I've been struggling with this exact same issue for the past three days! The timing couldn't be worse since I also have a Friday deadline. Reading through all these suggestions has been so helpful - I had no idea there were so many different factors that could cause upload problems. I'm planning to try the "kitchen sink" approach tomorrow: wake up at 5:30 AM, use Chrome in incognito mode, rename all my files to simple formats like "paystub1.pdf", compress everything under 1MB, disable my ad blocker, and upload one document at a time while being patient for those confirmation messages. If that doesn't work, I'll try switching to my tablet with mobile data like Dylan suggested. It's honestly ridiculous that we need to become tech experts just to submit basic paperwork, but I'm grateful this community has figured out so many workarounds. Fingers crossed we can all get through this bureaucratic nightmare!

I just went through this same nightmare last week! What finally worked for me was a combination of almost everything mentioned here, but I want to add one more tip that was crucial - make sure you're not running any VPN software. I had my VPN on for work and it was causing the uploads to fail every time. Once I disconnected it and tried again at 6 AM with all the other suggestions (Chrome incognito, simple filenames, compressed PDFs under 1MB, one at a time), everything went through smoothly. Also, I kept screenshots of each successful upload confirmation just in case I needed proof later. The whole system is absolutely broken but these workarounds do help. Good luck Fatima - you've got great advice here!

From my experience dealing with NYS DOL, they primarily focus on cross-referencing your reported earnings with employer wage records and state databases. The most common triggers for deeper scrutiny are inconsistencies between what you report and what shows up in their systems - like unreported W-2 income or discrepancies in employment dates. If you're consistently accurate with your weekly certifications and job search documentation, you're unlikely to face any banking-related investigations. The system is more about catching people who aren't reporting income rather than monitoring everyone's bank accounts.

I work for a nonprofit that helps people navigate unemployment benefits, and I can confirm that routine bank account monitoring is not part of the standard NYS Department of Labor process. They use automated systems to match your reported information against employer wage databases and other state records. Bank account access typically only happens during formal fraud investigations when there's already substantial evidence of unreported income or misrepresentation. The best protection is simply being thorough and honest in your weekly certifications - report all work and earnings, even small amounts, and keep good records of your job search activities. Most people who follow the rules never encounter any financial scrutiny beyond the standard wage matching.

Just want to give everyone a heads up - when this happened back in February, some people who certified by phone had their payments delayed by 2-3 days. It's not a big deal but just so you're not surprised if it doesn't hit your account on the usual day.

I'm dealing with the same issue! Been trying since 6am and keep getting that blank screen too. Really appreciate everyone sharing the phone option - I had no idea that existed. Just tried calling 1-888-581-5812 and it worked perfectly! Took about 10 minutes to get through all the prompts but was able to certify successfully. For anyone still struggling, definitely try the phone system while they fix the website.

congrats!! how long did the whole appeal take from start to finish? im in the middle of appealing my disqualification right now and its been 6 weeks already

This gives me hope! I'm waiting for my appeal hearing date still. Did you have to provide a lot of documentation or was it mostly just your testimony? I'm worried I don't have enough evidence to prove my case.

Pro tip: set a recurring alarm on your phone for Sunday mornings. I do mine at 8am every week and it's become routine. The NYS Department of Labor system can be slow on Sunday mornings because everyone's trying to certify at once, so sometimes I wait until afternoon.

Just want to clarify something that might help - when you first get approved, they usually send you a letter or email with your specific certification day and instructions. But yes, it's typically Sunday for most people. One thing to watch out for is that if there's a holiday weekend, the certification might be delayed by a day. I learned this the hard way during Labor Day weekend! Also, make sure you're logging into the correct portal - there's the main NYS DOL website and then the separate unemployment services portal where you actually do the certification.