Glad you got it sorted out! The VPN issue is actually pretty common with ID.me - their system flags VPN traffic as potentially suspicious which can cause verification to stall. For anyone else reading this thread who might be stuck at the same spot, here's a quick checklist that usually helps: ✓ Use Chrome or Firefox (avoid Safari/Edge) ✓ Set browser zoom to 100% ✓ Disable VPN and any privacy extensions temporarily ✓ Use natural lighting or a bright lamp ✓ Make sure all four corners of your ID are visible in the photo ✓ Clear browser cache before starting If you're still having issues after trying these steps, the video verification call option through ID.me support is usually the fastest backup solution. The whole process has definitely gotten more reliable over the past year, but these technical hiccups still happen occasionally.

Just wanted to chime in as someone who works in tech support - the ID.me verification issues you experienced are super common and it's great that you got it resolved! For future reference, another thing that can cause problems is having multiple tabs open with the same site. ID.me sessions can conflict with each other if you have the NY unemployment portal open in multiple browser tabs. Also, if anyone is still having trouble after trying all the browser fixes mentioned here, you can actually call ID.me support directly at 1-855-438-3291. Their phone support is usually faster than the chat option, especially during business hours. They can walk you through the verification process step by step or set up the video call verification immediately. The whole system definitely needs to be more user-friendly, but at least there are workarounds when it gets stuck!

The whole system is a mess honestly. I've been unemployed for 2 months and still dealing with adjudication issues. Even when the system is 'open' half the time it doesn't work properly.

I've been dealing with the same frustration! One tip that helped me - if you're getting errors during the Sunday morning maintenance window (2-6 AM), try using the mobile app instead of the website. Sometimes one works when the other doesn't. Also, make sure you're using the correct login credentials - I had issues because I was mixing up my NY.gov account with my old unemployment login. The system can be really picky about browser settings too, so try clearing your cache or using incognito mode if you keep hitting walls.

One more thing - your benefit year is exactly 52 weeks from when you first filed, but you can only collect for up to 26 of those weeks. So if you find work and then get laid off again within that same benefit year, you might be able to reopen your claim instead of filing a new one. Just something to keep in mind for planning purposes.

Just to add to what everyone's saying - make sure you also know about the waiting week! In NY there's usually a one-week waiting period before you start receiving benefits, so your first payable week is actually the second week after you file. Also, if you're in construction like the original poster, you might want to look into whether your union has any additional resources or job placement services that could help with your search requirements. The building trades often have their own networks that can count toward your job contacts.

yeah this is pretty normal, just wait it out and keep filing your weekly claims

I'm dealing with the exact same thing right now! My claim just switched to hold status yesterday with no explanation. I've been calling the NYS Department of Labor phone line but can't get through - just busy signals all morning. It's so stressful not knowing what's causing the hold or how long it might take to resolve. I'm keeping track of all my job search activities just in case they need documentation, but like you said, there's no message telling me what they actually need. Hopefully it's just a routine review like some others mentioned and gets cleared up quickly.

The confusion is totally understandable - I went through the same thing when I was between jobs. The key thing to remember is that NYS looks at your entire work history during that base period, not just your current job. So @Lydia Santiago, your 6 weeks at the new job plus any previous work you had in the last 5 quarters would all count toward meeting those wage requirements. I'd recommend logging into your my.ny.gov account like Eve mentioned to see your actual wage credits - that'll give you a clear picture of where you stand eligibility-wise before you need to make any decisions about the job fit.

I've been through a similar situation where I wasn't sure about my eligibility after starting a new job. What really helped me was calling the NYS Department of Labor directly to go over my specific work history and wage credits. They can tell you exactly where you stand based on your individual circumstances. The representatives are usually pretty helpful once you get through - though I know that can be the challenging part! They can also explain how your previous employment would factor into the base period calculation, which varies depending on when exactly you file. It's worth having that conversation before you make any decisions about the job, especially since you're still in the probationary period where things could go either way.