Emma, that's really helpful advice about the renewable energy sector! I hadn't thought about that angle. My manufacturing experience was mostly in automotive parts, so I'm wondering if those skills would transfer well. Did you find any specific programs or certifications that helped you make the transition? Also, when you mention networking events counting toward work search requirements, do you know if virtual networking events count too? With two kids at home, it might be easier for me to attend online events in the evenings.

@Natasha Kuznetsova Yes, virtual networking events definitely count! I attended several online industry webinars and virtual job fairs that all qualified for my work search log. For manufacturing to renewable energy transition, look into NYSERDA New (York State Energy Research and Development Authority -) they offer training programs and job placement assistance. Your automotive parts experience is actually really valuable for wind turbine manufacturing and solar panel installation companies. Many of the precision manufacturing skills transfer directly. I d'also suggest checking out SUNY community colleges - they have affordable certificate programs in green energy that you can do part-time while job searching. The key is documenting everything in your work search activities.

@Nia Davis This is incredibly helpful information, thank you! I hadn t'even thought about the tax implications of unemployment benefits. The TAA program sounds interesting too - my plant closure was partly due to competition from overseas manufacturers, so that might apply to my situation. Do you know how I would find out if I qualify for TAA? Also, when you mention documenting job search activities from day one, should I start keeping records even before my unemployment claim is approved? I m'planning to file my initial application this week but want to make sure I m'doing everything right from the beginning.

What service did you use? I've been trying to call for days and either get disconnected or the line is busy. Really frustrating when you just need a simple answer about your benefit calculation.

I used this thing called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that basically calls for you and gets you connected to an actual NYS Department of Labor agent. There's a video demo at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI that shows how it works. Saved me hours of calling and getting hung up on.

Oh great, another thing to worry about. How did you find out about the wage reporting issue? Did you have to appeal or anything?

@Ezra Bates that s'exactly what I m'worried about! How long did it take to get that sorted out? I m'already stressed about being laid off and now I m'wondering if my employers reported everything correctly. Did you have to provide your own pay stubs or tax documents to prove what you actually earned?

@Aisha Ali Great point about trying different devices! I had a similar experience where documents that weren t'showing up on my desktop suddenly appeared when I switched to my tablet. The popup blocker issue is something I never would have considered - that could definitely explain why some people think their documents are missing when they re'actually just not downloading properly. It s'really encouraging to hear from so many people who ve'found creative solutions to navigate this confusing system. Between all the tips in this thread - checking different sections, trying various browsers and devices, clearing cache, using off-peak hours - hopefully everyone can find a method that works for them. The NYS portal definitely needs improvement, but at least we re'building a good knowledge base here for future users!

@Carmen Lopez That s'such a good point about VPNs! I never thought about that causing issues with government portals, but it makes total sense that they might have security restrictions. I ve'been using a VPN constantly and wondering why some pages seemed to load inconsistently. Also really glad you mentioned the chat feature - I completely missed that option when I was logged in earlier. This whole thread has been a lifesaver! It s'amazing how many different technical issues can prevent us from accessing documents that should be straightforward to find. Between browser compatibility, device differences, VPN conflicts, and popup blockers, it s'like we need to be IT troubleshooters just to get our unemployment letters. But I m'grateful everyone is sharing these solutions because it shows the NYS system has workarounds even when it doesn t'work properly out of the box.

@Carmen Lopez Thanks for mentioning the VPN issue! I had no idea that could affect document access on government portals. I ve'been struggling with inconsistent loading on the NYS site and I do use a VPN regularly for work. Going to try disconnecting it and see if that helps my documents show up properly. The chat feature tip is also really useful - I completely overlooked that option when I was frantically searching through all the different sections. This entire thread has been so much more helpful than any official NYS help documentation I ve'found. It s'frustrating that we need so many workarounds, but at least we re'all helping each other figure out this confusing system!

@Isabella Silva You should definitely try the Claimyr service that Emma and Omar mentioned! I was skeptical at first but it really works. I had a similar issue where my verification wasn t'syncing between the systems and they got it sorted in one call. Don t'wait another 2 weeks - the longer you wait, the more stressful it gets. Worth every penny when you re'dealing with rent and bills!

That's awesome Emma! Thanks for keeping us updated throughout your process. This thread is going to be super helpful for others dealing with the same ID.me verification delays. It's such a relief when you finally see those payments come through after weeks of stress!

@Mei Liu I m'in a very similar situation! Just completed my ID.me verification 4 days ago and still seeing pending "on" the NY.gov side. This thread has been so helpful - it s'reassuring to know others have gotten through this successfully. The inconsistent timelines are definitely nerve-wracking when you re'waiting for payments, but seeing Emma s'positive outcome gives me hope. I think I ll'wait a couple more days and then try the Claimyr service if nothing changes. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences here!

Great question about the grace period! From what I understand, as long as you report within the 10-day window, you should be protected during processing time. The key is having documentation that you reported on time - like a confirmation email from the online portal, certified mail receipt, or even just notes about when you called and who you spoke with. I've heard that most issues arise when people wait months to report, not when there are processing delays after timely reporting. The fact that you're being proactive about this puts you in a much better position. Definitely keep records of your reporting date though, just in case!

Hey! I used the myBenefits app a few months ago and it's actually pretty user-friendly - don't worry about the tech side of it. The income reporting section is clearly labeled and walks you through each step. Just make sure to have your unemployment determination letter handy when you use it since you'll need some info from there. The app will give you a confirmation screen at the end - definitely screenshot that like you mentioned! One tip: if you get stuck anywhere in the app, there's usually a help button that explains what each field is asking for. You've got this!