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I'm having the EXACT same issue but with a twist - I got through ID.me verification but now my NYSDOL account says they can't confirm my identity!? So I'm verified but also not verified? Has anyone else had this happen? I'm so confused and scared I'll never get my benefits...
That happened to me too! There's actually a second verification process that happens on NYSDOL's end after ID.me. This is where calling them directly helps - they need to manually confirm the ID.me verification went through. The Claimyr service I mentioned earlier can get you through to them quickly instead of spending days redialing.
Omg thank you for explaining! Nobody tells you these things! I'll check out that service because I'm losing my mind trying to get through on the phone.
This thread has been super helpful! I'm dealing with the same ID.me nightmare right now. Just wanted to add that if you're still having issues after trying all these suggestions, you can also file a complaint with the NY State Attorney General's office. I did this after being stuck for 3 weeks and they actually reached out to NYSDOL on my behalf. It took about 10 days but they got my verification sorted out. The complaint form is online and pretty quick to fill out. Sometimes you need to escalate beyond the normal channels when the system is this broken!
Wow, I had no idea you could file a complaint with the Attorney General's office about this! That's actually brilliant - I never would have thought to escalate it that way. How did you know to do that? And did they give you any updates during those 10 days or did you just have to wait and hope? This whole ID.me situation really does feel like a broken system that's designed to make people give up. Thanks for sharing this option - I'm definitely keeping this in my back pocket in case the video verification doesn't work out!
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I was in almost the exact same situation last year - making $780/week when I got laid off. Like others mentioned, the benefit calculation isn't straightforward but I ended up getting about $375/week. One thing I wish I'd known is that you can actually do a rough estimate yourself: they typically take your highest quarter earnings, divide by 26, then apply the benefit formula (around 50% but varies). Also worth noting that benefits are taxable, so factor that in when budgeting. The good news is that at your income level, unemployment should cover most basic expenses, though you'll definitely need to tighten the belt a bit. Start organizing your paperwork now like others suggested - having everything ready makes the application process much smoother!
Thanks for sharing your experience @Ethan Clark! That's really reassuring to hear from someone who was in almost the exact same situation. The 50% calculation makes sense and $375/week sounds manageable for basic expenses. I didn't realize the benefits are taxable though - that's definitely something to factor in when planning. Did you have them withhold taxes from your weekly payments or did you just handle it at tax time? I'm trying to get all my ducks in a row now just in case the layoffs at my company actually happen.
The base period lag that @Misterclamation Skyblue mentioned is really important to understand! I learned this the hard way when I filed - had gotten a nice promotion 2 months before getting laid off but none of those higher earnings counted because of the base period rules. Also wanted to add that New York has something called an "Alternate Base Period" if your regular base period doesn't qualify you or gives you a really low benefit amount. It uses more recent quarters including some of your most recent earnings. Definitely worth asking about if your initial calculation seems off. The whole system is designed to be conservative and use established earning patterns rather than your absolute most recent pay, which can be frustrating but does provide some stability in the calculation.
@Toot-n-Mighty That's really valuable information about the Alternate Base Period! I had no idea that was even an option. It's frustrating that the system doesn't automatically use whichever calculation gives you the higher benefit amount. Do you know if you have to specifically request the alternate calculation or do they offer it automatically if your regular base period doesn't work out well? This whole thread has been so helpful - I'm feeling much more prepared now in case I do end up needing to file. It sounds like even though the system is complicated, there are at least some safeguards in place to help people who've had recent job changes or promotions.
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I'm dealing with this exact same situation right now! Just got approved for NY unemployment benefits yesterday and I'm already wondering when my WAY2GO card will show up. This thread has been incredibly reassuring to read - it's so helpful to see that 7-14 days is the normal timeframe and that I'm not the only one going through this stressful waiting period. Sofia, you definitely made the right call switching to direct deposit immediately! I'm planning to do the same as soon as I can access my account. That WAY2GO customer service number (1-855-233-8124) that everyone keeps mentioning sounds like a great resource for tracking card status once I get closer to that one week mark. Thanks to everyone who's shared their experiences and timelines - this community is such a lifeline when you're new to navigating the NY unemployment system. It's comforting to know we're all in this together! 🙏
Heather, you're definitely in good company here! Just got approved yesterday puts you right at the beginning of that 7-14 day window everyone's been talking about. I'm also new to this whole process and this thread has been such a lifesaver for managing the anxiety of waiting. It's amazing how much better it feels knowing so many people are going through the exact same thing! That WAY2GO customer service number seems to be super helpful based on everyone's experiences - definitely worth calling once you hit that week mark. And yeah, switching to direct deposit ASAP once you can access your account is clearly the smart move. Thanks for sharing your experience - it's so reassuring to see we're all figuring this out together! 💪
I'm going through the exact same thing right now! Just got approved for NY unemployment 6 days ago and have been obsessively checking my mailbox every day 😅 This thread has been such a relief to read - it's really reassuring to know that 7-14 days is completely normal for the WAY2GO card delivery. I was starting to worry something went wrong with my application! Definitely going to call that WAY2GO customer service number (1-855-233-8124) that so many people have recommended to check on my card status. Sofia, you were super smart to switch to direct deposit right away - I wish I had thought of that from the start! Planning to make that change as soon as I can access my account online. Thanks for starting this thread, it's been incredibly helpful to see that we're all going through the same stressful waiting period. This community is amazing for helping navigate the NY unemployment system! 🙏
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I just went through this exact situation about 4 months ago and I completely understand the stress you're feeling! The waiting period after an appeal hearing is honestly one of the most anxiety-inducing parts of the whole unemployment process. In my case, it took exactly 19 days to receive the written decision in the mail, and my my.ny.gov account status updated about 3 days after the letter arrived. The fact that you're only at 10 days means you're still well within the normal timeframe - most decisions come between 2-4 weeks after the hearing. One thing that really helped me during the wait was remembering that no news doesn't necessarily mean bad news. The administrative law judges have to carefully review all the testimony and evidence before making their decision, which takes time. When I did win my appeal, they backdated all my benefits to my original claim date and I received everything I was owed in a lump sum payment. Keep hanging in there - the waiting is the hardest part but you should hear something soon!
Thank you so much for sharing your timeline Darren! 19 days gives me a really concrete expectation to work with. I've been driving myself crazy wondering if 10 days means something is wrong, but hearing from multiple people that 2-4 weeks is totally normal really helps calm my nerves. The point about no news not meaning bad news is especially helpful - I keep thinking that if it was good news they'd tell me faster, but that's probably not how it works. It's really encouraging to hear that when you won, everything was backdated and you got the lump sum. That's exactly what I'm hoping for since I've been struggling financially during this whole process. Thanks for the reassurance!
I'm going through the same waiting game right now - had my appeal hearing 12 days ago and checking my account constantly! From everything I've read here and experienced myself, it sounds like 10 days is still very much in the normal range. The hardest part is not knowing, but it seems like most people hear back between 2-4 weeks. One thing that's helped me is setting a reminder to only check my my.ny.gov account once a week instead of daily - the obsessive checking was making my anxiety worse. Also make sure you're still certifying for weekly benefits while you wait, because if you win, those weeks will count toward your total. We're both still well within the normal timeframe, so try to hang in there! The waiting is brutal but it sounds like good news is still very possible.
Justin Evans
I'm in the same situation as many of you here - just lost my job last week and was really stressed about the health insurance gap. This thread has been incredibly helpful and reassuring! Based on everyone's experiences, it's clear that you can definitely get both unemployment and Medicaid simultaneously. I'm planning to apply for unemployment through NYS DOL this week and then submit my Medicaid application through NY State of Health right away. The advice about being honest with your UI income but not letting it discourage you from applying makes total sense - it sounds like most weekly benefit amounts keep you well under the Medicaid income thresholds. Thank you all for taking the time to share your real experiences - it makes such a difference when you're navigating this for the first time and feeling overwhelmed!
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CosmicCommander
•@Justin Evans I m'so glad you found this thread helpful! I was in your exact situation about 3 months ago and can confirm everything everyone has shared here - you absolutely can get both programs at the same time. The key thing that helped me was not overthinking it and just getting both applications submitted quickly. When I applied for Medicaid through NY State of Health, I estimated my unemployment income based on what I expected to receive around ($390/week and) had no issues getting approved. The online application process is really straightforward and walks you through exactly what information to include. My biggest piece of advice is don t'delay - I applied for Medicaid just 5 days after losing my job and it was approved about 2.5 weeks later, well before my employer coverage ended. Having both programs in place took so much stress off during the job search process. You re'taking all the right steps and this community support really does make a huge difference when you re'going through this transition!
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Connor O'Neill
I'm currently going through this exact situation right now! Lost my job two weeks ago and was really worried about the health insurance gap. I can confirm what everyone else is saying - you can absolutely get both unemployment and Medicaid at the same time. I filed for unemployment through NYS DOL first and got approved for $385/week, then applied for Medicaid through NY State of Health about a week later. Even with reporting my UI income, I was approved for full Medicaid coverage within about 3 weeks. The key is being upfront about your unemployment benefits when you apply for Medicaid, but don't let that scare you - the weekly amounts are usually low enough that you'll still qualify. My advice would be to apply for both programs ASAP rather than waiting. Having that health coverage safety net while job searching has been such a huge relief. The system really is designed to help people during these transitions!
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Diego Flores
•@Connor O'Neill Thank you so much for sharing your current experience! It's incredibly reassuring to hear from someone who is literally going through this right now and confirming that it all works out. Your timeline of filing for unemployment first and then Medicaid about a week later sounds like the perfect approach - I'm definitely going to follow that same sequence. It's such a relief to know that $385/week in UI benefits still qualified you for full Medicaid coverage, especially hearing it from someone who just went through the approval process recently. I really appreciate your emphasis on applying ASAP rather than waiting - you're absolutely right that having that health coverage safety net makes such a difference during job searching. This whole thread has transformed my anxiety about losing health insurance into confidence that I can navigate both programs successfully. Thanks for taking the time to share your experience with newcomers like me!
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