if this is from a T-Mobile connection as it shows at the top, be aware there's been phishing scams specifically targeting T-Mobile users lately too.

Just want to add my experience - I got a very similar email last month and it turned out to be a scam. The dead giveaway was the IRS reference when you're dealing with state unemployment benefits. These are completely separate systems that don't communicate like that. What I did was log directly into my NY unemployment portal (typing the URL myself, not clicking any links) and there were zero messages or alerts about needing verification. My benefits continued normally and nothing ever came of ignoring that email. The scammers are getting really good at making these look official, but the formatting inconsistencies and weird language always give them away. Trust your gut - if you've been collecting for 9 months without issues, there's no reason they'd suddenly need random verification through a sketchy email link. Stay safe out there! These identity thieves are ruthless.

good for you getting off the system! I've been trying to find work for 8 months now and still nothing. The job search requirements are such a pain.

Just want to add that if your part-time job has irregular hours or you're not sure about the full-time conversion timeline, you might want to keep your claim open initially and just report your part-time earnings each week. NYS allows you to work part-time while collecting reduced benefits as long as you report all wages honestly. This way you have a safety net if the full-time position doesn't materialize. Once you're confident about steady full-time work, then do the proper closure process everyone mentioned above.

You should also update your job search log to show that you're no longer actively searching since you accepted employment. This helps keep your records clean with NYS Department of Labor.

Make sure to also check if you need to report any wages earned during your last week of unemployment benefits. Since your job starts Monday, you'll want to be clear about which week was your final week of eligibility. NYS Department of Labor is pretty strict about accurate wage reporting, so it's better to over-communicate than leave anything unclear when you submit your return to work notification.

This is such a helpful thread! I'm going through something similar right now - got a confusing monetary determination but then also received IDme letters. Reading everyone's experiences here really clarifies that these are separate parts of the process. @Anastasia Kozlov - glad to hear you made progress with the IDme and got scheduled for a phone interview! That gives me hope for my own case. I think the key takeaway is that even if the initial monetary determination looks discouraging, it's worth completing all the steps because there are multiple factors and they can recalculate using different base periods. Thanks to everyone who shared their knowledge - this system is so confusing without community support like this!

I just want to echo what others have said about not giving up based on that initial monetary determination! I had a very similar experience last year - got a letter showing a tiny weekly benefit amount that made me think I didn't qualify, then got the IDme verification requests. I was so confused and almost didn't bother with the verification. Thankfully I did complete it, and during my phone interview they discovered that my previous employer had reported my separation incorrectly. Once that was corrected AND they recalculated using my alternate base period (which included higher earnings from 15 months prior), my weekly benefit amount went from $38 to $247! The whole process took about 6 weeks total, but it was absolutely worth it. The NY system sends out these letters at different times and they don't always tell the complete story. Definitely complete every step they ask for - you never know what might change once a human actually reviews your full case.

Mine went through pretty fast actually got my first payment in like 10 days but I think I got lucky. Make sure you have all your employer information correct on the application because any mistakes will slow things down.

I'm in a similar situation - filed my claim 10 days ago and still showing "under review." Has anyone had luck calling the DOL directly to get an update? I've tried a few times but can never get through. The automated system just tells me to wait but I'm getting anxious about my bills piling up.