Been trying for 3 weeks to verify my identity through ID.me for my NY unemployment claim. Every time I upload my drivers license and passport, the system says the images are unclear even though they're perfectly clear photos. I've tried different lighting, backgrounds, even borrowed my daughter's phone with a better camera - nothing works! Then when I try the video verification option, it keeps timing out or saying it can't detect my face. I called the NY unemployment office 17 times and nobody can help me bypass this Id.me nightmare. My claim is sitting there approved but I can't get any payments because of this stupid verification issue. My rent is due next week and I'm getting desperate. Has anyone found a way around this ID.me mess or reached a human who can actually help?

My unemployment claim has been sitting in pending status for 12 weeks now with no movement whatsoever. I've been calling the NY unemployment office daily since mid-February (sometimes 15+ times a day) and it's impossible to get through to anyone. The automated system either hangs up on me or puts me on eternal hold. I've emailed them four times with zero response. Tried messaging on their website portal thing but that's also a black hole. Meanwhile my savings are completely drained and I'm about to miss another rent payment. Has anyone successfully reached a human being there? I'm desperate at this point and need this resolved before I get evicted.

I received my unemployment benefits through the KeyBank debit card a few months ago, but I'm getting so frustrated with it. The ATM fees are ridiculous when I'm not near a KeyBank location, and their customer service is practically non-existent when I have issues. I tried calling them three times last week about a declined transaction at the grocery store, and was on hold for over 45 minutes each time! I'm wondering if there's any way to transfer my NY unemployment payments to my personal bank account or maybe another debit card? I'd rather just have the money go straight to my checking account instead of dealing with this KeyBank headache every week. Has anyone successfully switched away from the KeyBank card or set up direct deposit after already receiving the card? The KeyBank website is super confusing and I can't find clear instructions anywhere.

My unemployment benefits just ran out last week after being on them since April. I was also receiving around $300 each month for the past couple months for my kid through some kind of child credit program (can't remember the exact name). Does anyone know if these child credit payments will continue even though my unemployment is done? Really counting on that money for daycare costs while I'm job hunting.

I filed for ny unemployment again after being laid off from my new job last month. My previous claim ended about 8 months ago. I still have the KeyBank debit card they issued me last time. Will the benefits for this new claim be deposited onto that same card or am I gonna get a completely new one? The last time I needed to wait almost 3 weeks for the card to arrive in the mail and I'm trying to figure out if I should be expecting another wait. I tried calling the unemployment office but can't get thru to anyone. I'm eligible for $536 weekly and already certified for 2 weeks but nothing has shown up on my old card yet. On the website it just shows the payment status as 'pending' for each week.