Just went through this nightmare myself last week! One thing that really helped me was calling ID.me right when they opened at 8am Eastern - the wait time was only about 15 minutes compared to the 2+ hours later in the day. Also, if you're still having trouble with document uploads, try taking the photos in natural daylight near a window rather than using indoor lighting. The contrast seems to work better for their system. Hang in there everyone - it's frustrating but you'll get through it!

I just wanted to chime in as someone who went through this exact same situation about 6 months ago. The ID.me verification process is absolutely brutal, but don't give up! A few things that saved me: 1) Try the mobile app instead of the website if you're having upload issues - it worked way better for me, 2) Make sure your documents are saved as JPG or PNG files, not PDF (learned this the hard way), and 3) If all else fails, the video chat option actually moves faster than you'd think, usually within 24-48 hours. I know it feels hopeless when you're stuck in this loop, but once you get past ID.me, the rest of the unemployment process moves pretty quickly. Stay strong everyone! 💪

I'm dealing with this exact same situation right now! Just exhausted my regular UI benefits last week and was completely panicking when I saw "zero effective days remaining" on my account. My benefit year doesn't end until September, so I was so confused about what to do next. This entire thread has been absolutely incredible - I can't believe how much clearer everything is now compared to trying to figure it out from the NYSDOL website alone. Like everyone else, I had no idea that "zero effective days" just means you've used up your 26 weeks of regular benefits rather than there being some kind of error with your claim. I was literally about to stop certifying because it seemed completely pointless, but reading all these experiences has made it crystal clear that continuing weekly certifications is crucial for maintaining your claim status. The success stories from people who got extensions or qualified for training programs because they kept certifying are really encouraging! I'm particularly interested in the 599 Training program that several people mentioned. I've been thinking about taking some data analytics courses, so I'm definitely going to research whether those might qualify. It would be amazing to get additional benefits while learning new skills that could help with job prospects. Thanks to everyone who shared their stories and advice - this community has been infinitely more helpful than hours of trying to navigate the confusing official resources. Going to keep certifying every week no matter what!

I'm going through the exact same thing right now! Just hit zero effective days remaining yesterday and was completely lost until I found this thread. My benefit year doesn't end until October, so I have months to go but was panicking thinking I'd broken something. The NYSDOL website is seriously terrible at explaining this - I had no idea "zero effective days" just means you've exhausted your 26 weeks of regular benefits. I was about to stop certifying thinking it was pointless, but everyone's advice here has been crystal clear that continuing is absolutely essential. What really gives me hope are all the success stories from people who got extensions or qualified for programs like the 599 Training because they kept certifying. I've actually been considering taking some project management certification courses, so I'm definitely going to look into whether those might qualify. One thing I'm curious about - for those who've been doing this for a while, do you find it gets less weird over time to go through the whole certification process knowing there's no payment coming? Right now it feels so strange, but I understand it's creating an important record. Thanks to everyone for sharing such detailed experiences. This community has been way more helpful than anything I could find through official channels. Definitely going to keep certifying every single week!

I went through something similar when I started part-time work while on unemployment. The key thing to remember is that NYS uses a formula where they reduce your weekly benefit amount by 25% of what you earn over $50. So if your weekly benefit is $300 and you earn $300 from part-time work, you'd get $300 - (0.25 × $250) = $237.50 in unemployment benefits that week. Always report your gross earnings (before taxes) for the week you actually worked, not when you get paid. The system is designed to encourage people to work part-time while looking for full-time employment, so don't let fear keep you from being honest about your earnings.

I'm dealing with a similar situation right now - started a new part-time retail job while still collecting unemployment. The weekly certification process asks very specific questions about work performed and earnings, so there's really no ambiguity about what you need to report. One thing that helped me was keeping detailed records of my hours and gross pay each week, including any tips or bonuses. NYS Department of Labor also has a work search requirement waiver if you're working part-time, which is a nice benefit. The partial unemployment system actually makes it easier to transition back to full-time work without the financial cliff you'd face if benefits cut off completely. Just make sure you understand whether your part-time job affects your work search requirements too.

Your weekly claim certification and NYS Department of Labor approval process runs on their normal schedule regardless of holidays. The delay only happens at the final step when your bank receives the ACH deposit. So you'll still see your payment processed in your my.ny.gov account, it just takes longer to show up in your actual bank account.

I've been dealing with this for months now and here's what I've learned - holiday delays are pretty predictable once you know the pattern. If your normal deposit day is Tuesday and there's a Monday holiday, expect it Wednesday. If Wednesday is your day and there's a Thursday holiday, it'll likely come Friday. The key is knowing that it's always 1-2 business days after your normal day, never before. I actually started keeping track in a little notebook so I can plan my budget around holiday weeks. Hope this helps other people avoid the stress I went through my first few times!

This is such an encouraging success story! I'm scheduled for my hearing next month after being denied for "insubordination" when I refused to work mandatory overtime that would have violated DOL regulations about maximum hours for my position. Your advice about documentation is spot on - I've been collecting every email, text, and policy document I can find. One thing that really resonates is your point about practicing testimony out loud. I've been so focused on organizing my paperwork that I hadn't considered how nervous I'll actually be during the hearing. Did you find it helpful to have someone else listen to your practice sessions, or did you just rehearse alone? Also, for anyone else preparing, I found the NYS DOL website has sample hearing procedures that helped me understand the format better. Thanks again for sharing what worked - it's giving me much more confidence going into this process!

This is exactly what I needed to read today! I'm preparing for my hearing after being denied for "attendance issues" even though I had FMLA documentation for my medical absences. Your strategy about proving employer inconsistencies really resonates with me - they claim I had excessive absences but my HR records show all my leave was properly documented and approved. I've been so overwhelmed trying to organize everything, but your timeline approach makes total sense. Did you find it helpful to create a summary document for the judge, or did you just present evidence as questions came up? Also wondering if anyone has experience with hearings where medical accommodations were involved - I'm worried they'll try to claim my condition made me unable to perform essential job functions even though I never missed deadlines when I was present.