these changes. This is likely why you received conflicting information. If you certified online and received a confirmation number, you should be fine. The system will record your certification for the correct benefit week regardless of which day you certified.

Update for everyone: Since this seems to be a common issue, I wanted to mention that the NY unemployment system is currently undergoing another system update in February 2025 that's supposed to improve backpay processing. If you're having issues, now is actually a good time to get your case reviewed before the transition. Cases still pending during the system migration might experience additional delays.

I FINALLY GOT THROUGH TO SOMEONE! Used Claimyr this morning and spoke to an actual helpful agent. Turns out my backpay got stuck in review because of an employer dispute that was resolved months ago but never properly updated in the system. They've escalated it to the special payments unit and said I should see movement within 2-3 weeks. Finally some progress! Thank you all for your help and suggestions!