UPDATE: I completed the ID.me verification using my current email and it worked fine! The system asked me to verify my phone number, upload my driver's license, and do a video selfie. The whole process took about 15 minutes. Now I'm waiting to see if/when my unemployment payments will start coming through. Thank you everyone for your help!

Congrats on getting through the ID.me verification! Just a heads up - keep an eye on your NYSDOL account over the next few days. Sometimes there can be a delay between ID.me completing and your unemployment account actually updating to show you're verified. If you don't see any changes in your payment status within a week, definitely call or use one of those callback services people mentioned. The 3-week wait you've already had is way too long, so hopefully this gets things moving for you quickly!

If you're having trouble getting through to NYS Department of Labor to ask questions about this, I used a service called Claimyr recently that actually got me connected to a real agent. You can check it out at claimyr.com - they have a video demo at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI that shows how it works. It was super helpful when I had questions about my partial benefit calculation and couldn't get through on the regular phone lines.

I went through this exact situation last year! The key thing to remember is that you need to be "totally or partially unemployed" to qualify, which you definitely are since you lost your main job. When you file your weekly claims, make sure to report your retail hours and earnings accurately. Also, keep good records of your work schedule and pay stubs from the part-time job - NYS Department of Labor sometimes asks for documentation during reviews. One tip: if your retail hours vary week to week, your unemployment benefit will adjust accordingly, so some weeks you might get more UI benefits than others depending on how much you worked.

Just went through this exact same thing last month! Had to register with the Career Center even though I was already working with a job coach through my union's retraining program. It's definitely redundant but they won't budge on this requirement. The good news is registration only took about 20 minutes online and I could immediately see my benefits were processed again within 2 days. Your library job coach program absolutely counts toward your weekly work search activities - just make sure to document those meetings! Don't let this drag on any longer, the sooner you register the sooner your payments will resume.

I'm dealing with something similar right now - got laid off from my retail job in January and my benefits just got suspended last week for the same reason. It's so frustrating because I'm already working with a career counselor through my local community college who's been helping me with job applications and interview prep. From reading all these responses it sounds like I definitely need to bite the bullet and register with the Career Center even though it seems pointless. Has anyone found the Career Center resources actually useful, or is it really just a formality? I don't want to waste time on their workshops if my current counselor is already covering everything I need.

I went through this same situation last month when my company had layoffs. The most important thing to know is that NYS doesn't have a specific deadline like "you must file within X days," but your benefit week starts from the date you actually file your claim, not from when you became unemployed. So if you file today, your benefits would be calculated starting today, not from yesterday when you were laid off. I learned this the hard way when I waited almost a week thinking I needed to "get my paperwork together first" - ended up losing out on about $300 in benefits. My advice is to file online at ny.gov today even if you don't have every single document ready. You can always provide additional information later if needed.

I went through this exact same situation about 6 months ago when I got laid off from my warehouse job. The biggest thing I wish someone had told me is that there's actually a one-week waiting period before you can start receiving benefits, so filing immediately is crucial. Even though there's no hard deadline to file, every day you delay pushes back when you'll actually start receiving payments. I filed on a Tuesday and had to wait until the following Tuesday to even be eligible for my first week of benefits. Also, make sure you keep track of all your job search activities from day one because you'll need to report them when you certify for benefits each week. The online system at ny.gov is pretty straightforward once you get started - don't let the intimidation factor stop you from filing today.

I work in recruiting and see this question all the time on applications. The reason we ask is mainly practical - we want to understand your timeline and motivation. Someone collecting benefits might have different urgency levels or salary expectations compared to someone who's been out of work without any income support. It's not meant to be discriminatory. In fact, many of our best hires have been people who were receiving NYS Department of Labor benefits while job searching. What impresses us more is when candidates are transparent and can clearly articulate why they're interested in our specific role beyond just needing any job. My advice: be honest about receiving benefits, but focus your energy on demonstrating genuine interest in the company and role. That's what really matters in hiring decisions.

I've been through this process recently and can add some perspective. Yes, it's completely legal for employers to ask about unemployment benefits, and I've found that being honest actually helps build trust from the start. What I learned is that the question isn't really about judging you - it's about logistics and timing. Employers want to know if you can start right away, if you're genuinely motivated to work (since you could theoretically stay on benefits longer), and sometimes they need to understand your current financial pressures for salary negotiations. I actually had one employer tell me they appreciated my honesty because it showed integrity. The key is to pair your honest answer with enthusiasm about the specific role. Instead of just saying "yes, I'm on unemployment," try something like "I'm currently receiving benefits while actively searching for the right opportunity, and I'm really excited about this position because..." That way you're being truthful while also showing you're selective and serious about finding meaningful work, not just any job.